To meet the demand from businesses for more leaders focused on developing and sustaining healthy and productive organizations, The University of Texas at Arlington now offers a Master of Science degree in industrial and organizational psychology (I/O). UTA is the only public university in North Texas to offer this degree option.
I/O psychology is the scientific study of people in organizations, focusing on issues in the workplace such as job performance or the health, wellness and attitudes of employees, said Nicolette P. Hass, director of the I/O Center and associate chair of psychology at UTA.
"This is different from business programs, which typically focus more on the strategy, financials, marketing and operations of an organization," said Hass. "For example, using statistical skills and research methodology, I/O psychologists collect and interpret data to help improve leadership effectiveness, employee productivity, or screening and hiring practices. Individuals working in I/O may also be involved in designing and deploying employee training and development programs."
Research and application are important to successfully translate scientific knowledge to improve workplaces, and UTA's program emphasizes this approach by way of the scientist-practitioner model. This is the approach recommended by the leading professional organization in the discipline, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, said Hass. UTA's program is specifically designed for students wishing to take their skills into the business world.
"Our I/O curriculum has been purposefully structured to stay true to the science and practice of I/O, including embedding project-based learning in practically every course," Hass said. "Students perform job analyses, develop training programs, develop psychometrically sound instruments, and conduct organizational culture assessments. They also have the opportunity to participate in the I/O Center—a faculty- and student-led service center that partners with scientists and businesses from the DFW region."
The location of the program within the DFW region provides additional professional and scholarly opportunities for students and allows the curriculum to support both internship requirements and other professional partnership opportunities.
Organizations from a variety of industries have partnered with UTA's I/O program, including PepsiCo, 7-Eleven, Baylor Scott & White Health, Lockheed Martin, GM Financial, JC Penney, Brinks and the Dallas County Medical Reserve Corps. Projects have included organizational change initiatives, survey development and assessment, training module development and data analysis.
The program admits students every fall. Since its inception as a specialization, the program has graduated more than 150 students. UTA I/O alumni work in a variety of industries, holding such positions as organizational development specialists, learning and development managers, talent assessment consultants, research psychologists, data analysts, instructional developers, human resource generalists, leadership coaches, business analysts and organizational effectiveness consultants.
The program has six faculty members including one full professor, one associate professor, two assistant professors, one professor of practice and one assistant professor of instruction.
