Location: Life Sciences Building, Room 313,
501 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX 76019
Mailing address: P.O. Box 19528
Phone: 817-272-2281
Fax: 817-272-2364
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology is the scientific study of people in organizations. Both research and application are important to successfully translate scientific knowledge to improve workplaces. Our STEM-designated I/O M.S. program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model, the approach recommended by the leading professional organization in the discipline, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). Thus, our program enables students to effectively compete for employment in I/O psychology or a related career. I/O professionals work in several different areas that are crucial to the success of modern businesses and industries. The ability of our I/O graduates to meet the needs of businesses grows from the rigorous preparation provided by our program. Our graduates are well-equipped to be strong competitors for employment.
The program is designed as a two-year cohort model for students who intend to pursue an applied, professional career as practitioners in the field. Students move through the program together and will take courses in experimental design, quantitative methods, and applied psychological topics as well as courses in management and/or other relevant courses outside of the psychology department (access the current program of instruction and list of courses here).
We offer a non-thesis degree option as well as the option of completing a master's thesis; however, all students automatically enter the program under the non-thesis option. The decision to change to a thesis option will be made on a case-by-case basis and will be based on the student's aptitude and career focus, as well as on the fit between the student and the faculty mentor. Whether thesis or non-thesis option is chosen, all students earn a Master of Science in I/O Psychology and will therefore be required to conduct research and develop practical skills related to I/O psychology. Students are also required to complete 400 hours of an outside internship and their thesis or non-thesis option (capstone project) at the end of their second year.
The department currently offers both a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with a specialization in I/O. Our master’s program focuses on developing applied skills and offering professional training to those not wishing to pursue doctoral studies. For those students wishing to continue their graduate education, the doctoral program integrates both theory and science and heavily emphasizes empirical research and quantitative skills. Requirements for both programs are demanding, and admission is extremely competitive.
RESEARCH FOCUS
All students in the program will be required to conduct research related to I/O psychology. This involves finding relevant research articles and source information, running statistical analyses and presenting the results in both written and oral format. The knowledge that students acquire performing research in graduate school will prepare them for the projects, responsibilities, and expectations of businesses and consultants. Students in the program are encouraged to present research at conferences and publish research in journals.
APPLIED FOCUS
The students in our program have the opportunity to be involved with a student-staffed consulting organization, the Insights for Organizations Center. The Center was established in 2012 as an alternative mode with which to increase the knowledge base of the I/O students. By providing students the opportunity to acquire relevant field experience and to network with local organizations, the Center serves as an excellent teaching tool in the development of I/O-related competencies, as well as a mechanism to develop sustainable working relationships with organizations and generate a continual dialogue between business and science. Helping to “bridge the gap” between scientist and practitioner is one of the Center’s main goals. Students may intern with the Center and are also welcomed to pursue their own internships outside of the Center.
I/O FACULTY
Our I/O faculty represent a broad array of academic and field experience. More information about the I/O faculty can be found here.
A STRATEGIC LOCATION
The DFW Metroplex is home to thousands of corporate headquarters. Some of the largest Fortune 500 corporations in the world are located here such as Exxon Mobil, AT&T, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Texas Instruments, and Kimberly-Clark. In fact, in 2018, the Dallas-Plano-Irving area was ranked No. 1 by Forbes magazine as America’s Best City for Jobs. Organizations from a variety of industries have partnered with us and have provided students with internships and field experience including Leadership Worth Following, PepsiCo, 7-Eleven, Baylor Scott & White Health, Lockheed Martin, GM Financial, JC Penney, Brinks, and the Dallas County Medical Reserve Corps. Our faculty, alumni and business partners continually facilitate the connection between the program and vibrant DFW business community.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Many career opportunities exist for I/O professionals. Some individuals are hired by organizations as internal specialists while others are hired as external consultants. I/O professionals contribute to the success of businesses and industries in many ways. They are involved in research on strategies for improving productivity, on issues concerning organizational culture, or in developing employee screening, hiring and retention practices. They may also be involved in employee training and development or workplace health and wellness. The modern marketplace has put pressure on businesses and industries to optimize productivity and improve the quality of work life. Additionally, competition among organizations to obtain and retain the best employees has increased dramatically. I/O professionals who can design, implement, and evaluate efforts aimed to meet these challenges are in demand.
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
The admissions committee will review and give serious consideration to all application materials. This includes the application, departmental summary sheet, undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA (if applicable), applicant’s personal statement, letters of reference and college transcripts.
Applications from students whose undergraduate major is not psychology will also be considered. In such cases, the student’s personal statement should emphasize the basis for switching educational tracks and should highlight why an I/O psychology degree is desired. Previous, relevant work experience may also be considered in such cases.
All applicants, including psychology and non-psychology majors, must have and maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0. Furthermore, all candidates should demonstrate academic strengths in statistics and research methods (GPA of at least 3.2 in both areas).
An applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate a sufficient level of skill with the English language to assure success in graduate studies. This requirement will be waived for non-native speakers of English who possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution. Applicants are expected to submit a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL IBT total score of 79. When the TOEFL IBT is taken, sectional scores of at least 22 on the writing section, 21 on the speaking section, 20 on the reading section, and 16 on the listening section are preferred. Meeting the TOEFL IBT and IELTS minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance and programs may give preference to students with higher scores. Only scores submitted directly by ETS or IELTS to UTA are acceptable.
Students not meeting these criteria may still be considered if they meet all the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School; however, meeting the admission requirements will not ensure acceptance in the program.
Students are admitted only in Fall semesters. It is recommended that applicants complete all steps of the application process on or before our departmental deadline of December 15. Priority will be given to those applications received by December 15; however, applications received after this deadline will still be considered. This deadline is different from the general University application deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to departmental deadlines to ensure timely processing and review of their application.
GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCES
The psychology department makes every effort to help students develop their knowledge and skill in research or applied areas to their fullest potential. The psychology department uses modern audiovisual technology in the classroom and is equipped with computer facilities for undergraduate and graduate research. There are excellent physical facilities for psychological research including video and audio recording and presentation equipment, small animal operant and non-operant conditioning test chambers, tests of anxiety, learning and memory, psychophysiological recording devices.
Additionally, our graduate students are assigned shared office space equipped with computers and Internet access. Graduate students also have keyed access to departmental undergraduate and graduate computer labs. The University has additional computer laboratory facilities open to all students at locations across campus.
ASSISTANTSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Department assistantships and fellowships are not currently available for students in the I/O Psychology M.S. program. Students in the M.S. program may be eligible for scholarships, loans or may find paid internship opportunities with local businesses.
Other opportunities for financial assistance include:
UTA Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
Please visit this link for the most updated version of the Psychology Graduate Student Handbook and UTA Graduate Catalog for other degree plan requirements: Graduate Resources - Department of Psychology - The University of Texas at Arlington.