Industrial and Organizational Psychology Master's Program

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options

Students in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Master's Program take graduate courses in Psychology and Management and earn a Master's degree in Psychology, with emphasis in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology. This scientifically rigorous and research-intensive program provides a non-thesis degree option as well as the option of completing a master's thesis. The I/O Psychology Master's Program provides professional training to those not wishing to pursue doctoral studies as well as those who might wish to continue their graduate education. The Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology Master's Program was designed in accordance with The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Guidelines for Education and Training at the Master's Level in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

The I/O Psychology Program requirements are very demanding and admission into the program is extremely competitive. All students in the I/O Psychology Program will be required to conduct research related to I/O Psychology in their classes. This involves finding relevant research articles and source information, running statistical analyses and presenting the results in both written and oral format. While the Master’s degree in I/O psychology does not require the completion of a master’s thesis, students are required to conduct and complete research as part of their course work.

Research is a critical aspect of the I/O Psychology Master's Program. It is through research that students develop the skills and abilities to design investigative studies and analyze data. 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 I/O Psychology Program are encouraged to present research at conferences and publish research in journals.

A Master's degree with a specialization in industrial-organizational psychology is necessary for persons seeking a position as an industrial-organizational psychologist. This program enables students to earn this credential and effectively compete for employment. Industrial-organizational psychologists work in a number of different areas that are crucial to the success of modern businesses and industries. The ability of industrial-organizational psychologists to meet these needs grows from training that enables them to apply psychological principles and research methods in the workplace. The University of Texas at Arlington's I/O Psychology Program provides rigorous course work in experimental design, quantitative methods, and modern psychological and management theory. This training enables our graduates to be strong competitors for employment and perform effectively in the workplace.

Career Opportunities

Many career opportunities exist for industrial-organizational psychologists. Some individuals are hired by organizations as internal specialists while others are hired as consultants. Industrial-organizational psychologists contribute to the success of businesses and industries in many different ways. They are involved in research on strategies for improving productivity, on issues concerning product marketing, or in developing employee screening, hiring and retention practices. They may also be involved in employee training and counseling. 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 most able employees has increased dramatically. Industrial-organizational psychologists, who can design, implement and evaluate efforts aimed to meet these challenges, are in demand. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the employment opportunities for industrial-organizational psychologists should continue to grow in the foreseeable future.

Admission to the Program

The University of Texas at Arlington's I/O Psychology Program is intended for superior students who wish to pursue careers in industrial-organizational psychology. The Psychology faculty will evaluate potential candidates for the program. As stated in the UTA Psychology Department Handbook for Graduate Students in Psychology, the minimal requirements for admission include the following: 1) Students must have obtained at least a B in Psychology 2441 and 2442 or equivalents. 2) Students must have and maintain an overall grade point average of at least 3.2, with at least a 3.4 average in undergraduate psychology courses. 3) Students must take the GRE and earn a score of at least 1000 (with scores of at least 500 on both the verbal and quantitative sections). Students not meeting these criteria may be considered if they meet all of the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School. Admission will be competitive, and meeting the minimum requirements will not ensure acceptance in the program.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While the admissions deadlines for the University of Texas at Arlington Graduate School are in June (and October for Spring admissions), students who wish to be considered for the I/O Psychology Master's Program should have their applications and departmental forms sent to the University of Texas at Arlington as early as possible. Due to the limited number of graduate student positions in the I/O Psychology Program and large number of highly qualified applicants, the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Admissions Committee typically makes preliminary admissions decisions months before the Graduate School deadlines. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants who wish to be considered for Fall semester admission into the I/O Psychology graduate program complete all steps of the application process on or before February 1.

Course Requirements

Psychology Core:

(8) 5405 Advanced Statistics I and 5406 Advanced Statistics II
(3) 5325 Organizational Psychology
(3) 5326 Personnel Psychology
(3) 5322 Social Psychology
(3) 5323 Group Processes
(6) 5610 Internship
(3) 5390 Capstone Course or (6) 5398 or 5698 Thesis

Choose One:

(3) PSYC 5355 Multivariate or PSYC 5344 Psychometrics

Choose One:

(3) 5321 Personality or one area C course (e.g., Cognitive Process, Decision Making, Perceptual Processes, Human Learning and Memory) or other approved 3 hour psychology elective.

Total Graduate Credit Hours in Psychology: 35 (38 with Thesis-option).

Core Management Courses:

(3) MANA 5312 Management
(3) MANA 5340 Strategic Resource Management

Choose three out of the following seven:

(3) MANA 5321 Complex Organizations
(3) MANA 5323 Training and Developmen
(3) MANA 5325 Industrial Relations
(3) MANA 5326 Organization Development and Change
(3) MANA 5327 Employee Relations Law
(3) MANA 5334 Organizational Consulting
(3) MANA 5342 Preventative Stress Management

Total Graduate Credit Hours in Management: 15.

Total Graduate Hours in Psychology and Management Combined: 50 (53 with Thesis-option).

Master's Thesis Option

A master's thesis may be considered either as a terminal degree program or as preparation for doctoral work. The master's thesis proposal must be approved by a thesis committee consisting of at least three members of the psychology graduate faculty (additional members are optional) before enrolling in Psychology 5398 or 5698. The completed thesis must receive final approval by the committee in an oral defense, which is open to any interested member of the department, including students.

Non-Thesis Option

The non-thesis option requires students to complete a Capstone Course (Psychology 5390). The Capstone course is designed to develop the student's knowledge of industrial and organizational psychology. The Capstone course is an independent study course that requires an in-depth review of a particular issue or area of industrial and organizational psychology in a written format, and an oral presentation of the material to their Capstone Committee.

Graduate Student Resources

The I/O Psychology graduate students share offices equipped with computers and Internet access. The I/O Psychology graduate students participating in research have access to The UTA Industrial and Organizational Psychology Research Lab (The I/O Lab). I/O Psychology 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. When not studying or conducting research, I/O Psychology graduate students have access to university recreational facilities (which include exercise equipment, weight rooms, gymnasiums, an indoor and outdoor track, indoor and outdoor pools, aerobics, etc.), the student health center, and other university services. Students in UTA's I/O Psychology graduate program study and conduct graduate research in a department that makes every effort to help students develop their knowledge and skill in basic or applied areas to their fullest potential.

The I/O Psychology graduate students participating in research conduct research in the Life Science Building on the UTA campus. Graduate students work in faculty labs and use their research facilities. The Life Science Building also houses the Department of Biology and the College of Science Dean’s office. The Department of Psychology has approximately 18,000 total square feet of research space; 7,000 square feet for human subject research and 11,000 square feet for animal research. Much of the human research space and all of the animal research space underwent extensive renovation in 2001.

The I/O Psychology graduate students are expected to attend professional meetings and conferences and present research. Funds are typically available that can help defray the costs of such travel. The department is able to use modern audiovisual technology in the classroom and is equipped with computer facilities for undergraduate and graduate research. There is an in-house multi-media lab available to graduate students and faculty for preparation of research presentations.

Assistantship Opportunities

Department Assistantships and fellowships are NOT currently available for students in the I/O Psychology Master's Program.

Other opportunities for financial assistance include:

McNair Scholars Program
UTA Office of Financial Aid

See the Psychology Department Handbook and UTA Graduate Catalog for other degree requirements.