  |
|
|
|
| August 19, 2008 | HOME BACK SEARCH UH |
|
INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY The Graduate Program in Industrial Organizational (I-O) Psychology at the University of Houston (UH) has been preparing students for careers in academia, consulting and industry since 1950. It is one of the oldest, largest and most respected programs in the country. The UH program subscribes to the scientist-practitioner model outlined in the Guidelines for Education and Training at the Doctoral Level prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Division 14 of the American Psychological Association. The curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation in I-O psychology, statistics, research methodology, and general psychology. Both theory and application is emphasized. The training offered by the program includes personnel selection, work motivation, performance appraisal, training, satisfaction, climate, compensation and benefits, interviewing, productivity, organizational psychology, occupational health and safety, and legal and professional issues. In addition, graduate students at UH usually take advantage of the powerful computing resources available to study advanced topics in quantitative methods. Expert faculty offer courses in structural equation modeling, item response theory, meta-analysis and hierarchical linear modeling. The time required to complete the program is normally 4-5 years for students entering with a BA/BS or 3-4 years for students with a MS/MA degree. Near the conclusion of a student's coursework (normally following the third year), a comprehensive written examination must be completed. All students are also required to spend at least one year in an applied practicum. These practica are half-time, paid positions in local organizations and consulting firms; recent examples include: Aon Consulting, Assessment & Development Inc., Compaq Computer, Dell Computer, Jeanneret & Associates, M. D. Anderson Hospital, Personnel Decisions International and Vandaveer Group. The practicum is supervised by an I-O Psychologist working full-time for the firm and by a member of the UH faculty. These practica provide students with a unique learning experience and the opportunity to engage in research and apply their skills in actual organizations. Students are required to become involved with faculty research efforts as well as to engage in additional independent research projects. The research facilities and resources are large and diverse, including laboratory and research space, video and audio recording equipment, and a large university computing center complex. Faculty research interests include assessment, counter-productive work behavior, decision-making (individual and organizational), interviewing, leadership, labor-management relations, occupational health and safety, organizational attitudes and behavior, organizational climate, personality, recruitment, selection, training, work motivation, and work productivity. In addition, due to location in a large urban area, the I-O program offers students the opportunity to become involved in a variety of field research and training opportunities. The UH program is also enhanced through its ties with other University faculty and professionals in the community. Our students are welcome in graduate courses in the UH Business School and their faculty often serve as members of thesis and dissertation committees. In addition, students can take courses at Rice University through the Inter-University exchange program. Finally, students have access to local I-O researchers and practitioners through the Houston Association of Industrial/ Organizational Psychologists which meets monthly. The job market for I-O psychologists has been and continues to be excellent, offering employment in academic, government and organizational contexts as well as private consulting. Our training provides graduates with the education and experience needed in research and application to take positions in academic, government, industry, or consulting settings. The UH faculty are committed to assisting graduates in their job search. EXAMPLE - FINANCIAL SUPPORT Sources of financial support for First and Second Year graduate students typically includes a Teaching Assistantship in undergraduate psychology courses. Students are expected to assist Professors or advanced graduate students as needed. The sources for Third and Fourth Year graduate students typically includes a Teaching Fellowship (TF) or Research Assistantship (RA). As a TF, Students are listed as the Instructors of Record and are expected to fulfill all responsibilities of teaching a course in their area of expertise. RAs may assist Professors or advanced graduate students working on funded research projects. Many I-O students secure an internship during this period. By the Fifth Year, most students have completed their practicum and for financial support will either return to the University as a Teaching Fellow or spend another year in a paid practicum. The latter choice is most popular for those pursuing nonacademic careers. |
|
INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL FACULTY Derek R. Avery, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology (College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences) Associate Professor of Management (C. T. Bauer College of Business) Diversity in the Workplace, Employee Voice James Campion, Ph.D. Professor Recruitment, Selection, Training Paras Mehta, Ph.D. Associate Professor Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics Lisa M. Penney, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Counter-productive Work Behavior, Job Stress, Organizational Justice Christiane Spitzmüller, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Occupational Health Psychology, Employee Surveys, Job Attitudes, Personality L. A. Witt, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology (College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences) Professor of Management (C. T. Bauer College of Business) Director, Ph.D. Program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology |
| Industrial Organizational Graduate Students |