Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Dr. Jay Brown

Texas Wesleyan University

Most people spend a significant portion of their lives at work, yet the psychological factors that influence workplace behavior are often overlooked. In this course, we explore the science behind what makes people effective, satisfied, and healthy at work. We’ll examine how organizations can select the right people, develop their skills, motivate performance, and create environments where both individuals and organizations thrive. From hiring practices to leadership development, this course bridges the gap between psychological research and real-world workplace applications.

Understanding I/O psychology is essential for anyone who will work in or lead organizations – and this includes most counseling professionals. Many students planning counseling careers are surprised to learn that they’ll likely work in organizational settings (hospitals, clinics, community mental health centers, private practices) where understanding workplace dynamics, employee motivation, and organizational culture directly impacts their effectiveness and career success.

Alumni reports consistently show that psychology majors, regardless of their intended career path, benefit enormously from I/O psychology knowledge. Even if you become a therapist, you’ll need to understand how to work effectively in teams, manage performance expectations, navigate workplace politics, and potentially supervise or manage others. If you work in community mental health, you’ll encounter clients whose problems stem from workplace stress, poor management, or toxic organizational cultures – understanding these dynamics makes you a more effective counselor.

Human resources professionals, managers, and consultants obviously use these principles directly, but so do educators working in school systems, healthcare professionals navigating hospital bureaucracies, and even private practice therapists who must run their practices as small businesses. Whether you’re planning a career in clinical psychology, counseling, or any field involving people and organizations, this course equips you with evidence-based tools to understand and improve workplace dynamics that will directly impact your professional success and personal well-being.