Prerequisites
In addition to a completed baccalaureate degree, the following background is prerequisite to admission to the UTC I/O program.
1. Successful completion of a college level statistics course.
An undergraduate course offered by a department of psychology, sociology, mathematics, or business will likely satisfy this prerequisite. Applicants who take more than one undergraduate statistics courses will likely be better prepared than those who have had only one course, although most students begin the program having had only one.
The graduate statistics courses make extensive use of the statistical package SPSS, so some prior knowledge of it will be helpful. However, knowledge of SPSS is not a specific prerequisite for admission to the program.
2. Successful completion of a survey of I-O psychology course or an equivalent course or combination of courses.
Many colleges and universities offer survey courses in I-O psychology. Equivalent courses may be courses in organizational behavior, human resource management, or personnel psychology. Applicants who are unsure about whether they have met this prerequisite should contact the program coordinator.
Applicants without such a survey course or the equivalent have two options. One is to read a textbook for such a course and provide copius notes that show your understanding and familiarity with the material covered in the text. The notes must be provided to the program coordinator before the beginning of the first fall semester. The I-O program coordinator can provide information regarding which text to read. The other option is to take the PSY 406 - Survey of I-O Psychology course offered at UTC for graduate credit in the first semester in residence. For applicants who choose the second option, the course will count as one of the electives in the program.
3. Successful completion of a computer literacy course or the equivalent.
Applicants must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (especially Word, Excel, and Powerpoint). This knowledge will be required to handle the written work, data analyses, and presentation requirements present in all courses and many internship experiences. Frequent use of Word during your undergraduate program is likely enough preparation for its use in the I-O program. Applicants should also seek out situations in which Excel and Powerpoint are required so that they will have at least a basic familiarity with their functionality and utility.
4. Successful completion of at least one psychology course.
An applicant does not have to be a psychology major to be admitted to the UTC I-O program. However, some familiarity with psychological concepts, such as that provided in an introductory psychology course is required. Applicants who have taken absolutely no psychology courses in their undergraduate careers should contact the program coordinator for advice.
