Distance Learning Option
“I loved the multi-disciplinary approach which provided the opportunity to learn from a variety of areas within Liberal Arts. The HDO program brought together people from a diverse variety of backgrounds and industries which allows the discussion of real-world topics from different perspectives. The smaller cohort setting creates an environment for building relationships past the classroom. I admire the passion and commitment by the professors for personal and professional growth of the cohort.”
Dr. Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, winner of HDO’s 2019 Outstanding Professor of the Year award, explains how the HDO Master’s Degree provides a unique education experience for working professionals and highlights why she is so passionate about teaching in the program.
HDO courses are led by UT Austin’s top faculty and cover topics such as leadership, communication, ethics, change management, and decision-making.
HDO’s practice-oriented curriculum draws on disciplines in the humanities and social and behavioral sciences. This multidisciplinary approach develops students into well-rounded “internal consultants,” ready to tackle a wide range of organizational challenges. There are no exams; assessments are designed to provide students with practical skills for professional success.
Each cohort consists of experienced professionals from a diverse range of fields, allowing for an exchange of problems and solutions across sectors. All students complete a Capstone Project, allowing them to draw on what they’ve learned to tackle an organizational problem of their choice.
Every leader has a lens by which they view the world, and what they see guides their decisions and actions. To me, more important than the tactical understanding of any framework or process is one’s ability to take in, interpret and accept information broadly; especially with information which may be different than, or may not align with our own perspectives. The most valuable thing that I gained from my Cohort and Professors was the journey of broadening that lens; it gave me a more adaptive lens by which to view the world.
HDO’s Founding Director and Psychology Professor, Art Markman, explains how working professionals will benefit from pursuing an HDO’s Master’s degree.
“This program helped me learn to use my voice – to realize that my own experiences can contribute to the greater conversation. It also broadened my horizons by allowing me to meet people who do not work in my industry and have completely different backgrounds. I’m glad I had the chance to learn from my classmates and open my eyes to the world more in the process.”