Prospective Students
HDO provides students with a deep knowledge of the following areas of study to become well-suited to address problems caused by factors like globalization, regulation and linguistic and cultural differences.
The HDO Bachelor’s Degree provides a broad-based exploration of liberal arts as applied to organizations allowing students to:
• Develop effective, persuasive oral and written communication skills;
• Understand ethical behavior in the workplace;
• Broaden their knowledge of the types of cultures that influence organizations;
• Measure human behavior to inform decision-making, and
• Consider how key lessons from the humanities and the social/behavioral sciences can be applied in organizational settings.
It is this last learning outcome that distinguishes HDO from the traditional disciplines that make up UT Austin’s College of Liberal Arts.
The three videos below provide an introduction to the HDO Bachelor’s Degree, an overview of HDO courses and the organization of the major, as well as a discussion of various career paths for HDO majors.
Interested in learning more about HDO’s Bachelor’s Degree? Contact hdo.advising@austin.utexas.edu.
“HDO majors research the secret ingredient of success for any profession or organization: the humans. Understanding the subtle rhythms and patterns of human interaction can help us better understand why we act the way we do, and how we can cultivate proactive relationships with each other. This introspective system is valuable not only to an individual but also to a company as a whole. The more we understand about the people we interact with—be they friend, family, coworker, or even stranger—the better we can all work together, and the more we can all achieve together.” – Clint Stepp, HDO Major
“HDO creates the ultimate team player. With its traditional liberal arts curriculum and its focus on synthesizing the different areas of study, students grow in their ability to entertain different perspectives. When it comes to working with others, the HDO approach looks different. Unlike business education, HDO fosters a ‘we’ mentality as opposed to a ‘me’ mentality. Instead of winning, it promotes collaboration. Instead of competition, it preaches strategy. This major doesn’t constrain one to any specific field or job; that’s the beauty of it. With these classes, I can apply what I’m learning in the classroom to my personal life and can see how they are preparing me for professional life.” – Emily Tabor, HDO Major
“I chose HDO as my major because it allows me to specialize in my interests while exposing me to different perspectives offered within a liberal arts education. As I became more exposed to the professional world, I have realized how important it is to develop exceptional soft skills to connect with others and solve problems. HDO has taught me how to evaluate my own strengths and personality, so I can better cooperate with different types of people because understanding the motivation behind how people think and react is necessary to become a courageous leader.” – Maryam Blooki, HDO Major