A minor in psychology complements the industrial engineering curriculum by deepening understanding of human behavior, cognition, and perception, core elements in the design of systems, products, and workplaces that support human performance and safety. This minor is especially relevant and achievable for students pursuing the Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) Focus Area, but it also enhances any engineering pathway that involves teamwork, decision-making, or user-centered design.

The combination of industrial engineering and psychology offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective—linking data-driven analysis with human insight. Students gain skills useful for usability testing, interface design, systems safety, and organizational behavior, as well as broader professional communication and leadership contexts.

Industrial engineers with training in psychology are in growing demand across industries that integrate technology and human performance. Career paths include human factors engineer, user experience (UX) researcher, ergonomics specialist, safety analyst, and organizational consultant. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in psychology-related research and human factors fields is projected to grow by 6–13% from 2023 to 2033, driven by advances in healthcare, automation, and human–machine interaction.

This combination prepares graduates to apply engineering principles with a human-centered mindset—an advantage in both industry and graduate study.