Practice Fields
Completing the HPSTS Master’s program opens up a wide range of future career opportunities. These include careers in business psychology as an occupational or industrial psychologist, as well as roles in educational psychology, such as in counseling or professional development. In addition, the degree is well-suited for further specialization in the fields of traffic psychology, human factors, usability, and the design of socio-technical systems from a psychological perspective. Equally, the degree provides an excellent foundation for an academic career.
The German Psychological Society (DGPs) presents potential career prospects on its website.
Other potential employers can be found in the fields of occupational medicine, occupational safety, workplace health promotion, and prevention, such as BG Prevent.
Internships
Internships can be completed in the departments represented by the various Chairs. In Dresden and the surrounding area, there are many companies that offer internships for psychologists.
Here you will find a list of various internship opportunities. The FSR also regularly publishes current listings for internships and work-study positions.
Graduate Experiences
Johanna Stumpf (German Aerospace Center (DLR), Department of Aviation and Space Psychology, PhD Research and Pilot Selection)
“The HPSTS Master’s program showed me how important interdisciplinary collaboration is when it comes to the ‘human factor.’ The courses in Engineering Psychology and Design Processes were particularly valuable in this regard. The knowledge I gained from these courses now supports me in interdisciplinary research projects at DLR focusing on cockpit automation, where I work with engineers on questions related to usability and acceptance, among other topics. I am also involved in pilot selection and assessment and am pursuing a PhD on affect under simulated microgravity during long-term bed-rest studies. The course in Multivariate Statistics provided excellent preparation for this work.”
Anneke Hamann (German Aerospace Center, Institute of Flight Control, Ph.D. on the topic “Physiological Measurement of Cognitive Capabilities in Pilots”)
"When I started at the DLR, I had to—as is so often the case—explain exactly what ‘HPSTS’ stands for. Yet HPSTS is precisely the reason why I ventured into flight control. During my master’s program, I learned to apply foundational knowledge to a wide variety of fields. Whether it was learning how road design influences our behavior or using eye-tracking to explore how perception changes in virtual reality. And this constant transfer of knowledge pays off. After all, my studies didn’t specifically prepare me for working with air traffic controllers or pilots. But every day, I discover anew just how much of that knowledge I can apply here."
Alexandra König (Institute of Process Engineering at the German Aerospace Center. Ph.D. in the field of passenger requirements for alternative control concepts in public transportation)
"What the degree program has given me: Paying attention in multivariate statistics was worth it! In traffic psychology, too! Statistics and traffic psychology are the two subjects from the master’s program that I now need most for my work. For a study, for example, I calculated a structural equation model in Amos. In traffic psychology, I was particularly interested in the topics of driver fitness assessment and mode of transport choice—I’m now working and conducting research in both of these areas. I advise students to explore the available specializations and minors and to think outside the box. When choosing a job, let yourself be guided above all by what fascinated you most during your studies!"
Gustav Hollnagel (TraceTronic GmbH, TeamMaster/Industrial Psychologist, Organizational Development and Corporate Culture Improvement)
"The HPSTS Master’s program provided me with a broad technical and methodological foundation upon which I can now gradually build in practice. The degree program also allows you to delve deeper into certain subject areas, making it suitable, in a sense, for specialization before entering the workforce. The balance between in-depth subject knowledge and broad, application-oriented coverage is a difficult but, in my view, worthwhile balancing act. The beauty of it is that you never know when you might need a nugget of knowledge, but that’s exactly what matters: being well-prepared rather than applying ready-made solutions."
Martin Heide (Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE GmbH & CO. KG, Recruiter and Head of Occupational Health Management)
"Through the HPSTS program, I gained important knowledge and skills in psychological workplace analysis that I need in my current role, as I am responsible for occupational health management there. Additionally, the knowledge of structured interviewing is very useful for my work as a recruiter. Overall, the program has further developed my ability to properly interpret research studies. This is valuable not only in a professional setting."
