UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Moscow, Idaho
Department of Psychology

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BACKGROUND:
Title: Psychology with Human Factors Emphasis (MS)
Est: 1987
Semester
Granted last 3 years: MS 4
Part-time: yes; also available off campus on video
Distance learning available: yes
HFES student chapter: yes
Program: The goal of the program is to provide training such that students will be able to obtain a position working in industry or pursue graduate work at the doctoral level. The program stresses both theoretical research and practical application to human factors problems. Internships are available in a variety of industrial settings. Current areas of faculty interest include consumer product safety, human-computer interaction, industrial/organizational psychology, motion displays, perception of heading, training and performance support technologies, visual display design, virtual reality, and warning design.
Contact: Curt Braun, University of Idaho, Dept. of Psychology, Moscow, ID 83844-3043; 208/885-6324; hfactors@uidaho.edu, http://www.class.uidaho.edu/psych/Psychology%20Graduate/Human%20Factors.html.
Catalog: (free) College of Graduate Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3017

APPLICATION:
Deadlines: 3/1 (fall)
Fee: $35

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.0
GRE: 1000 v + q
Other: Three letters of recommendation. Preference is given to students with undergraduate degrees in psychology, engineering, or related field. Students are required to have taken courses in sensation and perception, cognitive processes, and research methods.
Research: medium
Work experience: medium
Letters: high
Interview: medium

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 6 on campus, 4 off campus (video)
Accepted: 4 on campus, 3 off
Entered program: 2 on campus, 2 off
Openings/year: 5 on campus, 5 off

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $1508/semester
Nonresident: $4508/semester

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 100 on campus, 0 off
Amount: $4500/$9000
Available: TA, RA, partial tuition exemption
Apply: Financial assistance is automatically considered with application.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
MS (thesis): 30 units, thesis defense, proficiency in computer language, thesis research, no practical experience, 2 years
MS (nonthesis): 30 units, comprehensive exam, written statistics and research methods exam, proficiency in computer language, no practical experience, 5 years. Off-campus students take the nonthesis option.

CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Human Factors in Engineering Design (3), Engineering Psychology (3), Research Methods (3), Research Design (3), Human-Computer Interaction (3), Advanced Human Factors (3), Training and Skill Acquisition (3), Ergonomics and Biomechanics (3)
Required courses outside department: 1
Recommended courses outside department: 1
Class size: 4-20

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: The program maintains a human factors research facility equipped with many personal computers and access to campus mainframes and the Internet. Head-mounted and virtual reality technologies, equipment for simulating head-up displays (HUDs), and a sophisticated wide-field visual simulation system with head- and eye-tracking capability are housed within the department. Videotape facilities are available for usability testing. Externally funded research provides continued expansion of these facilities.
Teaching: All students are given the opportunity to serve as teaching assistants for appropriate experimental psychology and research methods courses.
Current research: The Visual Performance Laboratory (Dyre) conducts psychophysical and applied investigations related to the design and use of dynamic visual displays and virtual environments. The Warnings and Safety Laboratory (Braun) conducts research on the parameters affecting warning effectiveness.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: On campus: 4 men, 4 women; video off campus: 19 men, 24 women
First-year students: On campus: 5; video off campus: 2
Mean scores: On campus GRE 432 v, 630 q, 563 a, GPA 3.62; off campus GRE 545 v, 590 q, 600 a, GPA 3.78

FACULTY:
Curt C. Braun, PhD 1993, U Central Florida; warnings, safety, decision making
Brian P. Dyre, PhD 1993, U Illinois; visual psychophysics, mathematical modeling of visual processes, virtual environments
Steffen Werner, PhD 1994, U Göttingen; spatial cognition, visual cognition, imagery, and applied cognitive psychology