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BACKGROUND:
Title: Industrial Engineering with Specialization in
Human Factors (MS, PhD). Contact: Keith Adams, HF Graduate Coordinator,
Iowa State University, IMSE Dept., 205 Engineering Annex, Ames, IA 50011;
515/294-5065. Est: 1974. Semester. Granted last 3 years: MS 10,
PhD 2. Part-time: yes. Program: Areas of study include human factors
engineering using biomechanics, work physiology, and engineering psychology;
work design; industrial safety; and human-computer interaction. Supporting
courses in psychology, physiology, computer science, statistics, biomedical
engineering, and other elective areas. Students are free to choose an area of
specialization. Each program of study is individually tailored to meet the needs
of a given specialization. Typical areas of specialization include industrial
ergonomics with emphasis in biomechanics and work physiology, safety engineering
and reliability, biomedical engineering, and ergonomics in manufacturing and
system design. HFES student chapter: no. Catalog: (free) ISU
Graduate Admissions, 100 Alumni Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
50011.
APPLICATION:
Deadlines: 3/1, 10/1. Fee: $20; $30 for
international students. Separate applications required for university and
department.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.00. GRE: 520 v, 700 q, 1220 v + q, 630
a. Other: TOEFL 550, BS degree in engineering or physical science.
Research: low. Work experience: medium. Letters: high.
Interview: high.
ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 9. Accepted: 7.
Entered program: 7. Openings/year: 10.
TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $1851/semester. Nonresident:
$5449/semester.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 80. Amount: $8000/$10000/$12000.
Available: TA (50% tuition exempt for half-time assistantship), RA
(tuition exempt when available). Apply: with application.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
MS: 30 semester hours, oral defense of thesis,
thesis research, no languages or practical experience required, 2 years.
Nonthesis option: no. PhD: 72 semester hours, qualifying exam,
comprehensive exam, oral defense of dissertation, dissertation, no languages or
practical experience required, 4 years.
CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Advanced Ergonomic Analysis (3), Human Factors (3), other
courses selected per student program interests and specialization. Required
courses outside department: individually determined. Recommended courses
outside department: individually determined. Class size:
10-15.
RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: Department lab
facilities include equipment for measuring heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen
consumption, force, and reaction time and for simulating visual perception and
control tasks. Resources in the Department of Health and Human Performance
include advanced and computer-enhanced equipment for monitoring the
cardiovascular system and electromyographic and electrocardiographic input, as
well as evaluating physical performance and biomechanical forces and torques.
The Virtual Reality Lab is available through the Department of Mechanical
Engineering. Teaching: Opportunities exist in teaching laboratory sections of an
undergraduate course in Applied Ergonomics and Work Design. Current research:
Using EMG to predict muscle forces, biomechanics in wheelchair design, situation
awareness applications, evaluation of medical forms, medical prescription
errors, development of the virtual patient, human factors in intensive care unit
design.
STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 8 men, 4 women. First-year students:
4. Mean scores: n/a.
FACULTY:
S. Keith Adams, PhD 1966, Arizona State U;
human-system interaction, safety engineering, human reliability. Patrick E.
Patterson, PhD 1984, Texas A&M U; biomechanics, work physiology,
rehabilitation technology, human-computer interfaces.