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BACKGROUND:
Title: Experimental Psychology with 4 specialized courses in Human Factors (MA). Contact: Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Morton Hall 335, Huntsville, AL 35899; 256/824-6191; carpens@email.uah.edu, http://www.uah.edu/colleges/liberal/psychology. Est: 1993. Semester. Granted last 3 years: MA 3. Part-time: yes. Program: The program is oriented toward providing an understanding and appreciation of the scientific basis of behavior. The focus of the program is general-experimental with areas of concentration available in cognitive, social, developmental, applied, and biopsychology. This program is primarily directed toward the student whose goal is the continuation of scholarly study, research, and writing. The end goal is to produce high-quality students according to the scientist-practitioner model who are well prepared for entry into the workforce or a PhD program. The program is designed for a small number of students who will work in close interaction with individual faculty members and with one another. Although a few structured courses are required of all students, a substantial portion of the student's program focuses on individual readings, research, and thesis. The program stresses interaction with other departments on campus, particularly Industrial and systems engineering and business. HFES student chapter: no. Catalog: ($2 + tax) UAH Office of Admissions, University Center, UAH, Huntsville, AL 35899.

APPLICATION:
Deadlines: none; students may enter during any semester, though they are encouraged to enter in the fall. Fee: $20.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.25. GRE: 1000 v + q. Other: Undergraduate transcripts, letter of intent, 3 letters of recommendation (at least one from a former professor), example of written work, undergraduate degree in psychology or related field, 15 hours of psychology approved by graduate faculty. Recommended: courses in experimental design and statistical analysis. Research: high. Work experience: low. Letters: medium. Interview: medium.

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 8. Accepted: 5. Entered program: 4. Openings/year: 10.

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $3200/yr. Nonresident: $6564/yr.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 75. Amount: n/a. Available: fellowship, TA, RA, scholarship, all tuition exempt. Apply: with application.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
MA: 30 units, oral defense of thesis proposal, oral defense of thesis, research required, no languages or practical experience required, 2 years. Nonthesis option: yes.

CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Experimental Design (3), Statistics for Experimental Methods (4), Supervised Research (3-6), Graduate Research Seminar (3), Master's Thesis (3-6). Electives: Concentrated Reading (3), Proseminar: Cognitive (3), Ergonomics (3), Advanced Ergonomics (3), Human Factors (3), Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3). Required courses outside department: 0. Recommended courses outside department: 2. Offered: night, summer. Class size: 5-10.

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: All students are required to participate in ongoing research with a faculty member as part of the program. Currently there is an 800-square-foot human factors research lab within the Psychology Department as well as a 500-square-foot human memory and learning lab. Students may do research at virtual reality labs located at NASA-Marshall, U.S. Army AMCOM, and Boeing. Teaching: Students who are interested in teaching may have the opportunity for a teaching assistantship during their second year in the program. Current research: Faculty are pursuing research concerning human performance in categorization tasks and decision making and illusory memory.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 2 men, 6 women. First-year students: 4. Mean scores: GRE 540 v, 540 q, GPA 3.5.