UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, HUNTSVILLE
Huntsville, Alabama
Department of Psychology

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BACKGROUND:
Title: Experimental Psychology with 5 specialized courses in Human Factors (MA)
Est: 1993
Semester
Granted last 3 years: MA 13
Part-time: yes
Distance learning available: for some courses
HFES student chapter: no
Program: The focus of the program is general-experimental with areas of focus available in cognitive, social, developmental, applied (human factors and industrial/organizational), and biopsychology. This program is primarily directed toward the student whose goal is the continuation of scholarly study, research, or 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 Engineering Management, as well as Business.
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.
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 psychology professor), example of written work (APA report of empirical work preferred), 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: 12
Accepted: 10
Entered program: 8
Openings/year: 10

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $4350/yr
Nonresident: $8900/yr

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 70
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) or Master's Thesis (3-6), Concentrated Readings (3), Professional Development in Research and Teaching (2)
Electives: Work Design (3), Human Factors (3), Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3), Performance Measurement and Productivity Improvement (3), Value and Decision Theory (3)
Required courses outside department: 0
Recommended courses outside department: 2
Offered: night, summer
Distance learning: Periodically, the elective courses are available on DVD.
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. Students may also get involved in research at the Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis at UAH.
Teaching: Students who are interested in teaching may have the opportunity for a teaching assistantship during their second year in the program. All students are required to teach one week of an undergraduate course in the Professional Development courses.
Current research: Faculty are pursuing research concerning human performance in categorization tasks and decision making , the interface between learning and motor responses, and NASA's Ares I crew launch vehicle system.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 3 men, 10 women
First-year students: 8
Mean scores: GRE 520 v, 630 q; GPA 3.5

[Updated Winter 2007]