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 12
Part-time: yes
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 pedestrian safety, human-computer interaction, industrial/organizational psychology, virtual environments and simulation, aviation psychology, navigation, neuro-ergonomics, decision making, visual display design, and design of warnings.
Contact: Todd Thorsteinson, University of Idaho, Dept. of Psychology & Communication Studies, Moscow, ID 83844-3043; 208/885-6324; hfactors@uidaho.edu
Catalog: (free) College of Graduate Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3017

APPLICATION:
Deadlines: 2/15 (fall)
Fee: $85

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.
Research: medium
Work experience: medium
Letters: high
Interview: medium

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 9 on campus, 2 off campus (video)
Accepted: 7 on campus, 1 off
Entered program: 4 on campus, 1 off
Openings/year: 5 on campus, 5 off

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $3,060/semester
Nonresident: $5,796/semester

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 100 on campus, 0 off
Amount: $5,000/$10,000
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

CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Introduction to Human Factors Engineering (3), Engineering Psychology (3), Research Methods (3), Advanced Research Methods (3), Human-Computer Interaction (3), Advanced Human Factors (3), Ergonomics and Biomechanics (3), Cognitive Psychology (3), Sensation & Perception (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 environment 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: Virtual environments and simulation, aviation psychology, pedestrian safety, navigation, visual display design, human-computer interaction, neuro-ergonomics, decision making

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: On campus: 12 men, 1 woman; video off campus: 5 men, 5 women
First-year students: On campus: 4; video off campus: 1
Mean scores: On campus GRE 495 v, 676 q, GPA 3.46; off campus GRE 570 v, 635 q, GPA 3.40

FACULTY:
Benjamin Barton, PhD 2005, U of Alabama at Birmingham; risk factors for unintentional injuries, injury prevention
Ernesto Bustamante, PhD 2007, Old Dominion U; signal detection theory, automation, cognitive decision making, decision support tools
Brian P. Dyre, PhD 1993, U of Illinois; visual psychophysics, mathematical modeling of visual processes, virtual environments, neuro-ergonomics
Steffen Werner, PhD 1994, U of Göttingen; spatial cognition, visual cognition, imagery, neuro-ergonomics, applied cognitive psychology

[Updated July 2010]