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BACKGROUND:
Title: Industrial Engineering with specialization in Ergonomics (MSIE, PhD). Contact: James L. Smith, Texas Tech University, Industrial Engineering Dept., Lubbock, TX 79409-3061; 806/742-3543, james.smith@coe.ttu.edu, http://www.coe.ttu.edu/ie/ie_grad.htm. Est: 1961. Semester. Granted last 3 years: MSIE 9, PhD 3. Part-time: yes. Program: The Texas Tech Industrial Engineering graduate program in human factors and ergonomics is designed to develop qualified and competent practicing engineers, teachers, and researchers. Over the last 40 years the ergonomics program has produced more than 134 MS and 53 PhD graduates who hold leadership positions in educational, research, manufacturing, governmental, and consulting organizations. The program emphasizes occupational ergonomics from both the physical and cognitive perspectives, in conjunction with the Human Factors Program in Experimental Psychology. Areas of emphasis include workplace design, anthropometry, musculoskeletal systems, cumulative trauma, work physiology, biomechanics, environmental hygiene, manual materials handling, occupational safety and health, automation, information processing, decision making, and the development of intelligent interfaces for decision support systems. Accredited by: HFES. HFES student chapter: yes. Catalog: (free) Graduate School, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1033.

APPLICATIONS:
Deadline: 2 months prior to entry. Fee: $25 US, $50 international.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Applications (e.g., transcripts, GRE scores, work history, letters of recommendation, and written personal statements) are evaluated by the graduate faculty to determine the student's potential for completing the graduate degree. No rigid criterion or cut-off points are used in admissions decisions. Foreign students are subject to financial and immigration requirements and should have a TOEFL score of at least 550. Other: Science, mathematics, or engineering undergraduate degree recommended. Leveling courses may be required in math and engineering science for students without engineering undergraduate degrees. Research: high. Work experience: high. Letters: high. Interview: medium.

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 12. Accepted: 10. Entered program: 5. Openings/year: 10.

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $63/semester hour, plus fees (see catalog). Nonresident: $255/semester hour, plus fees (see catalog).

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 83. Amount: $6000/$9000/$13200. Available: TA, RA, scholarship, not tuition exempt but nonresident fees waived. Apply: with application.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
MSIE: 30 hours, thesis defense, research required, no languages or practical experience required, 1 1/2 years. Nonthesis option: yes: 36 hours; comprehensive exam, no languages, research, or practical experience required; 1 year. PhD: 60 hours, 2 exams, research required, no languages or practical experience required, 3 years.

CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Ergonomics and Design (3), Environmental Ergonomics (3), Work Physiology (3), Occupational Biomechanics (3), Safety Engineering (3), Loss Assessment and Control (3). Electives: Cognitive Engineering (3), Design of Experiments (3), Decision Theory and Management Science (3), Productivity and Performance Improvement in Organizations (3), Simulation Models for Operations Analysis (3), Total Quality Systems (3), Theoretical Studies in Advanced IE Topics. (3). Human factors electives from Psychology, as appropriate. Required courses outside department: 0. Recommended courses outside department: 0-2 for MS, 5 for PhD. Offered: summer. Class size: 6-12.

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: The Industrial Ergonomics Laboratory occupies more than 4000 square feet in the Industrial Engineering Building. Lab facilities include equipment specialized for research in work physiology (Metabolic Measurement Cart, physiological monitoring and recording equipment); biomechanics (3D motion analysis system, force platforms, Cybex, portable load cells, lifting machines); environmental hygiene (heat chamber, environmental monitoring systems); human gait (slip-fall arresting rig); virtual reality and teleoperations (Silicon Graphics Indigo 2 maximum Impact Workstation, TeleGrip, Vega, LynX, and Audioworks software, Staubli RX-130 industrial robot); and general ergonomics (photographic darkroom; Apple, PC, and Sun microcomputers). Support facilities include a student computer laboratory, metal and woodworking shops, and an electronics shop. University computing facilities include mainframe and additional microcomputer facilities. Teaching: TAs primarily assist faculty with classroom teaching and labs. Opportunities to assume full teaching responsibility are available to PhD students. Current research: Occupational safety and health training grant (NIOSH), dynamic ergonomics analysis tool, additional tray lifting and stacking analysis (US Postal Service), Analysis and modification to operations (private industry), biomechanics of slips and falls in older people (state of Texas), gait strategies in simulated partial gravity, and the posture and motion of virtual humans in CAD software.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 4 men, 4 women. First-year students: 2. Mean scores: MSIE GRE 510 v, 715 q, 550 a, GPA 3.55. PhD GRE 456 v, 738 q, 566 a, GPA 3.62.

FACULTY:
Mario Beruvides, PhD 1993, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State U; macroergonomics, engineering management, productivity. Simon M. Hsiang, PhD 1992, Texas Tech U.; biomechanics, cognitive engineering, ergonomics, human reliability. Jerry D. Ramsey, PhD 1967, Texas Tech U; safety, environmental hygiene, ergonomics. James L. Smith, PhD 1980, Auburn U; work physiology, biomechanics, ergonomics. Jeffrey C. Wolstad, PhD 1989, U of Michigan; biomechanics, ergonomics, work physiology, cognitive ergonomics.