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BACKGROUND:
Title: Perception, Aging, and Cognitive Ergonomics (PACE; MSc, PhD). Contact: Don Kline, University of Calgary, Department of Psychology, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada; 403/220-5571; http://www.psych.ucalgary.ca/pace/. Est: 1972.Semester. Granted last 3 years: MSc 3, PhD 2. Part-time: no. Program: The program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model of training. The PACE program is new; however, the department has a history of applied research excellence in aging and human factors. Primary areas of research activity are in transportation ergonomics, visual ergonomics, aging and visual health, human-computer interaction, medical human factors, attention and skill acquisition, visual processing, speech perception, and audition. Numerous opportunities exist to develop multidisciplinary interests in conjunction with computer science, environmental design, kinesiology, and medicine faculties. HFES student chapter: no. Catalog: (free) Rachela Buonincontri, Department of Psychology, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; cpsych@ucalgary.ca.

APPLICATION:
Deadline: 10/1. Fee: $60 (Cdn.).

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.2. GRE: acceptable score. Other: Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent with a minimum of 3 years of acceptable coursework from a recognized institution. A GPA of 3.2 over the last two undergraduate and/or graduate years consisting of at least 10 full-course equivalents. Proficiency in English. Research: high. Work experience: medium. Letters: high. Interview: low.

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 12. Accepted: 4. Entered program: 4. Openings/year: 2-3.

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $873/year (Cdn). Nonresident: $9746/year (Cdn).

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 100. Amounts: $16442/$16540/$20000 (Cdn). Available: Fellowship, TA, RA, scholarship; only fellowship and scholarship are tuition exempt. Apply: with application.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
MSc: 24 units, thesis defense, research required, no languages or practical experience, 2-3 years. Nonthesis option: no. PhD: 12 units, oral and written preliminary exams, research required, no languages required, internship suggested, 2-3 years.

CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Introduction to Design and Analysis (3), Advanced Design and Analysis (3), Engineering Psychology (3), Advanced Sensation, Perception, and Cognition (3). Electives: Advanced Experimental Aging, Transportation Ergonomics, Human Error, Medical Human Factors, Cognitive Engineering, Advanced HCI, Methods in HCI, Ergonomics for Environmental Design, People and Products. Required courses outside department: 0. Recommended courses outside department: 2-4. Class size: 3-12.

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: General and specialized computer facilities are available to graduate students. Hardware and software technical support staff and shops support a wide range of research needs. Research experience is usually specific to an adviser's lab. The Vision and Aging Lab includes automated and manual optical correction, electromechanical visual testing and optics equipment and materials, and an extensive Mac and PC network to support graphics development, image processing, vision testing, stimulus presentation, data acquisition, and analysis. The Cognitive Ergonomics Research Lab houses the University of Calgary Driving Simulator (UCDS). The UCDS is a full automobile with projection to 150 degrees, a high-speed eye movement system, and ITS prototyping software. The Perceptual and Cognitive Aging Lab has acuity and contrast sensitivity testing equipment, lensometry, autorefraction, noncontact tonometers, a number of Mac workstations, and a PC-based eye movement system. The GroupLab contains networked Sun and PC workstations, a digital editing suite, a smartboard, and networked PDAs. The Speech and Audition Lab houses an anechoic chamber, audiometric testing equipment, and several microcomputers dedicated to speech analysis and auditory psychoacoustics. Teaching: Graduate students who receive TA support are expected to conduct laboratories and lecture occasionally. Advanced students may instruct an entire course as preparation to enter academics. Current research: Effects of visual aging on everyday tasks; image processing and optimization of visual displays and fonts; effects of luminance, age, and clutter on sign conspicuity; effects of technology change on the practice of anesthesiology; effects of intelligent transportation systems on older drivers; contributions of organizational factors to driver accidents; the usability of computer-supported cooperative work applications; and hearing problems in daily life.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 4 men, 1 woman. First-year students: 3. Mean scores: n/a.

FACULTY:
Jeff Caird, PhD 1994, U Minnesota; transportation and medical human factors, HCI. Jan Davies, MD; medical and aviation human factors, human error. Bob Dewar, PhD 1965, McMaster U; driver behavior, human factors, perception. Saul Greenberg, PhD, U Calgary; HCI, computer-supported cooperative work, visualization interfaces. Don Kline, PhD 1972, University of Southern California; vision, aging, visual health, human factors. Theresa Kline, PhD 1990, U Calgary; I/O, computer-supported cooperative work, human factors. Chip Scialfa, PhD 1987, U Notre Dame; driving, aging, visual perception. Elzbieta Slawinski, PhD 1978, Warsaw; speech, auditory perception, development/aging. Ron Wardell, PhD 1983, U Waterloo; occupational ergonomics, macroergonomics.