To return to the contents page, click your browser's "Back" button.
BACKGROUND:
Title: Psychology with Human Factors Emphasis
(MS). Contact: Curt Braun, University of Idaho, Dept. of Psychology,
Moscow, ID 83844-3043; 208/885-6324; hfactors@uidaho.edu, http://www.class.uidaho.edu/psych/Psychology%20Graduate/Human%20Factors.html.
Est: 1987. Semester. Granted last 3 years: MS 4. Part-time:
yes; also available off campus on video. 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 consumer product safety,
human-computer interaction, industrial/organizational psychology, motion
displays, perception of heading, training and performance support technologies,
visual display design, virtual reality, and warning design. HFES student
chapter: yes. Catalog: (free) College of Graduate Studies, University
of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3017.
APPLICATION:
Deadlines: 3/1 (fall). Fee: $35.
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. Students are
required to have taken courses in sensation and perception, cognitive processes,
and research methods. Research: medium. Work experience: medium.
Letters: high. Interview: medium.
ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 6 on campus, 4 off
campus (video). Accepted: 4 on campus, 3 off. Entered program: 2
on campus, 2 off. Openings/year: 5 on campus, 5 off.
TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $1508/semester. Nonresident:
$4508/semester.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 100 on campus, 0 off. Amount:
$4500/$9000. 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, 5
years. Off-campus students take the nonthesis option.
CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): Human Factors in
Engineering Design (3), Engineering Psychology (3), Research Methods (3),
Research Design (3), Human-Computer Interaction (3), Advanced Human Factors (3),
Training and Skill Acquisition (3), Ergonomics and Biomechanics (3). Required
courses outside department: 1. Recommended courses outside department: 1.
Offered: weekdays, videotape. 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 reality
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: The Visual Performance
Laboratory (Dyre) conducts psychophysical and applied investigations related to
the design and use of dynamic visual displays and virtual environments. The
Warnings and Safety Laboratory (Braun) conducts research on the parameters
affecting warning effectiveness.
STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: On campus: 4 men, 4 women; video off campus:
19 men, 24 women. First-year students: On campus: 5; video off campus: 2.
Mean scores: On campus GRE 432 v, 630 q, 563 a, GPA 3.62; off campus GRE
545 v, 590 q, 600 a, GPA 3.78.
FACULTY:
Curt C. Braun, PhD 1993, U Central Florida;
warnings, safety, decision making. Brian P. Dyre, PhD 1993, U Illinois;
visual psychophysics, mathematical modeling of visual processes, virtual
environments. Steffen Werner, PhD 1994, U Göttingen; spatial cognition,
visual cognition, imagery, and applied cognitive psychology.