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BACKGROUND:
Title: Human Factors Engineering (MS, PhD). Contact: Colin G. Drury, Director of Graduate Studies, SUNY at Buffalo, Department of Industrial Engineering, 342 Bell Hall, Amherst, NY 14260; 716/645-2357; drury@buffalo.edu, http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/~bisantz/hf_home.html. Est: 1963. Semester. Granted last 3 years: MS 9, PhD 3. Part-time: yes. Program: A strong research and application environment is promoted in which faculty and students maintain close working relationships. Emphasis is placed on advancing the student's knowledge base and research skills and encouraging students to pursue their own research interests. The program draws on a large number of areas, including engineering, mathematics, psychology, physiology, and computer science. Current areas of interest include human error/human reliability studies, human factors in advanced manufacturing, cognitive engineering, modeling and supporting human decision making, occupational biomechanics, workplace ergonomics, musculoskeletal epidemiology, measurement methods, and human factors in aviation maintenance. Accredited by: HFES. HFES student chapter: yes. Catalog: (free), Graduate Admissions, SUNY at Buffalo, Department of Industrial Engineering, 342 Bell Hall, Amherst, NY 14260.

APPLICATION:
Deadlines: fellowships and assistantships 2/1 (fall), 10/2 (spring). Fee: $35.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.0. GRE: 1150 v + q. Other: BS or equivalent degree required. Three semesters of calculus, a two-semester probability/statistics sequence, and one course in computer programming or equivalent experience. Research: medium. Work experience: medium. Letters: high. Interview: medium.

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 27. Accepted: 20. Entered program: 12. Openings/year: 7.

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $3059/semester. Nonresident: $4717/semester.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 60 Amount: $11500/$1300/$14000. Available: fellowship, TA, RA, scholarship, all tuition exempt. Apply: with application.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
MS: 30 units, thesis defense, no languages, or practical experience required, thesis or equivalent research experience required, 2 years. Nonthesis option: no. PhD: 72 units, comprehensive exam, advanced (research) exam, proposal defense, dissertation defense, dissertation research, no languages or practical experience required, 4 years.

CURRICULUM:
Required courses: Human Factors Fundamentals (3),  Human Factors Research Methods (3), Human Factors Practicum (3) Design and Analysis of Experiments (3). Electives: Human Information Processing (3), Physiological Foundations of Human Factors (3), Occupational System Safety (3) , Sociotechnical Systems (3), Cognitive Engineering (3), Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics (3), Work Analysis and Musculoskelatal Epidemiology (3), Human-Computer Interaction (3). Required courses outside department: 0. Recommended courses outside department: 0. Offered: night. Class size: 10.

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: The Department of Industrial Engineering has numerous computer facilities and research labs available to support graduate student education in human factors, including a human?computer experimentation lab equipped with networked Pentium II and III computers and printers, a multisource information fusion laboratory equipped with NT computers and SUN workstations, a visual performance laboratory with equipment for video data capture and analysis, various equipment for the performance of field ergonomics studies, and a SUN workstation laboratory. Facilities for experimentation in work physiology and biomechanics include EMG, force measurement, and video monitoring equipment, electronic goniometers, biomechanical analysis software, and electronic anthropometric measurement equipment. Numerous small laboratories are available to be configured as needed for individual student research space. Teaching: Supervised teaching assistantships are available for qualified students, including grading, laboratory, and recitation responsibilities. Advanced PhD students may have the opportunity to serve as course lecturers. Current research: Human error reduction in aviation maintenance operations, human factors in security systems, human performance in complex decision making, graphical displays of uncertain information, new methods in anthropometry, and applied ergonomics intervention research.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 17 men, 9 women. First-year students: 10. Mean First-year scores: GRE 497 v. 718 q, 700 a.

FACULTY:
Ann Bisantz, PhD 1997, Georgia Tech; cognitive engineering, human-machine systems, human decision making. Colin G. Drury, PhD 1968, U Birmingham; human reliability and systems safety, human factors in quality assurance. Victor Paquet, ScD 1998, U Massachusetts at Lowell; ergonomics, occupational safety and health, musculoskeletal epidemiology.