UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Psychology Department

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BACKGROUND:
Title: Human Factors (MSc, PhD)
Est: 1986
Semester
Granted last 3 years: MSc 4, PhD 1
Part-time: no
Distance learning available: no
HFES student chapter: no
Program: The program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model of training. Primary areas of research activity are in transportation human factors, aging and visual health, human error, human-computer interaction, health care human factors, attention and skill acquisition, visual processing. Numerous opportunities exist to develop multidisciplinary interests in conjunction with computer science, environmental design, kinesiology, and medicine faculties.
Contact: Jeff Caird, University of Calgary, Department of Psychology, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada; 403/220-5571; http://www.ucalgary.ca/cerl/index.html
Catalog: http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/calendar

APPLICATION:
Deadline: 1/15
Fee: domestic, $100 (Cdn), international, $130 (Cdn)

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.4 (minimum requirement; 3.6 preferred)
GRE: acceptable score; non-psychology majors must complete the psychology subject test
Other: Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent with a minimum of 4 years of acceptable coursework from a recognized institution. A GPA of 3.4 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: 3
Accepted: 1
Entered program: 1
Openings/year: 2-3

TUITION AND FEES:
http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/fees
Resident: $5,439 (Cdn) year 1 full fees, $1,582.68/year (Cdn) continuing
Nonresident: $12,347.34 (Cdn) year 1 full fees, $3,591.90/year (Cdn) continuing

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 100
Amounts: MSc: $19,500 (Cdn), 2 years guaranteed; PhD $21,000 (Cdn), 3 years guaranteed
Available: Fellowship, TA, RA, scholarship
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 candidacy exams, research required, 2-3 years

CURRICULUM:
Required courses (units): See online: http://www.psyc.ucalgary.ca/sites/psych.ucalgary.ca/files/PSYC_2010-11.pdf
Electives: Transportation Human Factors, Human Error, Medical Human Factors, Cognitive Engineering, Advanced HCI, Methods in HCI
Required courses outside department: 0
Recommended courses outside department: 2-4
Class size: 3-8

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: General and specialized computer facilities are available to graduate students. Hardware and software technical support staff support a wide range of research needs. Research experience is usually specific to an adviser's lab. The Cognitive Ergonomics Research Lab (CERL) 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 Healthcare Human Factors and Simulation (HHFS) Lab located at the Medical Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre (www.w21c.org) is a state-of-the-art research and usability lab. It houses two high-fidelity patient simulators, integrated audio and video equipment, and wearable eye-tracking systems.
Teaching: Graduate students who receive TA support typically serve as laboratoy or tutorial instructors; they may lecture occasionally. PhD students who have completed candidacy may have the opportunity to instruct courses as preparation to enter academics.
Current research: CERL: Novice and experienced drivers hazard perception, the effect of hybrid displays on eco-driving and driver distraction, perceiving and reacting to motorcyclists, the effects of video games on driver behavior. HHFSL: The usability of automated external defibrillators, optimizing the design of emergency department crash carts, the effects of interruptions on triage decision making, teamwork, and fatigue.

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 2 men, 5 women
First-year students: 2
Mean scores: n/a

FACULTY:
Jeff Caird, PhD 1994, U of Minnesota; transportation and health care human factors, HCI
Jan Davies, MD; medical and aviation human factors, human error
Bob Dewar, (emeritus professor), PhD 1965, McMaster U; driver behavior, human factors, perception
Saul Greenberg, PhD 1989, U of Calgary; HCI, computer-supported cooperative work, visualization interfaces
Don Kline, PhD 1972, U of Southern California; vision, aging, visual health, human factors
Theresa Kline, PhD 1990, U of Calgary; I/O, computer-supported cooperative work, human factors
Chip Scialfa, PhD 1987, U of Notre Dame; driving, aging, visual perception

[Updated August 2010]