Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Department: Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
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Directory of Graduate Programs
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Title of program:
Ergonomics Graduate Program; Occupational Ergonomics (MS, PhD)
Year human factors/ergonomics
program was established:
Contact person for more information, including applications:
JoiLynn Drescher
Director, Ergonomics Graduate Program,
ERHS Department,
1681 Campus Delivery,
Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1691
970-491-5003
JoiLynn.Drescher@colostate.edu
Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered:
Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the programs:
The graduate program has an interdisciplinary focus with contributing faculty from occupational and environmental health, occupational health psychology, biomedical engineering, and health and exercise science. The program is a component of the NIOSH-supported Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (ERC), which includes programs in occupational ergonomics, occupational medicine, occupational health psychology, industrial hygiene, and health physics.
Emphasis is placed on occupational ergonomics and human factors, injury prevention applications, occupational exposure assessment, workstation design, production quality and efficiency, safety climate, and safety culture. Current focus of research is in the research in the manufacturing, construction, and agriculture industries. The goal is to provide students the capability to effectively resolve occupational human performance challenges through design with considerations to production, product or process quality, worker health and safety, and the quality of work life.
Number of degrees granted during last 3 years:
Can students attend part-time?
Are required courses offered through distance learning?
Does the university have an HFES student chapter?
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application deadlines:
May 1 (Fall)
November 1 (Spring)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements
- GPA: MS: 3.0; PhD: 3.5
- GRE: Recommended: 600 v, 600 q, 5.0 w
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions; official GRE scores; resume or curriculum vitae; written statement of background, interests, motivation for graduate study, and professional goals; 3 letters of recommendation from academic sources. International Students: TOEFL minimum 550 (paper), 213 (computer); evidence of research capability (for PhD program).
- Recommended: Applications are most commonly accepted from individuals with undergraduate or graduate degrees in the health sciences (e.g., physical or occupational therapy), engineering, behavioral, biological, physical, or safety sciences. Previous coursework in anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics is strongly recommended. Each candidate is evaluated on their individual merits and qualities.
Importance of other criteria as admission factors:
- Research: Medium
- Relevant work experience: Medium
- Letters of recommendation: High
- Personal interview: High
Tuition and fees
Resident: $6,700/semester
Nonresident: $10,600/semester (est.)
ADMISSIONS
Number of students applying to the human factors/ergonomics program last year:
Number of students accepted into the program last year:
Number of students entering the program last year:
Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years:
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance:
Amount received per year:
Types of assistance available:
Research Assistantship (not tuition exempt), Traineeship (tuition exempt)
When should students apply for financial assistance?
For priority consideration, submit application by November 1 (fall semester) or March 1 (spring semester)
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Number of units required:
MA: 43-semester units
PhD: At least 72-semester units beyond the bachelor's degree, 12-semester units of research/dissertation
Exams required:
MA: Oral exams
PhD: Qualifying and comprehensive exams and oral defense of dissertation
Research required:
MA: Practicum experience, research required
Practical experience required:
Typical number of years required to obtain degree:
MA: 2
PhD: 3 years minimum
Is there a non-thesis option?
CURRICULUM
Required Courses (units):
Departmental core courses (12), Principles of Ergonomics (3), Occupational and Environmental Health Interdisciplinary Symposia (1), Human Performance (3), Occupational Safety (3), Ergonomics in Product and Process Design (3), Ergonomic Practicum (3), Introductory Statistics (3), Intermediate Statistics (3)
Number of courses outside department that are required:
- Biomechanics (3)
- Occupational Health Psychology (3)
- Biomechanics (3)
- Occupational Health Psychology (3)
Number of courses outside department that are recommended:
TBD depending on student's background
Average or typical class size in a required course:
RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Research and support facilities available to students in the program:
State-of-the-art laboratory and computer facilities are available for research in human factors/ergonomics and injury prevention.
Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Graduate students are encouraged to serve as teaching assistants and/or enroll in Supervised College Teaching (3).
Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:
Workplace exposure assessment and design, injury prevention, prevention of upper extremity and low back disorders, epidemiology of occupational injuries and illnesses, ergonomic design, organizational factors in ergonomics, safety climate and culture, production quality and efficiency through design.
STUDENT STATISTICS
Current number of active students in program, by gender:
Current number of first-year students in program:
Based on current graduate students in the MS in Human Systems Engineering program, the mean score on admission tests and undergraduate GPA by degree being sought are:
MS:
- GRE 550 v, 603 q
- 4.5 w; GPA 3.76
PhD:
- GRE 530 v; 630 q
- 4.5 w; GPA 3.75
FACULTY
Raoul Riser, PhD 2000, Colorado State U.; Human Biomechanics
John Rosecrance, PhD 1993, U. of Iowa; Occupational Ergonomics, Exposure Assessment, Musculoskeletal Disorders
Bill Brazile, PhD; Exposure Assessment, Industrial Hygiene
Gwen Fisher, PhD; Occupational Health Psychology
[Updated May 2022]