Resources

Kansas State University
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Location:   Manhattan, Kansas

Department:  Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering


Quick links:

Directory of Graduate Programs

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Title of program:

Industrial Engineering with Specialized HF Courses (MSIE, PhD)

Year human factors/ergonomics
program was established:

1964

Accredited by HFES?

No

Contact person for more information, including applications:

Margaret J. Rys
Kansas State University,
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
215 Durland Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-5101
913/532-3733
malrys@ksu.edu

Catalog ($6):

KSU Union Bookstore
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506

Academic calendar:

Semester

Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered:

MSIE and PhD

Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the programs:

Option in the IMSE program. Students with undergraduate degrees in some field of engineering take a variety of other IE courses, as the emphasis is on training industrial engineers with a specialty in ergonomics rather than just knowledge of ergonomics.

Number of degrees granted during last 3 years:

MSIE 6, PhD 1

Can students attend part-time?

Yes

Does the university have an HFES student chapter?

No


APPLICATION PROCESS

Application deadlines:

March 1 (fall)
June 1 (spring)

Application Fees:

$25 for international applicants>


ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements

  • GPA: 3.5
  • GRE: 725 q
  • Other: TOEFL for foreign students, degree in engineeringTOEFL for foreign students, degree in engineering

Importance of other criteria as admission factors:

  • Research: Low
  • Work experience: Medium
  • Letters: High
  • Interview: Low

Tuition and fees

Resident: $113.40/credit hour plus $14/credit hour engineering fee and $251 campus privilege fee
Nonresident: $357.75/credit hour (plus fees)


ADMISSIONS

Number of students applying to the human factors/ergonomics program last year:

N/A

Number of students accepted into the program last year:

N/A

Number of students entering the program last year:

N/A

Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years:

5


FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance:

90%

Amount received per year:

$1,200

Types of assistance available:

TA, RA

When should students apply for financial assistance?

With application


DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Graduate degree offered:

MSIE and PhD

Number of units required:

MSIE: 30 units for thesis, 32 for report
PhD: 90

Exams required:

MSIE: none
MS (thesis-based masters): oral defense of thesis
PhD: preliminary exams, oral defense of dissertation

Language requirements:

None

Research required:

MSIE: recommended
MS (thesis-based masters): thesis research
PhD: dissertation research required

Practical experience required:

MSIE: none
PhD: recommended

Typical number of years required to obtain degree:

MSIE: 2
PhD: 3 beyond MS

Is there a non-thesis option?

Yes


CURRICULUM

Required Courses (units):

Industrial Ergonomics (3), Occupational Safety (3), Work Environments (3), Engineering Administration (3), Statistical Methods (4)

Number of courses outside department that are required:

1

Number of courses outside department that are recommended:

3

Average or typical class size in a required course:

10


RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Research and support facilities available to students in the program:
Specialized facilities in illumination and office workstations; specialized facilities in heat stress (Institute for Environmental Research).

Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
PhD students will teach at least one course as part of their training (and assistantship). MS students generally get no teaching experience.

Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:
Investigate and test in the field the human factors and safety aspects of center-of-lane and center line rumble strips on two-lane rural highways without shoulders; study alternative ways of marking narrow bridges and culverts on low-volume rural roadways; study the safety and effectiveness of roundabouts; study the influence of sitting, standing, and sit/standing on comfort and fatigue; study the effects of automatic tilting chair on the lower back.


STUDENT STATISTICS

Current number of active students in program, by gender:

4 men, 1 woman

Current number of first-year students in program:

3


FACULTY

Margaret J. Rys, PhD 1989, Kansas State U.; human factors in transportation, industrial ergonomics