Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Department: Psychology
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PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Title of program
Applied Experimental Psychology (Concentration in Human Factors)
Department sponsoring program
Psychology
Year human factors/ergonomics program was established
1993
Accredited by HFES?
No
Contact person for more information, including applications
Lisa Vangsness
University of Alabama in Huntsville
301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
(256) 824-6193
Psychology@uah.edu
Catalog
https://www.uah.edu/ahs/departments/psychology/programs/graduate
Academic calendar
Semester
Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered
Applied Experimental Psychology (M.S. & Ph.D.)
Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the program
The program is rooted in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis on applied research, which is still grounded in theory. Students are prepared for careers in Academia, Industry, or Government as they work closely with their advisor and local government/industry partners. The program stresses interaction with other departments on campus, particularly Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, as well as Business.
Number of degrees granted during last 3 years
17
Can students attend part-time?
Yes
Are required courses offered through distance learning?
Yes
Are required courses offered at night?
Yes
Are required courses offered during summer?
Yes
Does the university have an HFES student chapter?
No
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application deadlines
Spring: September 1 (if currently living outside the United States); November 30 (if currently living inside the United States)
Summer: February 1 (if currently living outside the United States); March 15 (if currently living inside the United States)
Fall: April 1 (if currently living outside the United States); June 1 (if currently living inside the United States)
Application fees
$60
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.5 overall on a 4.0 scale on all higher education courses attempted or in the last 60 hours of earned credit
- For international students, have TOEFL: all sub-scores greater than or equal to 22 OR IELTS: all sub-scores greater than or equal to 6.5
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Research Writing Sample: Please submit an empirical research report, which should consist of an APA formatted research paper describing data you have collected and analyzed. If this is not a paper you completed for a class but a publication that you completed with other authors, the applicant must be the first author on the paper.
- Professional Statement including Research Interest
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Three (3) Letters of Reference that speak to applicant’s competency in research methods and statistics
- Once you have submitted a completed application you will interview faculty member in the Department of Psychology
- Acknowledgment of reliable computer, webcam, and Internet access to successfully complete online and hybrid classes
Importance of other criteria as admission factors
Previous research activity: high
Relevant work experience: high
Extracurricular activities: low
Letters of recommendation: medium
Tuition and fees
In state: $5,529
Out of state: $13,085
ADMISSIONS
Number of students applying to the human factors/ergonomics program last year
24
Number of students accepted into the program last year
15
Number of students entering the program last year
9
Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years
15
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance
100%
Amount received per year
Variable depending on type of assistantship and level in the program
Types of assistance available
Teaching assistantship (tuition exempt)
Research assistantship (tuition exempt)
When should students apply for financial assistance?
At the same time as submitting application for admission
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate degrees offered
MS
Number of units required
30
Exams required
Thesis and oral defense
Language requirements
None
Research required
Thesis research
Practical experience required
None
Typical number of years required to obtain degree
2
Is there a non-thesis option?
Yes
Graduate degrees offered
Ph.D.
Number of units required
72
Exams required
Thesis, Qualifying Exam, Dissertation
Language requirements
None
Research required
Thesis & Dissertation
Practical experience required
None
Typical number of years required to obtain degree
5
Is there a non-thesis option?
No
CURRICULUM
Required courses (units)
Masters: Professional Development & Teaching Practicum (3), Experimental Design (3), Statistics (4), Concentrated Readings (3), Masters Thesis (6), Other Elective Courses (12)
Ph.D.: Human Systems Integration (3), Computation Concepts and Introduction to Software Programming (3), Psychology in Human Computer Interaction (3), Human Machine System Design (3), Usability Evaluation and Testing (3), Management of Complex Systems (3), Elective Course (3)
Electives (units)
Ergonomics and Regulations in User Centered Design (3), Rapid Prototyping (3), Human-AI Interaction (3), Machine Learning for Social/Behavioral Research (3), Computational Psychology (3), Social Cognitive Neuroscience (3), Psychometrics (3), Internship (3), Human Factors (3), Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3), Cognitive Psychology (3)
Number of courses outside department that are required
0
Number of courses outside department that are recommended
2
Average or typical class size in a required course
6–8
RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Research and support facilities available to students in the program:
All students are required to participate in ongoing research with a faculty member as part of the program. Currently there are 16 distinct lab spaces in our building, totalling over 1,700 sqft. Additionally, there are collaborations with research labs over in our Systems Engineering department, and Army Research labs. There are also offices for PhD students.
Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Students who are interested in teaching may have the opportunity for a teaching assistantship starting their second year in the program. All students are required to teach one week of an undergraduate course in the Professional Development courses.
Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:
Faculty are pursuing various research projects including on human-automation/human-robot/human-AI interaction. Additionally, work is focusing on team dynamics of multi-agent and multi-human teams. Our Human Factors faculty members work in highly interdisciplinary environments, collaborating on grant funded projects with Systems Engineering, Kinesiology, Computer Science, and others.
STUDENT STATISTICS
Number of current HF/E postdocs
0
Of the number of those graduating in the past year, what
percentage gained employment in
Academia: 0
Industry: 5
Government: 1
FACULTY
FACULTY
Nathan Tenhundfeld, PhD 2017, Colorado State University; human-automation interaction, trust, reliance
Lisa Vangsness, PhD 2019, Kansas State University; metacognition, trust in automation, mathematical modeling of dynamic processes
Kristin Weger, PhD 2017, Otto-Friedrich University; I/O Psychology, Human-Systems interventions, Team dynamics/preferences/communication