PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Title of program

Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology

Year human factors/ergonomics program was established

1988

Accredited by HFES?

Yes

Contact person for more information, including applications

Mustapha Mouloua, AEHF Psychology, University of Central Florida, Psychology Department, Bldg. 99, 326, Orlando, FL 32816-1390; 407/823-2910; mouloua@mail.ucf.edu

Catalog (online)

http://www.graduatecatalog.ucf.edu

Academic calendar

Semester

Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered

PhD

Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the program

This program is patterned after the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association. It adheres to the guidelines established by the Committee for Education and Training of APA's Division 21 (Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology). Students receive training in the content and techniques of human factors psychology, including statistical quantitative procedures, experimental design, survey methods, computer techniques, and other research methodologies. In addition, students must select a concentration area. The concentration may be in human-computer interaction, team training, visual performance, human factors aviation, or other areas of interest with the adviser's approval. A dissertation representing a significant research contribution to the field is required. The program seeks to develop the capacity to design, conduct, and apply human factors research in a variety of professional settings. Consequently, a variety of research, consulting, and internship arrangements are included in the program.

Number of degrees granted during last 3 years

20

Can students attend part-time?

No

Are required courses offered during summer?

Yes

Does the university have an HFES student chapter?

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application deadline

December 15

Application fee

$30

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements

GPA: 3.5 (avg)

GRE: 306 v + q (avg)

Other: Bachelor's degree with courses in statistical psychology and in the general area of experimental psychology; courses in research methodology calculus and in computer programming. 

Importance of other criteria as admission factors

Research: high

Work experience: medium 

Letters: high 

Interview: low

Tuition and fees

Resident: $352.31/hour

Nonresident: $1,145.01/hour

ADMISSIONS

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

42

Number of students accepted into the program last year

14

Number of students entering the program last year

10

Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years

10

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance

100%

Amount received per year

$10,000–$18,000

Types of assistance available

Fellowship, TA, RA, scholarship, not tuition exempt

When should students apply for financial assistance?

Before submitting application

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

PhD

Number of units required

84 semester hours

Exams required

Course and candidacy exam

Language requirements

None

Research required

Yes

Practical experience required

Internship

Typical number of years required to obtain degree

5

CURRICULUM

Required courses (units)

Human Factors I, II, III (9), Advanced Research Methodology I, II, III (12), Human Cognition and Learning (3), Physiological Psychology (3), Sensation and Perception (3), Human Performance (3), Advanced Human-Computer Interaction (3), Human Factors Professional Issues (3), Visual Performance (3), Human Computer Interaction (3), Internship (6), Doctoral Dissertation (15)

Electives (units)

Multi-Media System (3), Institutional System Design (3), Ergonomics in High Tech (3), Animation in CBI (3), Ergonomics (3), Organizational Psychology I (3), Advanced Social Psychology (3)

Number of courses outside department that are required

6 (internship)

Number of courses outside department that are recommended

15 (doctoral dissertation)

Average or typical class size in a required course

10

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Research and support facilities available to students in the program: 

Research and support facilities are available on campus in the Psychology Department as well as in other departments, such as Computer Science and Engineering. Facilities are also available in a research park adjacent to the university. On-campus facilities include the Team Performance Lab, the Visual Performance Lab, the Center for Applied Human Factors in Aviation, and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers. Excellent simulation, training, and virtual environment capabilities are available through the Institute for Simulation and Training in conjunction with U.S. Army and Navy labs. Private research organizations in the area also provide facilities to students. Graduate student office space is available through Psychology Department facilities.

Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Students are trained to perform in the classroom and to give professional presentations in industrial and government settings. To facilitate this training, teaching positions for a variety of undergraduate psychology classes are available through the Psychology Department as well as through local community colleges. Before a student accepts a teaching position in the department, he or she must complete a mandatory teaching seminar as part of the offered curriculum. Departmental teaching positions are competitive and provide excellent experience. All students are encouraged to pursue them.

Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:

Team performance with complex industrial and military systems, group decision making, performance assessment and devices for people with disabilities, human factors concerns in aging, display interfaces within flight management systems, flight training systems, visual-vestibular interaction with simulator systems and virtual environments, alarms and warnings for interface designs, task allocation within automated systems requiring supervisory behavior, synthetic speech comprehension in high-workload environments, visual performance with various transportation systems, driver distraction, and human-robot interaction.

STUDENT STATISTICS

Current number of active students in program, by gender

21 men, 28 women

Current number of first-year students in program

10

Based on current graduate students in the program, the mean
score on admission tests and undergraduate GPA by degree
being sought are

GRE 1230, GPA 3.6

FACULTY

Corey Bohil, PhD 2002, U. of Texas at Austin; cognition, signal detection theory, and human performance

Clint A. Bowers, PhD 1987, U. South Florida; team training 

Peter Hancock, PhD 1983, U. Illinois; stress and performance 

Florian Jentsch, PhD 1997, U. of Central Florida; team performance, aviation psychology, human-robot interaction 

Mustapha Mouloua, PhD 1992, Catholic U. America; automation 

Mark Neider, PhD 2006, Stoney Brook U.; visual performance, driver distraction 

Edward J. Rinalducci, PhD 1966, U. Rochester 

Eduardo Salas, PhD 1984, Old Dominion U.; teams and training effectiveness 

Valerie Sims, PhD 1996, UC Santa Barbara; applied cognitive 

Janan Al-Awar Smither, PhD 1985, Johns Hopkins U.; aging and technology 

James Szalma, PhD 1999, U. of Cincinnatti; individual differences, stress and human performance, vigilance