Resources

University of Texas at El Paso

 

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Title of program

Industrial Engineering – Industrial Ergonomics Option

Year human factors/ergonomics program was established

1995

Accredited by HFES?

No

Contact person for more information, including applications

Dr. Rafael Gutierrez, IE Graduate Program Director, University of Texas at El Paso, Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering Dept., 500 W. University Dr., El Paso, TX 79968-0521; 915/747-6901;
rsgutier@utep.edu

Catalog (free)

Graduate School, 500 W. University Dr., El Paso, TX 79968-0521

Web site

http://imse.utep.edu

Academic calendar

Semester

Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered

MSIE

Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the program

The Industrial Ergonomics option of the Industrial Engineering Program addresses human capabilities and behavior and how these characteristics are incorporated into the design, evaluation, operation, and maintenance of manufacturing systems that are intended for safe, effective, and efficient use. The Industrial Ergonomics option focuses on job performance and evaluation and on the ability of people to perform tasks. The Industrial Ergonomics option will prepare the student to address such issues as work design and measurement, worker safety, worker productivity, and human reliability.

Number of degrees granted during last 3 years

MS 4

Can students attend part-time?

Yes

Are required courses offered on weekends?

Yes

Are required courses offered at night?

Yes

Are required courses offered during summer?

Yes

Does the university have an HFES student chapter?

Yes

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application deadlines

July 1 (fall), November 1 (spring), April 1 (summer)

Application fees

$15 U.S. or permanent residents, $65 international applicants


 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements

GPA: 3.0

GRE: 400 v, 600 q, 1000 v + q

Other: TOEFL for international applicants: minimum 550. BS in engineering or science, one semester of calculus-based probability and statistics. 

Importance of other criteria as admission factors

Research: medium

Work experience: medium

Letters: low

Interview: low

Tuition and fees

Resident: $993 per 10-hour semester

Nonresident: $3,053 per 10-hour semester


 

ADMISSIONS

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

17

Number of students accepted into the program last year

11

Number of students entering the program last year

9

Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years

25–35


 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance

25%

Amount received

$1,000/month for 9 months; $1,000/month for 3 summer months

Types of assistance available

TA, RA, scholarship, none tuition exempt, but international students pay resident rates

When should students apply for financial assistance?

Once enrolled, after one semester of registration


 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Graduate degrees offered

MSIE

Number of units required

24 hours + 6 hours of thesis + 1 hour of graduate seminar, or 36 hours in nonthesis option

Language requirements

None

Research required

Thesis

Practical experience required

None

Typical number of years required to obtain degree

1.5

Is there a non-thesis option?

Yes


 

CURRICULUM

Required courses (units)

Industrial Engineering core: Design of Experiments (3), Graduate Seminar (1); Thesis (6). Industrial Ergonomics core: Advanced Work Design (3), Advanced Concepts in Safety Engineering (3), Advanced Ergonomics (3)

Electives (units)

Core: Measurement Techniques in Exercise Physiology (3), Advanced Exercise Physiology (3), Psychological Foundations of Physical Activity (3), Measurement Techniques in Biomechanical Analysis (3), Neuroscience Applied to Exercise and Work (3), Advanced Cognitive Processes (3), Seminar in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3), Personnel Selection and Placement (3), Seminar in Human Performance (3), Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology (3). General: Advanced Dynamics (3), Industrial Statistics (3), Advanced Engineering Economy (3), Management of Technology (3), Computer Simulation (3), Design for Manufacturability (3), Organizational Behavior Seminar (3)

Number of courses outside department that are required

0

Number of courses outside department that are recommended

4

Average or typical class size in a required course

12


 

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Research and support facilities available to students in the program: 

Through the Ergonomics, Safety and Productivity Applications Laboratory, industrial ergonomics graduate students have extensive research opportunities with local industry and government. There are more than 360 American twin-plants, with Fortune 500 firms represented. There are also 3 military bases within a 100-mile radius. Many of these firms support students as RAs through the Engineering Consortium.

Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Lab instructors for Ergonomics, Methods Engineering, and Industrial Layout courses

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

Prediction methodologies for RMI and industrial accidents, work design methodology, computational models for sit versus stand work, and simulation and animation models of work


STUDENT STATISTICS

Current number of active students in program, by gender

5 men, 7 women

Current number of first-year students in program

8

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

GRE 475 v, 650 q, 505 a,

GPA 3.05


 

FACULTY

Luis Rene Contreras, PhD 1995, Kansas State U.; biomechanics, systems safety

Thomas J. McLean, PhD 1976, Arizona State U.; occupational safety, human productivity and reliability, cost models

Arun Pennathur, PhD 1999, U. Cincinnati; workstation design, electromyography 

Rolando Quintana, PhD 1995, New Mexico State U.; work design, industrial ergonomics, systems safety

[Updated March 2011]