PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Title of program

Human Factors Psychology

Year human factors/ergonomics program was established

1990

Accredited by HFES?

Yes

Contact person for more information, including applications

Barbara Chaparro, Wichita State University, Psychology Dept., 1845 N. Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0034; 316/978-3170;
barbara.chaparro@wichita.edu

Catalog

Graduate School, Wichita State University, 1845 N. Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0004

Web site

http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=psychology&p=/
graduate/humanfactors/humanfactorsphd

Academic calendar

Semester 

Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered

MA and PhD

Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the program

The PhD program is the only PhD program in human factors psychology approved by the Kansas Board of Regents. It has also been accredited by HFES. The human factors psychology program at WSU is designed to provide strong academic training in the tradition of experimental psychology in the context of an applied specialization. Training is rooted in the behavioral sciences, with an emphasis on research methods. Training occurs in the context of applying this knowledge and these skills to the world of the professional human factors psychologist. The university provides a unique environment for students to gain practical experience while receiving fundamental academic training. All students are required to complete an approved internship, and each student's program is balanced between the academic and applied aspects of our profession. 

Number of degrees granted during last 3 years

MA 12, PhD 7

Can students attend part-time?

No

Are required courses offered through distance learning?

No

Does the university have an HFES student chapter?

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application deadlines

January 15

Are separate applications required for university and department?

Yes

Application fees

U.S. $50, international $65. Online application available.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements

GPA: no specific GPA required 

GRE: v + q required 

Other: Psychology. Undergraduate degrees, background, or coursework required or recommended for admission: psychology background with emphasis on learning, physiological psychology, and perception is recommended; strong background in math and/or science/engineering is desirable.

Importance of other criteria as admission factors

Research: medium

Work experience: medium

Letters: medium

Interview: medium

Tuition and fees

http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=tuitionfees&p=/
2015/tuitionfees

ADMISSIONS

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

20

Number of students accepted into the program last year

8

Number of students entering the program last year

6

Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years

4–6

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance

100%

Amount received per year

$11,645 

Types of assistance available

TA (nonresident reduced to resident tuition, varying amounts of resident tuition waived), RA, scholarship (nonresident tuition reduced to resident tuition) 

When should students apply for financial assistance?

With application

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

MA (must be currently enrolled in PhD program) and PhD

Number of units required

MA: 36

PhD: 90

Exams required

MA: no 

PhD: qualifying exam, oral defense of dissertation, demonstrated math competency

Language requirements

None

Research required

MA: second-year project research required

PhD: second-year project research required

Practical experience required

MA: no 

PhD: six-month internship

Typical number of years required to obtain degree

MA: 2.5

PhD: 5

Is there a non-thesis option?

No

CURRICULUM

Required courses (units)

Biological Foundations of Psychology (3), Social and Developmental Foundations of Behavior (3), Cognitive Foundations (3), Advanced Research Methods I & II (8), Ethics (3), Seminar in Perception (3), Psychological Principles of Human Factors (3), Seminar in Human Factors (3), Seminar in Software Psychology (3), Graduate Research (10), Predoctoral research project (16–18), doctoral dissertation (12), Electives (from Psychology and other departments) (24), Internship (6)

Number of courses outside department that are required

12 units

Average or typical class size in a required course

8–12

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Research and support facilities available to students in the program: 

The department, housed in the four-story science building, maintains fully equipped labs and a carpentry and electrical shop for use in human factors research. These facilities include the, the Aging, Perception, and Performance Lab (APPL), Human Automation and Interaction Lab (HAIL), Laboratory of Applied Visual Attention (LAVA), Training Research and Applied Cognitive Engineering Lab (TRACE), Visual Perception Cognition Lab, and the Software Usability Research Lab (SURL). Additional facilities are housed outside of the science building and include the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) Human Factors Lab and the Social Science Research Lab. The computer facilities are state of the art and available to students for coursework and research. The empirical focus of the program seeks to provide to students wide exposure to research training, practice, and literature, as well as theory.

Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Most, if not all, students will receive teaching assistantships and will have the opportunity to obtain teaching experience.

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

Current human factors research involves cognitive function, aging, development, human-computer interactions, aerospace issues, perception and motor behavior, software usability, application of technology to instruction, distance education, perceptual learning, decision making, and the design of medical devices. (All students are required to be actively engaged and enrolled in research throughout their tenure as a graduate student.)

STUDENT STATISTICS

Current number of active students in program, by gender

19 men, 11 women

Current number of first-year students in program

6

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

PhD: GRE 4150 V, 150 Q,
GPA 3.50

FACULTY

Alex Chaparro, PhD 1990, Texas Tech University; visual perception, driving, and night vision

Barbara Chaparro, PhD 1990, Texas Tech University; human-computer interaction and usability

Jibo He, PhD 2012, University of Illinois, driver distraction, driver fatigue, eye movement, HCI, Usability

Joseph Keebler, PhD 2011, University of Central Florida, Cognitive Engineering, simulation-based training, human-robot interaction

Liz Lazzara, PhD 2013, University of Central Florida, patient safety, human performance, teamwork

Rui Ni, PhD 2001, Chinese Academy of Science; depth and distance perception, aging, motor perception

Evan Palmer, PhD 2003, UCLA; cognition and perception, cognitive psychology

Paul D. Ackerman, PhD 1968, University of Kansas; social processes, application of computers to labs