Graduate Study
Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology
Program Overview
The master of science program in applied experimental and engineering psychology emphasizes the role of human behavior in the use of technology. The departments of psychology, industrial and systems engineering, and information technology all contribute to the teaching of specialty courses in the program.
Engineering psychology examines the capacities and limitations of the human to sense, store, and process information, and the use of this information in performance. This knowledge is applied to the design, use, and maintenance of human/machine systems. Students will be trained in the application of experimental psychology to contemporary problems in industry, design, and technology.
Engineering psychologists are interested in why performance might be changed through the use of technology. For instance, a new interface for controlling the radio in a vehicle may cause errors because a control is too sensitive for human-motor performance or because the driver is confused as to how to use a button. Psychological and motor processes both are involved in the operation of such an interface, and the distinction of these processes can help identify design solutions.
The MS program in applied experimental and engineering psychology prepares students to function as effective engineering psychologists in an industrial, governmental, or consulting organization. The program also provides a foundation for further advanced academic study in engineering psychology, human factors, or experimental psychology.
Curriculum Review
The program consists of a minimum of 48 quarter credits, which include experimental core courses, required engineering psychology courses, two electives, and the completion of a thesis.
Required Experimental Core Courses
0514-784 Graduate Statistics
0514-785 Advanced Perception
0514-786 Research Methodology
0514-787 Advanced Cognition
Required Engineering Psychology Courses
0514-788 Topics in Engineering Psychology
4004-745 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction (IT dept.)
0303-731 Advanced Topics: Ergonomics/Human Factors (ISE dept.)
0303-734 Systems Safety Engineering (ISE dept.)
Electives
Students select two from the following; prerequisites are in brackets:
4002-317 Visual Basic for Programmers (IT dept.) [4002-218 or equivalent]
4004-748 Usability Engineering (IT dept.) [4004-745 and 4004-741]
4004-749 Usability Testing (IT dept.) [4004-748 and Statistics]
4004-755 Advanced Topics in HCI (IT dept.) [4004-745]
0303-530 Engineering Design (ISE dept.)
0303-732 Biomechanics (ISE dept.) [0304-331, 332, 0303-730 or equivalent]
2014-701 Introduction to Computer Graphics (CIAS-Computer Graphics Design) [permission of the instructor]
2014-717 Authoring Multimedia (CIAS-Computer Graphics Design) [permission of the instructor]
2014-723 Graphical User Interface (CIAS-Computer Graphics Design)
Thesis
The thesis requires eight credit hours. A thesis adviser will be assigned to the student. Selection of a topic and research proposal must be completed in the spring quarter of the first year of the program, with the assistance of the adviser. Ongoing research activity is expected in the spring and summer quarters of the first year of the program.
At the completion of the thesis, the student will present and defend the research before a thesis committee. A bound copy of the thesis and a written paper in short format suitable for publication or conference presentation will be submitted to the department.
Cooperative education
The MS degree program in applied experimental and engineering psychology has an optional cooperative education component. It is generally taken in the summer quarter of the first year of the program. The goal of co-op education is to provide students experiential learning that integrates with classroom education. It allows students to apply psychological principles to problems in a variety of work environments.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to this program are expected to have 20 quarter hours (or 15 semester hours) of course work in undergraduate psychology, including one course in experimental psychology and another in statistics. Admission decisions will be based on: