Master of Science in Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology
Kathleen Chen, Program Chair
(585) 475-2405, kccgss@rit.edu
www.rit.edu/cla/psychology/engg.htm
The master of science program in applied experimental and engineering psychology emphasizes the role of human behavior and performance in both simple and complex human-machine systems. 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 capabilities and limitations to sense, perceive, store, and process information and how these human factors impact human interactions with technology. This knowledge is applied to the design, use, and maintenance of human-machine systems. Students will be trained in both research methods of experimental psychology and application of the results in contemporary problems in the industry.
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 industrial, governmental, or consulting organizations. The program also provides a foundation for further advanced academic study in engineering psychology, human factors, or experimental psychology.
Admission requirements
Applicants to this program are expected to have 20 quarter credit hours (or 15 semester hours) of course work in undergraduate psychology or a related field (e.g., engineering, computer science, information technology), including one course in experimental psychology and another in statistics. Admission decisions will be based on:
1. a minimum GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate work,
2. Graduate Record Examination scores (within the last five years),
3. two letters of reference from professors or supervisors,
4. a biographical statement describing the applicant’s experience and goals regarding the program, and
5. a completed application for graduate admission to RIT.
Thesis
The thesis requires a minimum of eight credit hours. A thesis adviser will be assigned to the student. Selection of a topic and research proposal must be completed in the third 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, students will present and defend their research before a thesis committee. The thesis committee and the chair of the psychology department must approve the final thesis.
| Required Experimental Core Courses | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 0514-784 Graduate Statistics | 4 |
| 0514-785 Advanced Perception | 4 |
| 0514-786 Research Methodology | 4 |
| 0514-787 Advanced Cognition | 4 |
| Required Engineering Psychology Courses | |
| 0514-788 Topics in Engineering Psychology | 4 |
| 4004-745 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction | 4 |
| 0303-731 Advanced Topics: Ergonomics/Human Factors | 4 |
| 0303-734 Systems Safety Engineering | 4 |
| Required Thesis Credits | |
| 0514-889 Thesis Proposal | 4 |
| 0514-890 Thesis (may be repeated) | 4 |
Electives
Students select two from the following; prerequisites are in parentheses:
4002-317 Visual Basic for Programmers (4002-218 or equivalent) or
Computer programming
4004-748 Usability Engineering (4004-745 and 4004-741)
4004-749 Usability Testing (4004-748 and Statistics)
4004-755 Advanced Topics in HCI (4004-745)
0303760 Product/Process Development and Design
0303-732 Biomechanics (0304-331, 0304-332, 0303-730 or equivalent)
2014-701 Introduction to Computer Graphics (permission of the
instructor required)
2014-717 Authoring Multimedia (permission of the instructor required)
2014-723 Graphical User Interface
Cooperative education
The MS degree program in applied experimental and engineering psychology has an optional cooperative education component. Co-op is generally completed in the summer quarter of the first year of the program. The goal of a co-op experience is to provide experiential learning that integrates with classroom education. It allows students to apply psychological principles to problems in a variety of work environments. Co-op education may be taken in any business or industrial setting.