Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, Human Factors Option, M.S.


Prerequisites


An undergraduate major in Psychology or in another field with 24 units of upper division psychology. A minimum grade point average of approximately 3.0 for the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) and for all PSY units.

Take all the following courses or their equivalents:


Students lacking only PSY 310  may be admitted to the program but must complete the course their first semester in attendance.

Advancement to Candidacy


Satisfy the general requirements of the university for advancement to candidacy.

Additional Requirements


A preliminary oral examination on the thesis proposal and a final oral examination in defense of the completed thesis. (Note: In order to satisfy the culminating activity requirement (thesis), students must earn at least three (3) units and no more than six (6) units related to the completion of the culminating activity.)

Student Learning Outcomes


Knowledge Base in HF/E related fields


By the completion of the Master’s degree, students will:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of established research and theories of human capabilities and limitations in the areas of:
    • Perception
    • Attention
    • Learning and memory
    • Reasoning and Decision Making
    • Action performance
    • How the environment influences decision making and performance
  • Demonstrate Knowledge of human-computer interaction including:
    • Usability testing
    • Auditory/visual display design
    • Knowledge engineering and decision making

Research Methodology in HF/E related fields


By the completion of the Master’s degree, students will:

  • Demonstrate the ability to apply Evidence-Based HF/E Methods to the design of:
    • Jobs
    • Information systems
    • Consumer products
    • Workplaces
    • Equipment to improve user performance, safety and comfort.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply methodologies that are used in the design of human-machine systems
  • Demonstrate the ability to investigate basic and applied issues in Human Factors related areas.

Practical (applied) HF/E experience


By the completion of the Master’s degree, students will:

  • Engage in real-world research and practice in the field
  • Use academic knowledge and professional skills to help create Human Factors solutions for clients

Communication


By the completion of the Master’s degree, students will:

  • Independently create professional manuscripts and reports
  • Accurately report analysis of data
  • Effectively orally communicate HF/E knowledge

Teamwork


By the completion of the Master’s degree, students will:

  • Demonstrate professional team management and organizational skills
  • Demonstrate collaboration in the production of verbal and manual reports of field knowledge