Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Department: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Quick links:
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Title of program:
Human Factors/Ergonomics (Industrial Engineering; MS, PhD); Cognition and Perception (Psychology; MS, PhD)
Joint program:
With Department of Psychology, Computer Science
Year human factors/ergonomics program was established:
1970
Accredited by HFES?
No
Contact person for more information, including applications:
Priyadarshini Pennathur, 319/335-5683
U. of Iowa, Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
3131 Seamans Ctr., Iowa City, IA 52242-1527
http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/mie/faculty-staff/priyadarshini-pennathur
Catalog (free):
Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Iowa, 116 Calvin Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/registrar/catalog
Academic calendar:
Semester
Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered:
Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the program:
Aggressive research program in human-machine systems and cognitive engineering. MS emphasis is on user interface design, supervisory control of complex systems, and modeling human-machine systems. PhD requires innovative research emphasizing creative design and thorough investigation into fundamental issues of human-machine interaction, including robotics, virtual reality, and driving simulation. Local resources include the most advanced driving simulator in the world, one of the largest teaching hospitals, and a diverse pool of research partners. PhD graduates are well prepared for a research-oriented career in industry, government, or academia. Accredited by ABET.
Number of degrees granted during last 3 years:
Can students attend part-time?
MS only
Are required courses offered through distance learning?
No
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:
- Fall: July 15 (April 15 international)
- Spring: December 1 (October 1 international)
- Summer: April 15 (March 1 international)
Application fees:
- U.S. citizens: $60;
- Foreign students: $100
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements:
- GPA: N/A
- GRE: N/A
- Other: Engineering: bachelor's in engineering, math, physical science, or computer science (or in psychology with a math background approximating an engineering degree); statistics, computer programming, and English language competency.
- PhD: evidence of research capability. Psychology requires experimental psychology and statistics.
Importance of other criteria as admission factors:
- Research: high
- Work experience: medium
- Letters: high
- Interview: medium
Tuition and fees:
- Resident: $4,593/semester
- Nonresident: $12,272/semester
ADMISSIONS
Number of students applying to the human factors/ergonomics program last year:
N/A
Number of students accepted into the program last year:
11
Number of students entering the program last year:
8
Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years:
5
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance:
90%
Amount received per year:
$16,575/AY plus tuition supplement
Types of assistance available:
- Fellowship
- TA
- RA
- Scholarship (in-state tuition with appointment
When should students apply for financial assistance?
With application
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate degrees offered
MS and PhD
Number of units required:
- MS: 30 hours of 100-level courses (incl. up to 6 hours of research)
- PhD: 72 hours (incl. dissertation research)
Exams required:
- MS: Oral defense of thesis
- PhD: Comprehensive exam, oral defense of dissertation
Language requirements:
None
Research required:
- MS: Up to 6 hours
- PhD: Dissertation research
Practical experience required:
None
Is there a non-thesis option?
No
CURRICULUM
Required courses (units):
- Engineering required courses (One course in each of 3 areas):
- Human Factors
- Operations Research
- Manufacturing
- No specified requirements
- Psychology required courses: write for details
Electives (units):
Human Factors, Ergonomic Design, Human Performance in Engineering Systems, Biomechanics, Engineering Management, Human-Computer Interaction, Statistical Design and Process Analysis, Operations Research, Regression and Design, Digital Systems Simulation, and others
Number of courses outside department that are required:
0
Number of courses outside department that are recommended:
2
Average or typical class size in a required course:
10–20
RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Research and support facilities available to students in the program:
The two full-time human factors research faculty will share 2,400 square feet of lab space in the new Engineering Building. The GROK Laboratory (G. Thomas) addresses user interface issues with complex systems. Recent projects include the robotic exploration of the Chernobyl Reactor and the development of prototype technologies for robots exploring Mars. The Operator Performance Lab (T. Schnell) examines the limits of human performance and system effectiveness. Recent projects include development of models of visual acuity and evaluation of effectiveness of raised pavement markings. 4 high-performance graphics workstations and robotics equipment. The university is also home to the National Advanced Simulator, one of the most advanced driving simulators in the world.
Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Students may direct undergraduate labs or supervise an entire course.
Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:
Cognitive human factors, including virtual reality, scientific visualization, complex system design and control, telerobotic interface design, driving simulation, measurement of control performance, human performance modeling, visual conspicuity, medical simulation, training, visualization, ecological interface design, human-machine cooperative problem solving, and supervisory control.
STUDENT STATISTICS
Current number of active students in program, by gender:
Current number of first-year students in program:
5
Based on current graduate students in the program, the mean score on admission tests and undergraduate GPA by degree being sought are:
N/A
FACULTY
Tom Schnell, PhD 1998, Ohio U.; driver visual performance, driver eye scanning, color perception, legibility
Geb W. Thomas, PhD 1996, Pennsylvania State U.; interface design, distributed systems, supervisory control, automation
AFFILIATED FACULTY
K. Anstreicher, management science
T. Brown, BME
Matthew Rizzo, neurology
[
Updated April 2011]