MS-Human Factors Program

Click on above photo to meet the MSHF students

Contents

Overview
MSHF Application Prerequisites 
MSHF Degree Requirements
Department Facilities
MSHF Faculty
Organizations Employing MSHF Alumni
Funding

Links 
Application Procedures   
CSULB Campus Tours  
Current Students Main Menu  
MSHF Theses Abstracts
Psychology Graduate Advisor 
2009-2014 NASA Grant Award
Inside CSULB Article on NASA Grant Award

Overview

Human factors (also known as ergonomics or human engineering) is a scientific discipline which examines human behavior and capabilities in order to find the best ways to design products, equipment and systems for maximum safe, effective, satisfying use by people. Professionals in the area of human factors apply their skills in a variety of areas, including aerospace systems, computer software and hardware design, industrial and office settings, educational technology, consumer products, usability analysis and virtual reality. Employment areas may be in Academic Institutions, Industry, Military-related Research Centers and Independent Consultant. Job titles include professor, human factors engineer, ergonomist, technician specialist, safety scientist, consultant and research scientist.

Human factors research and engineering are concerned with enhancing the productivity of workers and increasing the level of satisfaction of workers with their jobs, in addition to improving the safety of work situations. Equipment design can be blamed, at least in part, for many of the errors that people make, both on the job and elsewhere.

The Option in Human Factors under the MS in Psychology at CSULB is designed to prepare students to apply human factors skills to the design of jobs, information systems, consumer products, workplaces and equipment in order to improve user performance, safety and comfort. The MS-Human Factors option program is designed as a terminal MS degree, but it also provides excellent preparation for advanced graduate work.

Faculty in the CSULB Human Factors program are currently working on a number of topics such as human-computer interaction, usability testing, auditory/visual display design, knowledge engineering and decision making. Students in the program acquire a background in experimental psychology and research methods. They are trained in the application of the material through courses in human factors, computer applications and interface design. Special topics seminars, in areas usch as large-scale simulation and usability testing, complement the core program of study. Finally, students complete a thesis in their chosen area of human factors.

Links: Psi Chi decription of Human Factors
          Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
          CSULB HFES Student Chapter
          CUDA

Publicatons about the CSULB MS Human Factors Program:
          MSHF Brochure
          The Beach Review
          Academic Communique
          Inside CSULB
          CSULB Annual Report (p. 11)

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MSHF Degree Application Prerequisites

PREREQUISITES TO ENROLLMENT IN THE HUMAN FACTORS PROGRAM:
    Applicants to the Master of Science - Human Factors option (MSHF) program are expected to have a bachelor's degree with a major in Psychology or 24 upper division units of Psychology coursework. The following courses (or their equivalents) must be included. Students may be admitted to the MSHF program if they lack only the intermediate statistics course (PSY 310).  This course must be completed within the first semester of graduate study. 

Prerequisite Coursework must include the following CSULB courses (or equivalents, to be determined by Psychology Dept.):

    PSY 310 (Intermediate Statistics)
    PSY 331 (Sensation & Perception)
    PSY 332 (Cognition)

Recommended Prerequisite Coursework (CSULB courses or equivalents):
    CECS 174 (Programming and Problem Solving I)
            and one or more of the following three courses:
    PSY 340 (Physiology of Behavior)
    PSY 341 (Neuropsychology)
    PSY 342 (Psychopharmacology)

    See Prerequisite course descriptions below:

PSY 310. Intermediate Statistics (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 210 or introductory statistics course.
Basic theoretical concepts of statistics and the use of these concepts in the selection and development of model testing, hypothesis testing and parameter estimation procedures. Both single measure (univariate) and correlational (bivariate) concepts will be covered.

PSY 331. Sensation and Perception (3)
Prerequisite: PSY 200.
Basic phenomena of the senses, their physiological correlates and integration in complex perceptual judgments.

PSY 332. Cognition (3)
Prerequisite: PSY 200. Study of higher-order processes basic to the acquisition of knowledge. Includes thinking, problem solving, creativity, information processing, decision making, judgment, concepts and imagination.

PSY 340. Physiology of Behavior (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 141 and 200.
An in-depth examination of central nervous systems (CNS) components that underlie the major elements of our behavioral capabilities.  Topics include the major structural and functional features of the neuron and of selected systems that are representative of the sensory, integrative and motor capabilities of the CNS.

PSY 341. Neuropsychology (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 141 and 200.
Neurological correlates of behavior with special emphasis upon central nervous system structure and function. Experimental evidence on which neuropsychology theories of behavior are based.

PSY 342. Psychopharmacology (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 141 and 200.
This course offers a broad introduction to the effects of various medications on the central nervous system and behavior. This includes neurotransmitter functions, physiological and biochemical mechanisms of drug action with emphasis on the effect of psychiatric medications, common "street drugs" and those sold over the counter; their potential for abuse is also considered.

CECS 174. Programming and Problem Solving I (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 117 (or equivalent).
Introduction to the basic concepts of computer science and the fundamental techniques for solving problems using the C++ programming language.  Structured problem solving, object-oriented programming, programming style.  Applications to numerical and non-numerical problems.

PREREQUISITES FOR CERTAIN CSULB PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE COURSES:
You may offer equivalent courses for evaluation by the Graduate Advisor (at the time of application):

100. General Psychology (3)
Introduction to the scientific study of human behavior.  Designed to provide the student with a basic background for further study and for practical application in everyday life.

210. Introductory Statistics (4)
Prerequisites: PSY 100 and completion of a mathematics course suitable for General Educational credit.  Calculation and meaning of statistical measures.  Descriptive and inferential statistics: probability, normal curve, correlation, sampling, hypothesis testing.

241. Psychobiology (3)
Prerequsite: PSY 100.  Introduction to the study of behavior from a biological point of view.  Biological systems and processes underlying behavior, with emphasis on brain mechanisms, presented in the context of fundamental concepts and issues in psychology.

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MSHF Degree Requirements

Current Graduate Handbook

36-UNIT PROGRAM REQUIRED COURSES

• PSY 512 Multivariate Analysis
• PSY 544 Cognitive Neuroscience
• PSY 696 Research Methods
• ENGL 419 Writing in Science and Technology 

Facilities

The department is located in the Psychology Building, a four-story structure which houses faculty and graduate student offices, a newly constructed computer lab, and laboratories for faculty and student research in the major areas of Psychology.  Human factors experience can be obtained in two Centers and various laboratories in the Psychology Building:

• The Advanced Air Vehicle/Air Traffic Management Simulation & Research Center, a state-of-the-art facility for research and simulations of advanced air technologies and air traffic management issues.
  

• The Center for Usability in Design and Assessment (CUDA), a usability testing laboratory that provides real-world hands-on experience in usability testing and interface design.
  

• Perceptual, cognitive, and neuroscience research laboratories provide ample space and equipment for research in a variety of areas including auditory and visual perception, cognitive psychology, aviation psychology and human-computer.

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MSHF Faculty and Associates

Thomas Strybel 
Professor
PhD, University of Arizona
    Auditory-visual space perception; auditory-visual displays; multisensory interaction;
    human factors; human-computer interaction

Kim Vu
Associate Professor
PhD, Purdue University
    Human factors, cognition, performance, human-computer interaction
inside CSULB article
Early Career Excellence Award
 

Dan Chiappe
Assistant Professor
PhD, University of Toronto
    Figurative language; reading; evolutionary psychology; attention; cognition.

Kenneth F. Green
Professor
PhD, University of Massachusetts
    Central mechanisms of pain inhibition; physiological psychology.

William Kelemen
Assistant Professor
PhD, Baylor University
    Metacognition; prospective memory; cognition

Diane Lee
Assistant Professor
PhD, UC Berkeley
    Biological psychology; cognitive methology

Lisa Maxfield
Assistant Professor
PhD, Syracuse University
    Cognitive and neural basis of selective attention; attention; memory

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Examples of Organizations Employing
MSHF Alumni:

Boeing
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Hewlett Packard
eBay
XEROX, Inc.
IBM

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Funding

Psychology Department Graduate Assistant Positions

    The Psychology department has a number of graduate assistantship positions available.  These provide financial support and professional experience, as well as additional contact between students and faculty.  These positions are awarded on a competitive basis to new and continuing students.  Types of positions include graduate assistants in laboratory and other courses.

APPLICATION
    Students interested in serving as a Graduate Assistant (GA) should submit a GA application to the graduate Coordinator.  Applications will remain active for one year.  Positions are open until filled.  Review of applications will begin April 15th for the Fall semester and November 15th for the Spring semester.
    Applications are available in the Graduate Coordinator's Office.  Applications should be sent to the Graduate Coordinator's Office.

TYPES OF GA JOBS
    Each semester the department of Psychology hires about 10-13 graduate assistants to perform various activities.  The assignments are usually 10 hours per week for 17 weeks in the Fall and 17 weeks in the Spring.  Most GA assignments fall into two major categories.  Some assignments are to assist in the introductory research methods course.  This involves preparing materials, grading papers and assisting students.  Other GA assignments support introductory and intermediate statistics courses.  These assignments generally involve grading papers, assisting students and helping students with various statistical software packages.  Both research methods and statistics GA positions also involve providing support for the department computer lab.  An EEO/AA/Title IX policy is followed.

BENEFITS OF A GA POSITION

• Financial: If appointed for 10 hours of work each week, a first year GA receives approximately $5000 per year.  There are some 10 hour per week positions available.
• Educational: By teaching, GAs can further develop their own psychological skills.
• Experiential: Working closely with a faculty member can add to a GA's knowledge and experience.
• Convenience: Having a job on campus can save travel time and study time.
   

J. Robert Newman Scholars Program

     Due to a generous bequeathment from a faculty member beloved by students, staff and colleagues, the Psychology department is able to award two students funding that will cover the cost of in-state enrollment fees and provide an allowance for books or other related costs.  The MA-R and MSIO committees may each select an outstanding incoming student as a J. Robert Newman scholar.  The recipient receives $1250/semester, up to four semesters.
 

Boeing University Relations Human Factors Graduate Scholarship

     Human Factors students may apply for a scholarship of $2000 per semester award, which will allow the recipient to work in the AAV/ATM Simulation Research Center.  The number of scholarships awarded each semester will be determined by the number of qualified students and the availability of funds from the Boeing Co. University Relations Award Program.  Students may apply and earn the award for more than one semester.  Master's programs' applicants may apply for the first semester of their program with their department application.

CSULB FINANCIAL AID

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