Experimental Programs: Human Factors

Doctoral Curriculum

To complete the Ph.D. students must fulfill three sets of requirements: those established by the Psychology Department, the Experimental Psychology Program, and the Human Factors Program, which are based upon guidelines provided by the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (Our program is fully accredited by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society). Students who declare Human Factors as their specialization take the following courses and complete the Human Factors qualifying examination and dissertation.

I. Departmental Core: 1 course from each of the 4 core areas

Cognitive Bases of Behavior

• Seminar in Learning Theory
• Seminar in Cognition
• Seminar in Perception: Theories and Applications

Developmental Bases of Behavior

• Advanced Child Psychology
• Developmental Psychopathology
• Cognitive Development
• Life Span Development: Psychobiological and Cognitive Processes in Aging

Biological Bases of Behavior

• Seminar in Physiological Psychology
• Neuropsychological Assessment
• Sensory and Physiological Bases of Human Performance
• Psychopharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs
• Work Physiology (I/E 5303)

Social Bases of Behavior

• Seminar in Social Psychology
• Automaticity and Control in Social Behavior
• Attitudes and Attitude Change

II. Statistics

• Experimental Design
• Advanced Correlational Methods and Factor Analysis
• An additional approved statistics/methodology course.

III. Experimental Psychology Electives

• Four courses taught by Experimental Psychology Faculty

IV. Specialization in Human Factors

• Human Factors Psychology
• Human Factors Methodology
• Seminar in Perception: Theories and Applications
• Cognitive Ergonomics
• Human Computer Interaction
• Practicum in Human Factors Psychology

V. Courses from the Industrial Engineering Department (at least 3)

Required:

• I/E 5301 Ergonomics and Design
• I/E 5303 Work Physiology or I/E 5304 Occupational Biomechanics

Recommended courses:

• 5302 Environmental Ergonomics
• 5323 The Engineering Management Environment or 5306 Safety Engineering
• 5309 HF in Engineering and Design or 5305 Cognitive Engineering

VI. Other requirements

Research experience is considered of primary importance and students are expected to be engaged in research continuously throughout each year.

They also must complete a qualifying examination and doctoral dissertation.

Students also are expected to gain the mathematical and computer programming skills necessary to complete the research and coursework in their degree plan. They may take appropriate undergraduate or graduate courses taken before, or while enrolled, at Texas Tech University or they may develop such skills as part of their laboratory training (evidence of proficiency in math and computer programming can be through formal coursework or other demonstration of such skills as determined by the human factors faculty).

Students are encouraged to complete a summer internship or co-op in human factors after qualifying examinations are passed. Past internships have included Brooks AFB, FAA, NASA-JSC, Perceptive Sciences, and SA Technologies.

VII. Sample Coursework

• Human Factors Psychology
• Human Factors Methodology
• Seminar in Perception: Theories and Applications
• Cognitive Ergonomics
• Human Computer Interaction
• Practicum in Human Factors Psychology
• Ergonomics and Design
• Work Physiology
• Environmental Ergonomics
• Experimental Design
• Advanced Correlational Methods and Factor Analysis
• Analysis of Single-Subject and Time-Ordered Designs
• Life Span Development: Psychobiological and Cognitive Processes in Aging
• Usability Testing and Research
• Seminar in Cognition
• Small Group Behavior
• Auotmaticity and Control in Social Behavior