Accelerated Masters

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degrees
(B. A. in Psychology; + M.A. in General Experimental Psychology with Concentration in Human Factors)

The accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degree program in human factors psychology is designed to train human factors professionals for positions in industry and government where well-trained master's level human factors psychologists are highly sought. According to the definition adopted by the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, human factors is a field concerned with the application of what we know about people, their abilities, characteristics, and limitations to the design of equipment they use, environments in which they function, and jobs they perform. Human factors professionals apply knowledge about the limits and capabilities of human behavior to the design of machines, tools, systems, jobs, and environments for safe, comfortable, and effective human use. The combined program places a strong emphasis on research methodology and data analysis skills.

The program allows outstanding students to accelerate their undergraduate degree program, begin graduate work in the fourth year, and finish both the bachelor's and the master's degree in a total of about five years. Students interested in this program should consult with a faculty member in the Human Factors Psychology Program before their third year and as early as possible to discussion admissions, applications, expectations, etc.

Admission is highly competitive. The Human Factors Psychology Program is 1 of only 17 programs that are accredited by HFES. Applications will be considered from students who are in their third year of study, have an overall grade point average of at least 3.20, and have completed at least 80 semester hours toward the Bachelor of Arts degree, most of the general education requirements for the B.A. degree, and at least 9 hours of Psychology. Students must also submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination before the beginning of the fourth year. The program may be completed with a thesis option (38 graduate hours including thesis) or a non-thesis option (38 graduate hours without thesis). Helpful minors include industrial engineering, technical communication, computer science, math, and business.

This BA/MA program utilizes a traditional, face-to-face curriculum of coursework, mentoring, and hands-on experience. We do not offer any online graduate degree programs.

 

SUMMARY, FIVE YEARS

98 undergraduate hours, years 1-3
22 undergraduate hours, year 4 (includes 5370 and 5372 as undergraduate electives)
120 total undergraduate hours (B.A. completed in year 4)


33 graduate hours (M.A. completed year 5; excludes 5370 and 5372 that are counted as undergrad electives)

Sample Curriculum

FIRST THREE YEARS

98 hours of undergraduate work toward B.A. in Psychology (16.33 hours/semester)

FOURTH YEAR (PSY 5370 and PSY 5372 count toward B.A.)

FIFTH YEAR

NOTE: (1) thesis option requires enrollment in Psy 6000 instead of Psy 7000

The following courses are recommended:

Undergraduate

• PSY 2400 Statistical Methods
• PSY 3401 Research Methods
• PSY 4323 Perception: Theories and Applications
• PSY 4324 Cognition
• PSY 4326 Human Factors Psychology
• PSY 4327 Cognitive Neuroscience
• PSY 4331 Social Psychology of Groups
• PSY 4380 Intermediate Statistics

Graduate

• PSY 5356 Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience (Cognitive Core)
• PSY 5353 Cognitive Neuroscience (Cognitive Core)
• PSY 5328 Seminar in Social Psychology (Social Core)
• PSY 5300 Attitudes and Attitude Change (Social Core)
• PSY 5335 Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (Social Core)
• PSY 5495 Hierarchical Modeling
• PSY 5001 Neuroergonomics
• PSY 5379 Human-Computer Interaction
• English 5388 Usability