Psychology

Master of Science in Psychology - Option in Human Factors

Prerequisites

1. 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.

2. Take all the following courses or their equivalents:

• PSY 310 Intermediate Statistics (4)
  Prerequisites: PSY 100, PSY 110.
• PSY 331 Sensation and Perception (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 100, PSY 220, PSY 241.
• PSY 332 Human Cognition (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 100, PSY 220, PSY 241.

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.

Requirements

1. A minimum of 36 units of upper division and graduate work including the following:

• PSY 511 Statistical Design & Analysis of Experiments (3)
  Prerequisite: PSY 310 or consent of instructor.
• PSY 518 Computer Applications in Psychology (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 310 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
• PSY 527 Human Factors (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 310 and two of the following: PSY 331, 332 or 333.
• PSY 627 Human Factors' Methods (3)
  Prerequisite: PSY 527 or consent of instructor.
• PSY 633 Seminar in Perception and Attention (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 331 or PSY 332 or consent of instructor; consent of graduate advisor.
• PSY 635 Seminar on Situation Awareness (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 331 or PSY 332 or consent of instructor or/and consent of graduate advisor.
• PSY 698 Thesis (1-6)
  Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, consent of graduate advisor.
• MAE 508 Systems Engineering and Integration (3)
  Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of instructor.
• CECS 448 User Interface Design (3)
  Prerequisite: CECS 343 or consent of instructor.

Take one of the following:

• PSY 533 Research in Cognition and Learning (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 220, 310, and PSY 331 or PSY 332 or PSY 333.
• PSY 634 Seminar in Cognition (3)
  Prerequisites: PSY 332 or PSY 333 or consent of instructor; consent of graduate advisor.

Take one course from the following:

• PSY 512, PSY 544, PSY 696, PSY 697; ENGL 419 or otherwise approved by the program committee.

2. 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, project, or comprehensive examination dependent upon the program), 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

At the end of the program, students should have the ability to:

• 1. Apply their knowledge of psychology to the design of jobs, information systems, consumer products, workplaces, and equipment to improve user performance, safety, and comfort.
• 2. Apply methodologies that are used in the design of human-machine systems.
• 3. Design research to answer basic and applied issues in Human Factors.