Program Information | Degree Requirements | Career Outlook

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

HUMAN FACTORS AND SYSTEMS

Study Human Factors While Helping With Research Aimed at Improving Aviation Safety

As machines and systems become more automated, our role as users is becoming more passive. This can be a problem, because we humans need to be active and involved.

In the Master’s degree program in Human Factors and Systems, you’ll learn to take what humans do best and make sure they are accounted for in the design of machines, tasks, systems, and workplaces.

The program has two tracks: Human Factors or Systems.

Human Factors track

This is a research-based program offering a variety of research, consulting, and internship opportunities that will prepare you to work as a human factors professional.You will learn the techniques of human factors research, including statistical and quantitative procedures, experimental design, survey methods, computer techniques, and other methodologies.

The program is based on the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association.

Systems track

This program will teach you how to take a systematic approach to integrating and applying scientific principles and knowledge to design. You’ll also learn to transform an operational need into a defined system through the process of functional analysis, synthesis, optimization, and design integration.

A major focus of the Systems track is on the total "life cycle" of the system. The program teaches about how issues of reliability, maintainability, logistic support, safety, producibility, and economics apply to the design, integration, and evaluation of systems.

You will graduate knowing the proper balance between operational, behavioral, economic, and logistics factors.

The Human Factors Laboratory houses a fully-instrumented research flight simulator, a head/eye tracker, and physiological data collection apparatus.

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PROGRAM INFORMATION

Choose Either Human Factors or Systems Track

Human Factors (Track)

CAREER POSSIBILITIES
Human Factors professionals can be found in a variety of work settings, including:

Aviation Industry

Academic Institutions

Private industry

Military-related research centers

Government agencies

Research and consulting organizations

Independent consulting companies

Human Factors (Track)

Human Factors is a research-based program. The program develops a student's ability to work as a human factors professional. A variety of research, consulting, and internship arrangements are included in the program.

The program is based on the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association (APA) and adheres to guidelines established by the committee for Education and Training of APA's Division 21 (Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology). The program provides education in the content and techniques of human factors; including statistical and quantitative procedures, experimental design, survey methods, computer techniques and other research methodologies.

Systems (Track)

The Systems program provides its students a systemic focus on the integration and application of scientific principles and knowledge to design and evaluation. The program provides a systemic focus to the transformation of an operational need into a defined system configuration through the iterative process of functional analysis, synthesis, optimization, and design integration. The program addresses human factors, reliability, maintainability, logistic support, safety, producibility, economic, and related parameters as they apply to system design, integration, and evaluation. The program produces graduates who understand the proper balance between operational, behavioral, economic, and logistics factors.

History indicates that a properly coordinated and functioning system, that has a minimum of undesirable side effects, cannot be achieved unless the systems designer is 1) sensitive to operational feasibility during the early stages of system development and 2) assumes the responsibility for user-centered life cycle engineering. Therefore, a major focus of the systems program will be an appreciation of the total "life cycle" of the system, including design, development, testing, production, operations, sustaining support, and disposal.

Finally, the systems program will produce garduates that can move easily across disciplines. The graduates will understand the relative capabilities and limitations of each and thus know where trade-offs can effectively be made.

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Embry-Riddle's Flight-experienced Faculty and Students, Extensive Simulator Capabilities Create One Of the World's Best Human Factors Research Testbeds

CO-OPS, INTERNSHIPS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Many Human Factors students expand their education through co-ops and internships at a wide variety of organizations, including: Aeronca, Apple, Aptima, Delta Technologies, Flight Safety International, IBM, Johnson Engineering, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Motorola, National Transportation Safety Board, Sikorsky, Transportation Safety Institute, NASA, United Space Alliance, US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory.

REQUIREMENTS

Download complete requirements for this program in pdf format.

The Department of Human Factors and Systems offers graduate instruction leading to the Master of Science degree in Human Factors and Systems with distinct tracks in (a) human factors and (b) systems. These programs are designed to meet the highest academic rigors (i.e., fully prepared for doctoral- level studies), while at the same time preparing the students for immediate employment in real world, cost-sensitive, and operationally driven aviation/aerospace environments.

The human factors track will develop a graduate with the capacity to design, conduct, and apply human factors research in support of the design of simple and complex systems. It will develop a student’s ability to work as a human factors professional in aviation and aerospace environments based on their academic preparation, and active participation in human factors projects at the graduate level. A variety of research, consulting, and internship arrangements are included in the program. This track is based on the scientist-practitioner model of the American Psychological Association (APA) and adheres to guidelines established by the committee for Education and Training of APA's Division 21 (Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology).

Students receive education in the content and techniques of human factors including statistical and quantitative procedures, experimental design, survey methods, computer techniques and other research methodologies.

The systems track provides a systemic focus to the transformation of an operational need into a defined system configuration through the iterative process of functional analysis, synthesis, optimization, and design integration.

History indicates that a properly coordinated and functioning system, that has a minimum of undesirable side effects, cannot be achieved unless the system designer is 1) sensitive to operational feasibility during the early stages of system development, and 2) assumes the responsibility for user-centered life cycle engineering. Therefore, a major focus of the Systems track is an appreciation of the total life cycle of the system, including design, development, testing, production, operations, sustaining support, and disposal. The track addresses considerations of human factors, reliability, maintainability, logistic support, safety, producibility, economic, and related parameters as they apply to system design, integration, and evaluation. The goal of the track is to produce graduates who understand the proper balance between operational, behavioral, economic, and logistic factors.

Finally, the systems track produces graduates that can move easily across disciplines. The graduates will understand the relative capabilities and limitations of each and thus know where trade-offs can effectively be made. This interdisciplinary prerequisite also requires that the graduate be able to use the tools and techniques of the various disciplines in both traditional and non-traditional applications.

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CAREER OUTLOOK

The Embry-Riddle Connection Gives You Best Shot
At Human Factors Careers in Aerospace, Aviation, and Industry

You'll get valuable hands-on experience learning exactly how human factors researchers gather and apply data. You'll study the interaction between humans and technology, with a special focus on how people interact with computers, the environment, information processing, simulation, and training.

Recent Human Factors graduates have been hired by:

Aptima
FlightSafety International
GNP Computers
Raytheon Electronic Systems
Sikorsky Aircraft
Boeing
BAE Systems
Lockheed Martin
Institute of Aviation
US Air Force
Brooks AFB
Crown Consulting

The Embry-Riddle Advantage: The Career Services Office

One of the most valuable benefits of being a student or alumnus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is access to the resources of the Career Services Office.

The Career Services Office provides career development assistance to all students and alumni of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, regardless of campus affiliation. The Daytona Beach office serves Daytona Beach, Worldwide Campus, and Worldwide Online students. Prescott campus students are served by the Prescott office.

The Career Services Web site offers students and alumni:

A virtual library of job search aids including interview tips
An alumni network which enables students to contact alumni throughout the United States and abroad to learn more about their careers and employers.
Sample résumés and cover letters
Company profiles and employment hotlines
Cooperative education opportunities
Current job listings; and
A Web-based résumé referral service

A career fair is hosted at the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses each fall. Throughout each year, dozens of companies visit the campuses to recruit students and to provide information about their industry. On-campus interviews are also scheduled year-round.

The Career Services Office employs a staff of program managers to provide one-on-one career advisement, mock interviews, and résumé critique services. The Career Services Office encourages students to make contact early in their Embry-Riddle educations to explore career options and develop a successful job search strategy.

More From the Career Services Office

Career Advisement
Several degree-specific program managers are available for assistance with career choice/change, exploration of career opportunities, and development of job search techniques.

Career Resource Center
The Career Resource Center is a library of information that includes addresses and information on potential employers, as well as information on hiring trends, salaries, and other career references. The Career Resource Center is continuously updated and expanded to meet student needs. The Career Services Web site also serves as a virtual resource center with links to job listings, salary information, sample résumés, interview preparation, and company Web sites.

EagleHire Network
The EagleHire Network allows students and alumni to submit résumés directly to employers seeking full-time and co-op/internship candidates. EagleHire is a free service and is available to all students and alumni of the University.

Cooperative Education/Internship Program
Cooperative education positions provide an opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience while earning college credit, learn about their chosen field, and establish contacts in the industry. Co-ops and internships are opportunities to earn college credit while gaining career-related work experience for undergraduate and graduate students.