Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Human Factors and Ergonomics Ph.D.Human Factors & Ergonomics
College of Design
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Human Factors and Ergonomics Graduate Program, c/o DHA, 240 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108.
Email:
HFEgrad@umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) is the study of how to make technological systems safe, effective, and easy and enjoyable to use. The graduate program offers interdisciplinary coursework that addresses human performance and how it can be enhanced through design of tools, systems, working environments, processes, and organizations. HFE has applications ranging from clothing and living spaces to business processes, the design of healthcare processes and technology, computer interfaces, and aircraft cockpits.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.00.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(GRE, TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
36
credits are required in the major.
24 thesis credits are required.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 3.00
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 2 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
Required Coursework
Required Seminar (1 credit)
Take the following course:
HUMF 8901 - Graduate Seminar in Human Factors and Ergonomics
(1.0 cr)
Research Methods Core (6 or 8 credits)
To meet the Research Methods Core requirements take either DES 8102 and DES 8103 as a sequence, OR PSY 8814 and PSY 8815 as a sequence.
Research Methods Core Option 1
Take DES 8102 and DES 8103 in sequence as one option to meet the Research Methods Core requirements.
DES 8102 - Quantitative research methods and data visualization
(3.0 cr)
DES 8103 - Qualitative Research Methods in Design
(3.0 cr)
or
Research Methods Core Option 2
Take PSY 8814 and PSY 8815 in sequence as one option to meet the Research Methods Core requirements.
PSY 8814 - Analysis of Psychological Data
(4.0 cr)
PSY 8815 - Analysis of Psychological Data
(4.0 cr)
Research Ethics (0-1 credits)
Take the course below, or select one of the online options identified at https://design.umn.edu/students/graduate/human-factors-ergonomics-resources, in consultation with the advisor.
DES 8181 - Research Ethics
(1.0 cr)
Additional Research Methods Course (3-4 credits)
Select a research methods course from the following in consultation with the advisor:
Statistics
If PSY 8960 is selected, take the Multivariate Statistics for Social Scientists section for 3 credits.
PSY 8960 - Graduate Seminar in Psychology
(1.0-4.0 cr)
PUBH 7406 - Biostatistical Inference II
(3.0 cr)
STAT 5021 - Statistical Analysis
(4.0 cr)
Designing Experiments
STAT 5303 - Designing Experiments
(4.0 cr)
Research Methods
ANTH 4035 - Ethnographic Research Methods
(3.0 cr)
KIN 5981 - Research Methodology in Kinesiology and Sport Management
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6341 - Epidemiologic Methods I
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6342 - Epidemiologic Methods II
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6343 - Epidemiologic Methods III
(4.0 cr)
Component Courses (9 Credits)
Select a course from each of the following three components, in consultation with the advisor, for a total of 9 credits.
Human Factors Fundamentals
Take at least 3 credits from the following:
DES 5185 - Human Factors in Design
(3.0 cr)
HUMF 5001 - Foundations of Human Factors/Ergonomics
(3.0 cr)
HUMF 5211 - Human Factors and Work Analysis
(4.0 cr)
HUMF 5874 - Human Centered Design to Improve Complex Systems
(4.0 cr)
Cognitive Human Factors
Take at least 3 credits from the following:
CGSC 8000 - Seminar: Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 8114 - Seminar: Cognition and Learning
(3.0 cr)
IDSC 8721 - Behavioral Decision Theory
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5014 - Psychology of Human Learning and Memory
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5015 - Cognition, Computation, and Brain
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5031W - Perception
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5037 - Psychology of Hearing
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5062 - Cognitive Neuropsychology
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5064 - Brain and Emotion
(3.0 cr)
PSY 8041 - Proseminar in Perception
(3.0 cr)
PSY 8042 - Proseminar in Cognition, Brain, and Behavior
(3.0 cr)
PSY 8201 - Social Cognition
(3.0 cr)
Physical Human Factors
Take at least 3 credits from the following:
DES 5188 - Anthropometrics, Sizing & Fit
(4.0 cr)
KIN 4133 - Perceptual-Motor Control and Learning
(3.0 cr)
KIN 4136 - Embodied Cognition
(3.0 cr)
KIN 5235 - Advanced Biomechanics II: Kinetics
(3.0 cr)
KIN 5505 - Human-Centered Design - Principles and Applications
(3.0 cr)
KIN 5643 - Applied Motion Capture and Movement Analysis Technology
(3.0 cr)
KIN 8211 - Seminar: Perception and Action
(3.0 cr)
RSC 5135 - Advanced Biomechanics I: Kinematics
(3.0 cr)
RSC 8135 - Human Kinematics
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Select from the following, in consultation with the advisor, to complete the 36 course credits required.
User Interface Design
CSCI 5115 - User Interface Design, Implementation and Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
CSCI 8115 - Human-Computer Interaction and User Interface Technology
(3.0 cr)
NURS 7118 - Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction in Health Informatics
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5501 - Usability and Human Factors in Technical Communication
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8520 - Seminar in Scientific and Technical Communication
(3.0 cr)
Human Factors
CGSC 8410 - Perspectives in Learning, Perception, and Cognition
(2.0 cr)
CSCI 5125 - Collaborative and Social Computing
(3.0 cr)
CSCI 5609 - Visualization
(3.0 cr)
CSCI 5619 - Virtual Reality and 3D Interaction
(3.0 cr)
CSCI 8117 - Understanding the Social Web
(3.0 cr)
DES 5165 - Design and Globalization
(3.0 cr)
DES 5901 - Principles of Wearable Technology
(2.0 cr)
DES 5902 - Wearable Technology Laboratory Practicum
(2.0 cr)
DES 8151 - Product Development: Theory and Practice
(3.0 cr)
GDES 8361 - Color, Design, and Human Perception
(3.0 cr)
IDSC 8722 - Heuristic Decision Making
(2.0 cr)
MKTG 8813 - Consumer Judgment and Decision Making I
(2.0 cr)
PSY 5501 - Self, Society and Health - What's Work Got To Do With It?
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5708 - Organizational Psychology
(3.0 cr)
PSY 5862 - Psychological Measurement: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6120 - Injury Prevention in the Workplace, Community, and Home
(2.0 cr)
PUBH 6140 - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology
(2.0 cr)
PUBH 6806 - Principles of Public Health Research
(2.0 cr)
SOC 8412 - Social Network Analysis: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
Thesis Credits
Take at least 24 doctoral thesis credits.
HUMF 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral
(1.0-24.0 cr)
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Credits: | 1.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 36.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PubH 6320PubH /6341 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | HumF/Kin 5001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | HumF 5211/IE 5511/ME 5211 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CgSc 8000/Phil 8640 |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Prerequisites: | Business admin PhD student or #; offered alt yrs |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | NSc/Psy 5031 |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | NSc 5037/Psy 5037 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Kin 3505/Kin 5505 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | RSc 5135/RSc 8135 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | RSc 5135/RSc 8135 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Writ 4501/Writ 5501 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 24.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Des 4165/Des 5165 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 5702/5705/5708 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -24.0 [max 100.0] |
Grading Basis: | No Grade |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |