PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Title of program

Human Factors

Year human factors/ergonomics program was established

1986

Accredited by HFES?

No

Contact person for more information, including applications

Jeff Caird, University of Calgary, Department of Psychology, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada; 403/220-5571

Catalog

http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/
current/course-desc-main.html

Academic calendar

Semester

Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered

MSc, PhD

Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the program

The program emphasizes the scientist-practitioner model of training. Primary areas of research activity are in transportation human factors, aging and visual health, human error, human-computer interaction, health care human factors, attention and skill acquisition, visual processing. Numerous opportunities exist to develop multidisciplinary interests in conjunction with computer science, environmental design, kinesiology, and medicine faculties. 

Number of degrees granted during last 3 years

MSc 4, PhD 1 

Can students attend part-time?

No

Are required courses offered through distance learning?

No

Does the university have an HFES student chapter?

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application deadline

January 15

Application fees

domestic, $100 (Cdn), international, $130 (Cdn)

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements

GPA: 3.4 (minimum requirement; 3.6 preferred) 

GRE: acceptable score; non-psychology majors must complete the psychology subject test 

Other: Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent with a minimum of 4 years of acceptable coursework from a recognized institution. A GPA of 3.4 over the last two undergraduate and/or graduate years consisting of at least 10 full-course equivalents. Proficiency in English.

Importance of other criteria as admission factors

Research: high

Work experience: medium

Letters: high

Interview: low

Tuition and fees

http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/fees

Resident: $5,439 (Cdn) year 1 full fees, $1,582.68/year (Cdn) continuing 

Nonresident: $12,347.34 (Cdn) year 1 full fees, $3,591.90/year (Cdn) continuing

ADMISSIONS

Number of students applying to the human factors/ergonomics program last year

3

Number of students accepted into the program last year

1

Number of students entering the program last year

1

Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years

2–3

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance

100%

Amounts received per year

MSc: $19,500 (Cdn), 2 years guaranteed

PhD $21,000 (Cdn), 3 years guaranteed

Types of assistance available

Fellowship, TA, RA, scholarship

When should students apply for financial assistance?

With application

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

MSc and PhD

Number of units required

MSc: 24

PhD: 12

Exams required

MSc: thesis defense 

PhD: oral and written candidacy exams

Language requirements

None

Research required

Yes

Practical experience required

None

Typical number of years required to obtain degree

MSc: 2–3 

PhD: 2–3 years

Is there a non-thesis option?

No

CURRICULUM

Required courses (units)

See online: http://psychology.ucalgary.ca/
graduate-program/psychology-graduate-program/degree-requirements

Electives (units)

Transportation Human Factors, Human Error, Medical Human Factors, Cognitive Engineering, Advanced HCI, Methods in HCI

Number of courses outside department that are required

0

Number of courses outside department that are recommended

2–4

Average or typical class size in a required course

3–8

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Research and support facilities available to students in the program:
General and specialized computer facilities are available to graduate students. Hardware and software technical support staff support a wide range of research needs. Research experience is usually specific to an adviser's lab. The Cognitive Ergonomics Research Lab (CERL) houses the University of Calgary Driving Simulator (UCDS). The UCDS is a full automobile with projection to 150 degrees, a high-speed eye movement system, and ITS prototyping software. The Healthcare Human Factors and Simulation (HHFS) Lab located at the Medical Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre (www.w21c.org) is a state-of-the-art research and usability lab. It houses two high-fidelity patient simulators, integrated audio and video equipment, and wearable eye-tracking systems.

Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
Graduate students who receive TA support typically serve as laboratory or tutorial instructors; they may lecture occasionally. PhD students who have completed candidacy may have the opportunity to instruct courses as preparation to enter academics. 

Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:

CERL: Novice and experienced drivers hazard perception, the effect of hybrid displays on eco-driving and driver distraction, perceiving and reacting to motorcyclists, the effects of video games on driver behavior. HHFSL: The usability of automated external defibrillators, optimizing the design of emergency department crash carts, the effects of interruptions on triage decision making, teamwork, and fatigue.

STUDENT STATISTICS

Current number of active students in program, by gender

2 men, 5 women

Current number of first-year students in program

2

Based on current graduate students in the program,
the mean score on admission tests and undergraduate
GPA by degree being sought are

N/A

FACULTY

Jeff Caird, PhD 1994, U. of Minnesota; transportation and health care human factors, HCI

Jan Davies, MD; medical and aviation human factors, human error

Bob Dewar, (emeritus professor), PhD 1965, McMaster U.; driver behavior, human factors, perception

Saul Greenberg, PhD 1989, U. of Calgary; HCI, computer-supported cooperative work, visualization interfaces

Don Kline, PhD 1972, U. of Southern California; vision, aging, visual health, human factors 

Theresa Kline, PhD 1990, U. of Calgary; I/O, computer-supported cooperative work, human factors