Location: Champaign, IL
Department: Kinesiology and Community Health
Quick links:
Directory of Graduate Programs
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Title of program:
Health Technology (MS)
Year human factors/ergonomics
program was established:
2020
Accredited by HFES?
No
Contact person for more information, including applications:
Katelyn Talbott
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1206 South Fourth St, MC 588
Champaign, IL 61820
217-300-0277
healthtech@illinois.edu
Website:
https://healthtech.ahs.illinois.edu/
Academic calendar:
Semester
Human factors/ergonomics graduate degrees offered:
MS
Goals, objectives, and emphasis of the programs:
The MS in Health Technology is a one-year program that combines human factors, UI/UX, engineering principles, and design. The objective of the program is to train health technology professionals to work on interdisciplinary teams in industry and research. The MS-HT program is a collaboration between the College of Applied Health Sciences and the Grainger College of Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Number of degrees granted during last 3 years:
14
Can students attend part-time?
No
Are required courses offered through distance learning?
Only for the final course offered in the summer.
Are required courses offered during summer?
Yes
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application deadlines:
Fall Admission Only. Applications open October 1. Early decision deadline is December 1. The final deadline is March 1. All applicants are considered for scholarships and fellowships.
Application Fees:
$70 domestic students; $90 international students. Application fee waiver requests possible.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements
- GPA: 3.0
- Other: GRE is optional, applications are evaluated holistically
Undergrad Degrees, Backgrounds, or Course Work Required
Open to all undergraduate majors with completion of prerequisite courses:
Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to Statistics
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Public health
Linear Algebra
Research Methods
Importance of other criteria as admission factors:
- Previous research activity: medium
- Relevant work experience: medium
- Extracurricular activities: medium
- Letters of recommendation: high
- Personal & Academic Statements: high
- Health Technology Interest: high
Tuition and fees
Illinois residents: $28,000 + campus fees for the entire, 12-month program
Illinois Non-residents & International students: $40,000 + campus fees for the entire, 12 month program
ADMISSIONS
Number of students applying to the human factors/ergonomics program last year:
14
Number of students accepted into the program last year:
13
Number of students entering the program last year:
6
Anticipated number of openings per year for the next two years:
20-30
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Percentage of students in program receiving financial assistance:
100%
Amount received per year:
Amount varies.
Types of assistance available:
Scholarships and fellowships are available for program applicants. All applications are forwarded to the committee for consideration.
When should students apply for financial assistance?
No additional application materials are needed. All applicants are reviewed on their application materials.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate degree offered:
MS
Number of units required:
36 hours
Exams required:
None
Language requirements:
None
Research required:
None
Practical experience required:
Capstone Project-summer term
Typical number of years required to obtain degree:
1
Is there a non-thesis option?
Yes, only option.
CURRICULUM
Required Courses (units):
- Understanding Users of Health Technology (4 credit hours)
- Human Factors Methods for Health Technology (4 credit hours)
- Hardware Engineering for Health Technology (4 credit hours)
- Software Engineering for Health Technology (4 credit hours)
- Health Technology Capstone Project Orientation (1 Credit hour)
- Health Technology Capstone Project Development (3 credit hours)
- Health Technology Capstone Project Implementation (4 credit hours), online
Electives:
Students are required to take 3 electives (12 hours) from an approved list of health technology relevant courses from across campus.
Average or typical class size in a required course:
10-30
RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Research and support facilities available to students in the program:
The McKechnie Family LIFE Home is a multi-function space that includes a simulated home environment for research, classroom and learning event space, and a health technology innovation lab. The University of Illinois also hosts numerous makerspaces, labs, and world class library facilities to support MS in Health Technology students.
Teaching opportunities available to students in the program:
NA
Current research activities and projects being carried out by program faculty and/or students:
Our Health Technology research (capstone project) spans a broad range of topics, reflecting the interdisciplinary and complex nature of healthcare. Examples include developing applications to support patients and their care (e.g., medication adherence, health tracking, clinical assessment); smart-home technology (e.g., activity sensors, falls detection, telewellness); social and assistive robots; digital home assistants; social engagement tools; and virtual reality. We focus on supporting individuals of all ages, with all levels of ability, with a goal to maximize their health and quality of life.
STUDENT STATISTICS
Careers of MS in Health Technology Graduates:
Data Engineer
Associate Product Manager
Human Factors Engineer
UI/UX Designer
Innovation and Operations Analyst
UX Researcher
Human Factors Associate
Validation Engineer
Product Manager
FACULTY
Wendy A. Rogers, PhD 1991, Georgia Institute of Technology; technology design, aging, human-computer interaction
Katelyn Talbott, EdD 2021, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; graduate student success, online students, graduate student support
Timothy Hale, PhD 2011, University of Alabama; usability, healthcare, design
Avi Gupta, PhD 2021, Oklahoma State University; human-computer interaction, eXtended Reality (XR), health technology, information modeling
Harshal Mahajan, PhD 2012, University of Pittsburgh; rehabilitation engineering, human-computer interaction, participatory design
Abigail Wooldridge, PhD 2018, University of Wisconsin – Madison; design and manufacturing, health technology, and social, human, and engineering systems
Caroline Cao, PhD 2002, University of Toronto; virtual reality and skills training, augmented reality for surgical planning, haptics and sensory augmentation, and sensors and navigational aid
Soyoung Choi, PhD 2020, Pennsylvania State University; mHealth interventions, and adaptive exercise programs for older adults with disabilities
[Updated March 2024]