B.S. in Human Systems Engineering
Our human systems engineering degree, offered by the Human Systems Engineering program in the Polytechnic School, gives students an opportunity to study human learning, memory, decision-making, group behavior, communication, emotion and motivation.
Why Human Systems Engineering?
Students in the Human Systems Engineering program become experts in human performance. They apply the methods of experimental psychology and cognitive science to a wide variety of domains such as product usability, sports performance, and workplace and hospital safety.
A broad range of professions needs experts in human factors to work on problems that involve design, training and assessment. Students gain real-world experience by tackling projects that examine cutting-edge issues such as cell phones as a source of driver distraction, detection of improvised explosive devices, process optimization in health care, and even control of unmanned vehicles.
Interest areas include: aviation human factors, cognitive performance, consumer psychology, effective teamwork, health psychology, learning optimization, social cognition, threat detection and user-centered design.
Interested in getting an M.S. in Human Systems Engineering in 5 years?
Try our Accelerated Master’s Degree option
The accelerated master’s degree program offers our top undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree at an accelerated rate. Eligible and admitted students in an approved undergraduate degree program have the ability to share (double count) courses between their undergraduate and graduate degrees. After completion of the undergraduate degree, students would transition directly into the corresponding graduate degree program with up to 12 credit hours earned.
For more information on Accelerated Master’s Degrees, contact [email protected].
See a list of all Accelerated Master’s Degree programs or learn more about the M.S. in Human Systems Engineering
B.S. in Human Systems Engineering Requirements
Additional Program Fee: No
Career Outlook
Most careers in psychology require a master’s or a doctorate, but an undergraduate degree with an emphasis in human factors can lead to many lucrative employment opportunities. We routinely place our top undergraduate students in internships in government laboratories or at leading companies in the fields of technology, training and transportation, and many of these opportunities turn into careers. Our emphasis on usability design and applied experimental and statistical methodologies provide students with a skill set that is highly sought by today’s leading businesses.
Example Careers
Students who complete this degree program may be prepared for the following careers. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
- User experience specialists
- User interface designers
- Military Scientists
- Human factors engineers
- Research psychologists
- Health care ergonomists
- Sports psychologists
- Safety consultants
- Information systems designer
Bachelor of Science • Median salary: $91,991* / Master of Science • Median salary $101,583* PhD • Median salary $129,294*
Learn more about career outlook, example careers and average salaries.
* Data obtained from the 2013 survey by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society