Graduate Degrees
The University of Idaho Department of Psychology and Communication offers a master’s degree and doctoral degree in experimental psychology, with an emphasis in human factors. We do not offer graduate degree programs (M.S., Ph.D.) in the fields of clinical, counseling, or school psychology.
As a student in the psychology graduate program, you will study how humans interact with technology and the built environment. Human factors graduate students often complete professional internships with organizations such as Intel, Motorola, Hewlett Packard, Daimler-Chrysler, UserCentric, the Idaho National Laboratory and the University of Idaho’s media development team.
The Masters of Science in experimental psychology, with an emphasis in human factors can be earned on campus or through the university’s distance education program. Our master's program is part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). Students who are residents of one of the 16 states/U.S. territories of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education qualify (WICHE) for in-state tuition. No separate process is required.
Graduate Research in Human Factors
Psychology graduate students participate in research in a variety of specialty areas, including:
- Human-computer interaction
- Advanced displays for aviation and process control
- Simulation and virtual environments
- Driving and surface transportation
- Computer security
- Alarm technology
- Physiological indicators of stress and workload
- Sound perception
- Cyclist and pedestrian safety
- Augmented cognition and neuroergonomics
- Biofeedback and neck pain
- Balancing and aging
- Cognition and posture
Graduate funding and research support is available for on-campus students.
Careers for Human Factors Practitioners and Researchers
A graduate degree in human factors psychology prepares you for careers in:
- Human factors engineer
- Software and web usability
- User research analyst
- Product development
- User experience research
- Project management
- Consulting
- Public safety
- Healthcare
- Nuclear power
- Surface transportation
- Aviation systems
- Military
Graduates work for corporations such as Hewlett Packard, UserCentric, Battelle, Bruce Power (Canada) and at research institutes such as the Idaho National Laboratory and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.