Graduate Degrees, page 3
Institute of Safety and Systems Management

Master of Science in Human Factors and Ergonomics

Human factors and ergonomics is the study and practice of optimizing interfaces between people, technology and environments to achieve efficient, safe and effective system and organizational performance. The degree program emphasizes research, behavioral and analytical methods for human factors, and instruction in systems theory and methodologies.

A number of different areas of specialization within human factors are available to the student, as is the opportunity for faculty-supervised field study (internship) for credit. Included among the knowledge and skills taught in the program are: human performance capabilities and limitations; learning, training and behavioral assessment technology; managerial and organizational interfaces (e.g., organizational theory and behavior, information systems); statistics and system analytical skills and research methodologies.

Course Requirements

Successful degree candidates must complete 39 units, including the nine-unit ISSM common core.

Core curriculumUnits
SSM 513Systems Management and Organizational Theory3
SSM 531Human and Organizational Factors in Technological Systems3
SSM 552Probability, Risk and Statistics3
Human Factors required courses Units
HUFA 540Occupational Ergonomics3
HUFA 573Statistics and Data Analysis3

Areas of Specialization

Students must also declare and successfully complete a nine-unit area of specialization.

This concentration may focus on courses appropriate to the thesis subject, or to field study work, and must be approved in advance by the student's faculty advisor. Among the areas available are:

Human Performance and Information ProcessingUnits
HUFA 527Applied Issues in Human Information Processing3
HUFA 533Advanced Job Analysis, Design, and Mental Workload Assessment3
HUFA 541Human Performance: Neuromuscular Behavior 3
Environmental Design and SafetyUnits
HUFA 532Human Factors in Accident Causation3
HUFA 539Environmental Design in Human Factors3
SASC 560Environmental Safety 3
SASC 670Regulatory Aspects of Technology and Safety 3
Students electing to pursue the Environmental Design and Safety specialization must take HUFA 527 in addition to the nine-unit specialization.

Sociotechnical Systems and MacroergonomicsUnits
HUFA 517Psychological Factors in Systems3
HUFA 522Design of Organizationally Compatible Complex Technologies3
HUFA 523Socio-Environmental Factors in Systems Management3
HUFA 533Advanced Job Analysis, Design, and Mental Workload Assessment3
HUFA 537Quasi- and Non-Experimental Research Methods and Analysis3
HUFA 577Macroergonomic Impacts of Complex Technology Systems3
Training Systems DevelopmentUnits
HUFA 515Personnel and Training Systems Development3
HUFA 523Socio-Environmental Factors in Systems Management3
HUFA 527Applied Issues in Human Information Processing3
CTSE 571Instructional Design3
CTSE 575Applications of Computers and Information Processing to Education and Training3
Human-Computer InteractionUnits
HUFA 568Human-Computer Interaction3
SYMA 563Management of Information Systems3
SYMA 569Decision Support Systems3
SYMA 579Expert Systems for Systems Management3
ISE 574Cognitive Engineering 3
ISE 578LIntelligent Interface3
CSCI 575aMan-Machine Interactive Systems3
CSCI 598Expert Systems3

Elective Courses

Courses listed as areas of specialization, when they fall outside of the area of specialization selected by the student, may also be used as electives. However, no more than two courses from any one area should be chosen as electives. Students may also select from the following list:

CoursesUnits
HUFA 415Safety Training Development3
HUFA 510Systems Management Communication Theory3
HUFA 511Design of Personnel Systems3
HUFA 523Socio-Environmental Factors in Systems Management3
HUFA 529Organization-Environment Interaction3
HUFA 532Human Factors in Accident Causation3
HUFA 589Field Study3-6
SYMA 518Principles of Systems3

Integrating Experience/Thesis

All ISSM master of science programs require a final integrating experience. This will consist of a master's thesis (up to six units) or an integrating project (up to four units). The integrating project is accomplished by successful completion of SSM 587 Seminar: Critical Synthesis and Project (3 units). For the M.S. in Human Factors and Ergonomics, the project must be of a research nature. For the thesis option, students must enroll in SSM 590 (2 units) and SSM 594ab (4 units). Approval for proceeding with the thesis option is the responsibility of the student's faculty advisor. The student's guidance committee is responsible for the content and bibliographical consistency of the thesis.

Next Page

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
David Henriquez
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu