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Human factors engineering is a relatively new field that combines knowledge from various disciplines to optimize product design for natural human movements. To become a human factors engineer, a master’s degree in human factors engineering or a related discipline is required, with an undergraduate degree in a field related to human factors as a prerequisite. Graduate programs specialize in areas such as human/machine interaction, usability, and cognitive science. Experience in an engineering environment is also important.
Human factors engineering is a growing field of importance, particularly in the design of products used by people to accomplish tasks. It is a relatively new field of study and application, synthesizing knowledge from a wide range of fields to include agronomy, psychology, cognition, probability, statistics, engineering, operations research and industrial design. Those who want to become a human factors engineer usually need a master’s degree in human factors engineering or a related discipline. Many of the postgraduate programs available will require undergraduate training in the discipline as a prerequisite for entry. Lacking this degree will make it virtually impossible to secure a position as a human factors engineer due to the precise training required to be successful on the job.
In the workplace, a student who graduates to become a human factors engineer will conduct research and work with product and systems design teams to create products that end users are comfortable using. Objectively, a human factors engineer will apply advanced scientific theory and sound engineering principles to optimize the design of a product so that it responds to natural human movements. As such, a human factors engineer needs extensive experience in human factors science, human factors interaction, and human factors engineering. Furthermore, there are several specialties in the field to include usability, human/machine interaction, cognitive ergonomics and user experience engineering.
A new student, working to become a human factors engineer, will first need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a field that deals directly with human factors, cognitive science, engineering, and ergonomics. The degree course will equip students with the foundational knowledge needed to conduct design studies and understand ergonomics and human cognition, while gaining a basic understanding of engineering principles. Degree programs vary between colleges and universities and are not always called human factors engineering. Terms used include applied psychology, applied cognitive science, industrial engineering, and human ecology. It is important to note, however, that the undergraduate degree does not prepare you to work as a human factors engineer, but will generally lead the candidate into a design study or research position.
After completing the undergraduate degree, a student will need to apply and gain admission to a graduate program if they want to become a human factors engineer. Whether it’s a master’s or doctoral program, employers will require graduate training in a human factors engineering, industrial engineering, or applied psychology discipline. Preferably, many employers look for candidates with a doctorate, but generally consider those with a master’s degree. Increasingly, graduate programs also specialize, offering options to study human/computer or machine interaction, usability, cognitive science, or applied psychology. Experience working in an engineering environment is also important, and internships after graduation can help students gain this experience.
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