Human Systems Engineering

Building better machines using psychology and cognitive science.

Students become experts in human interaction with engineered systems by applying the methods of experimental psychology and cognitive science. Broad applications include aviation human factors, consumer psychology, teamwork, health and hospital safety, learning, product usability, social cognition, sports performance, threat detection and user-centered design.

Projects presented at the Innovation Showcase involve the application of psychological principles to problems and questions determined by a client sponsor. For example, students might work with a startup company to provide website or product usability evaluations, consult with a community organization to develop improved methods for real-world practices, or perhaps develop a new piece of software.