2008–2009 - Florida Institute of Technology

Human factors is now recognized as an indispensable component
of systems design and evaluation, accident investigation and prevention,
simulation, training, procedures development and system
performance testing. Considerable research is being conducted in
this field by government and private entities around the world.
In addition to its advantageous location on the Space Coast,
Florida Tech has significant university assets that enhance its
potential for aviation human factors research and education.
Admission Requirements
An applicant to the Master of Science in Aviation Human
Factors program must have earned a bachelor’s degree, or its
equivalent, from an institution of acceptable academic standing.
Undergraduate course work should include statistics and computer
programming in at least one higher-level language. Some
aviation background or education is also required. Deficiencies
in these areas may be made up through courses taken at the
university concurrent with the aviation human factors program
course work. Preference is given to candidates with special skills
and experience in the fields of aviation software design, engineering,
aeronautics, applied psychology or computer science.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are
presented in the Academic Overview section of this catalog.
Curriculum
The adviser assists the student in devising a program of study.
Each student must complete a GPP appropriate for the declared
area of concentration by the end of the first semester of enrollment.
The resulting GPP requires the approval of both the graduate
program chair and the division director. Each student must
complete and defend an appropriate thesis.
The Master of Science in Aviation Human Factors requires
the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours of
approved course work including six hours of Thesis (AHF 5999).
Summary of Program Requirements
AHF 5101 Human Factors in Man-Machine Systems ...........................3
AHF 5991 Sensation and Perception .....................................................3
AVM 5101 Legal and Ethical Issues in Aviation .....................................3
Additional Course Work (minimum) ..................................18
Graduate Statistics (Restricted Elective) .............................3
Thesis (maximum) ...............................................................6
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED ........................................36
Typical Graduate Program Plan
AHF 5101 Human Factors in Man-Machine Systems ...........................3
AHF 5201 Human Performance 1 .........................................................3
AHF 5202 Human Performance 2 .........................................................3
AHF 5302 Human-Computer Interaction .............................................3
AHF 5991 Sensation and Perception .....................................................3
AHF 5999 Thesis Research ...................................................................6
AVM 5101 Legal and Ethical Issues in Aviation .....................................3
AVS 5201 Aviation Meteorology Theory and Practice ...........................3
AVS 5203 Impact of Aviation on Human Physiology .............................3
EDS 5070 Educational Statistics ...........................................................3
EDS 5095 Essentials of Educational Research ......................................3
Thesis Research
A thesis based on research conducted with the approval of the
College of Aeronautics is required. The student selects a faculty
member, with the approval of the option adviser and the graduate
program chair, to serve as the thesis research adviser. With the
assistance of the adviser, the student selects an advisory committee
and defines a research topic. The committee must include at
least one other member from the College of Aeronautics and one
from another degree-granting department of the university. The
adviser and the committee offer assistance and direction to the
student and serve as a review board to ensure that thesis requirements
are met. After completion of the thesis, the adviser and
committee conduct the oral defense of the thesis as described
under “Master’s Degree Requirements” in the Academic Overview
section of this catalog. Three to six credits are awarded for successful
completion of the thesis.
Degree Programs—College of Aeronautics 49