2013–2014 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

Curriculum
The student’s master’s and doctoral coursework combined should
include a minimum of 24 credit hours in mechanical engineering
and 9 credit hours in mathematics. The doctoral program of study
must be approved by the student’s advisor and the department head.
The distribution of these courses should include courses in each of
the four areas of specialization, and as a minimum should have the
credit distribution given below:
Major Area of Specialization (including master’s courses) ......................... 18
Related Areas of Specialization (including master’s courses)........................ 9
Mathematics (including master’s courses) ................................................... 9
RESEARCH
Mechanical and aerospace engineering facilities include laboratories
for energy research, fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, combustion
and propulsion, metallurgy and solid mechanics, system dynamics
and control, instrumentation and applied laser research, computeraided
design and computational research. Other laboratories around
the campus can also be used by mechanical engineering graduate
students performing advanced research.
Funded research activities of mechanical and aerospace engineering
faculty have recently included studies of efficient heat transfer/
insulation mechanisms in building environments, advanced HVAC
and fuel cell systems, integration of renewable energy sources into
residential and utility applications, computation of radiative transport,
computational mechanics with emphasis on nano-devices and damage
mechanisms in laminated composite structures, development of
experimental techniques for mechanical behavior of advanced materials
systems, biomechanics, laser applications in bioengineering, turbulent
boundary-layer structure, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis
in rotating machinery and turbulent transport of moisture contained
in air streams. Other studies have involved combustion in porous
media, novel spatial and spherical mechanisms for part-orienting
tasks, design and control of mobile robots, response of occupants in
automobile collisions, smart composite structures with embedded
sensors and optimization of composites. Research projects have been
variously supported through grants from NASA, National Science
Foundation, Defense Nuclear Agency, Air Force Office of Scientific
Research, Edith Bush Charitable Foundation, Florida Solar Energy
Center, Florida Space Grant Consortium, Department of Energy and
a number of industrial affiliations.
Laboratories include the Robotics and Spatial Systems Laboratory
(RASSL); Laser, Optics and Instrumentation Laboratory (LOIL);
Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Aerospace Structures Laboratory.
RASSL is equipped with several industrial robots as well as a stateof-the-art
autonomous mobile robot. In LOIL, the current technologies
in continuous wave and short-pulse lasers and optics are used
to develop new techniques for measuring and characterizing material
properties for biomedical and material processing applications. The
Fluid Dynamics Laboratory features a low-speed, low-turbulence
wind tunnel of open-return type, with a square test section 0.535 m
on a side and 1.6 m long. The speed range is from zero to 42 m/s.
The mean turbulence level is a few hundredths of one percent at the
lowest tunnel speeds. The Aerospace Structures Laboratory features
a drop-tower for impact testing of structures and materials. This laboratory
also has a shaker table for the vibration testing of structures.
There are also ovens, vacuum pumps and other paraphernalia needed
for the custom preparation of material specimens from advanced
composite materials.
146 Florida Tech 2013–2014
See the Institution Overview section of this catalog for further information
regarding the Dynamic Systems and Controls Laboratory; the
Laser, Optics and Instrumentation Laboratory; and the Robotics and
Spatial Systems Laboratory.
HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN INSTITUTE
Guy A. Boy, Ph.D.
Degree Program
Human-Centered Design, Ph.D.
Director and Program Chair
Guy A. Boy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ondrej Doule, Ph.D., design methods, extreme environments, space and
terrestrial design methods, integration of space.
Adjunct Faculty
J.M. Bradshaw, Ph.D.; M.M. Carvalho, Ph.D.; A.T. Duchowski, Ph.D.;
T. Fong, Ph.D.; G. Grote, Ph.D.; R.J. Hansman Jr., Ph.D.; P. Millot, Ph.D.
GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM
Human-Centered Design, M.S. __________________
Major Code: 8200 Degree Awarded: Master of Science
Age Restriction: N Admission Status: graduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
Admission Materials: 3 letters of
recommendation, résumé, objectives, GRE
The master’s program in human-centered design provides advanced
education and research opportunities to qualified students with a
bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The program
prepares students to conduct independent scholarly work, teach in
academia, or work in commerce or the private sector.
Admission Requirements
An applicant should have an undergraduate degree in engineering,
mathematics, or physical or computer sciences. Applicants with a
strong interest in human and social science or the arts are particularly
suited to the program. Applicants with experience in industry or academia,
or in human factors and ergonomics are also urged to apply.
Master’s applicants must submit all undergraduate transcripts with a
GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. International students must submit
TOEFL scores of a minimum of 600 (100 on the internet-based test).
All applicants must submit GRE results with a minimum score of
1100, three letters of recommendation and a statement of objectives.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are
presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Human-Centered Design is offered with
both thesis and nonthesis options. Each option requires a minimum of
33 credit hours of coursework. Prior to the completion of nine credit
hours, the student must submit for approval a master’s degree program
plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken.
The nonthesis option requires 30 credit hours of coursework beyond
the bachelor’s degree and three credit hours of professionally oriented
project work. The project enables students to demonstrate the ability
to solve human-centered design problems; model, design, prototype
and evaluate solutions; and express themselves both orally and in
writing. On successful completion of the 33 credit hours of coursework
and project, the student must pass a final program examination.