Department of Human Factors, Safety and Social Sciences

Applying scientific and societal theories to explore the inner workings of our world

The multidisciplinary Department of Human Factors, Safety and Social Sciences includes Economics, Human Factors/Ergonomics, Military, Psychology and Sociology, as well as important aspects of Safety Science and Security Science.

It offers a multidisciplinary Master of Science in Human Factors accredited by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) as well as a Graduate Certificate in Human Factors, tailored to working professionals who want to better understand the interrelationship between humans and technology, environment and other system components as it relates to human performance, limitations and error in simple and complex systems.

A Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Psychology is also offered. With applications spanning across industries and disciplines, the relevance of an undergraduate program in this domain has never been more pronounced. This program helps ensure that future professionals are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to innovate and improve human-system interactions. Human Factors Psychology is a unique area of psychology aimed toward the abilities and limitations of humans to sense, store and process information, and then act. This knowledge is used to guide decisions for the design, use, maintenance and improvement of systems that rely on human interactions. This complete human factors cycle approach focuses on the fact that a broad range of professional areas benefit from human factors psychology, including artificial intelligence, aviation, ergonomics, human systems integration, safety, simulation and robotics.

The department also offers a Bachelor of Science in Safety Management with special emphasis on safety challenges in virtually every occupational setting, from aviation/aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare and construction to military and government. A Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management — which received an international accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) — and a Graduate Certificate in Occupational Safety Management are offered as well. These programs aim to create world-class leaders, managers and practitioners who want to design safer workplaces, ensure employee wellness, conduct safety audits and otherwise address industry hazards across a broad range of high-reliability organization domains.

Sociology and Psychology courses tie community and social organization and psychological principles to various professional fields. Economics courses make important connections regarding the way that individuals, groups, governments and businesses make resource allocations, and the consequences of those choices for people, nations and society.

The knowledge gained in these areas of study will strongly connect to other courses in the student's degree program and directly translate to the skills required of today's professionals.

The department’s faculty members have research and teaching interests that span a broad range of fields and encourage critical thinking and scientific inquiry to explore social, financial and environmental phenomena nationally, internationally and globally, as well as in their interconnectedness — with several related minors also available.

For example, in the minor in Military Science, students will gain a general working knowledge of the military and its history, the tenets of homeland security and basic management principles. These core elements will act as a foundation for further study in a variety of related areas within the minor program electives. Those areas include security science and leadership, cybersecurity and homeland security, as well as history and government.

Enroll today and get a head start on becoming the leader of tomorrow.

Research Guides

Country Analysis   |   Human Factors & Psychology   |   U.S. Military History

Undergraduate Minors

Economics   |   Industrial/Organizational Psychology   |    Military Science   |   Occupational Safety and Health   |   Psychology