Program Goal

The M.S. in Human Factors is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and will prepare students for successful careers in industry or for doctoral programs in experimental, cognitive, or human factors psychology. Students will complete courses on-site and maintain a portfolio of projects they complete while in the program. Students will have the option of completing a master’s thesis which may be either on-site or at a sponsoring company’s location, if applicable. Students who elect not to write a thesis will be required to complete a project in a Human Factors field approved by the program coordinator. Non-thesis track students will also be required to pass a final, comprehensive exam. Employers of part-time students may elect to sponsor their students’ theses or skill-development experience which could be fully or partially performed during the workday.

Our program emphasizes:

• Theory-to-practice application: Learn principles and immediately apply them
• Research skills development: Strong methodological and statistical training prepares you for evidence-based practice
• Flexibility: Customize your degree through elective selection and track choice
• Real-world focus: Portfolio projects address authentic human factors challenges
• Professional preparation: Graduate ready for immediate career entry or doctoral study

Specific Objectives

• Students will gain the topical knowledge needed to understand human physical and cognitive capabilities and limitations (e.g., human as a physical engine, human as an information processor).
• Students will develop the statistical, mathematical, and human factors skills needed to design and evaluate technologies, processes, training materials and work environments.
• Students will develop strong computer skills.
• Students will demonstrate their ability to conduct research
• Students will acquire hands-on experience in solving complex, real-world problems using Human Factors methodologies.
• Students will develop the professional skills needed to secure and maintain employment as a Human Factors practitioner or researcher

Program Structure

Program Requirements*

The M.S. in Human Factors is a 36 credit-hour program with an optional thesis track. Six courses are required to fulfill the master’s degree. The remaining six courses can be fulfilled by electives within the Psychology Department, thesis credits, or courses from other graduate programs. Courses outside the department not listed below must be appropriate to the degree and the student must obtain permission from their advisor and program coordinator and the program coordinator of the other program. This will allow students some freedom to customize their degree experience to fit the Human Factors field they want to pursue. Students enrolled in the thesis track will use 6 credits of Master’s Thesis Research (PSY 09.699, 2 semesters at 3 sh each) to replace two of these elective courses. Students enrolled in the non-thesis track will have to score an 80% or higher on a comprehensive exam. All students will curate a portfolio of all class projects they complete throughout the program. The portfolio will be reviewed by faculty in the program as a benchmark for graduation.

I. Core Courses (9 credit hours)

• PSY 09.500 Fundamentals of Human Factors
• PSY 09.526 Sensation and Perception
• PSY 09.527 Human Cognition

II. Statistics/Methods Courses (9 credit hours)

• PSY 09.600 Experimental Methods in Human Factors
• PSY 09.524 Applied Statistics in Psychology I
• PSY 09.525 Applied Statistics in Psychology II

III. Elective Courses (18 credit hours)

• CS 04.580 Human-Centered Computing
• PSY 09.601 Applications of Human Factors
• MAWR 01.565 Technical Writing
• PSY 09.523 Graduate Seminar in Psychology
• Other courses in and outside the department tailored to student needs and interests

IV. Thesis (6 credit hours, in place of 6 credit hours of electives, Thesis Track only)

• PSY 09.699 Master’s Thesis Research
  
  

Program Guide

Admissions

The MS in Human Factors program is designed to be flexible for the working student as well as the traditional full-time student. Full time students (9 s.h. per semester) should be able to complete their degree in 4 semesters, while part-time students (6 s.h. per semester) should be able to complete their degree in 6 semesters.

Admission Process Students are admitted to the MS in Human Factors in the Fall semester only; therefore, applications for admission to the program are due once a year on February 15.

Interviews are by invitation only and will be held virtually via Zoom in March. We anticipate that all decisions will be made by April 15.

Accepted applicants for the Fall 2026 semesters will be required to attend orientation in May

All applications will be reviewed by an admissions committee and admission will be determined based on an overall evaluation of the application. The following are criteria for applications.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institute of higher learning with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Demonstrated interest in the program.
• At least 2 supportive letters of recommendation.
• (For Thesis track students only) Expressed interest in working with a specific faculty member.
• Applicants whose native language is not English will require a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 79 or a minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0. International students who have received their undergraduate degree from English-speaking countries will be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

Transfer Credits

Any student interested in applying for the transfer of graduate credits from another agency or from another program at Rowan, should complete the Transfer Request Form and submit to the Program Director.

Course Schedule

An example schedule for a full-time MSHF student is as follows (assuming each course is 3 credits): 

Contact

Program Director
Benjamin Swan, Ph.D. (swan@rowan.edu)
Please send inquiries to: humanfactors@rowan.edu 

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ADMISSIONS:

Q: What undergraduate major do I need?

A: We welcome students from ANY undergraduate discipline. Psychology, engineering, design, and related majors are common, but we've successfully admitted students from diverse backgrounds.

Q: Do I need prior coursework in psychology or statistics?

A: Prior coursework in psychology or statistics will help you with this program, but is not formally required. Applications will be assessed holistically and you can make a compelling individual case why you believe your profile matches the program requirements in your personal statement.

Q: Is the GRE required?

A: No, but you can include your results in your application if you have them.

Q: How competitive is admission?

A: We are prepared to accept from 6 to 15 students a year.

Q: Can I apply for spring admission?

A: No, we admit students for Fall start only. Application deadline is February 15.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

Q: Can I attend part-time?

A: Yes! Our evening class schedule is designed for working professionals. Part-time students typically complete the program in 6 semesters (based on a course load of 6 sh per semester).

Q: Are classes offered online?

A: No, we do not offer online classes. However, we may offer remote, synchronous classes through a video conferencing app (e.g. Zoom or WebEx).

Q: Should I choose thesis or non-thesis track?

A: Choose a thesis if you: plan to pursue a PhD, want deep research experience, or prefer working on a single large project. Choose non-thesis if you: plan to enter industry immediately, prefer variety in coursework, or want exposure to the BCPE certification exam format.