Ergonomics Engineering Computer Software Web Tips Guide
Ergonomics Engineering Undergraduate And Graduate Courses
By Joel Wannamaker
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society has been at the forefront
of ergonomics engineering since 1957, with 23 technical groups
and numerous chapters across the nation focused on helping people
pursue careers in ergonomic product design.
Online at www.hfes.org,
there are four different sections: one for articles written by
career panel professionals at the annual meetings; a second for
reviews of job postings through the career centers; a third for
reprints of career-related articles; and a fourth for links to
other locations of interest to students and professionals.
Many students review the website during their first year of graduate
school to decide which courses to take, how much emphasis to place
on research and decide whether an internship or co-op would be
a good fit for them. Many people again review the site just before
entering the job market or when contemplating a career change
into the exciting world of ergonomics.
Many Colleges Offering HFES Accredited Undergraduate Programs
Students who are interested in ergonomics engineering should
have a strong background in science, psychology, math and communication.
There are many colleges across the country that offer HFES-accredited
undergraduate programs for human factors and ergonomics, including
Arizona State University East (Bachelor of Science in Applied
Psychology), Cornell University in New York, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University in Florida (Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Psychology),
the Georgia Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Science in Applied
Psychology, certificate in Engineering Psychology), Robert Morris
University in Pennsylvania, Tufts University in Massachusetts
(Bachelor of Science in Engineering Psychology), the United States
Air Force Academy in Colorado, the United States Military Academy
in New York (Bachelor of Science in Engineering Psychology), the
University of Illinois Institute of Aviation (Bachelor of Science
in Aviation Human Factors), the University of Iowa, the University
of Michigan and the Wright State University in Ohio (Bachelor
of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering Degree).
Graduate Schools Are Also Available
There are a number of U.S. graduate schools offering ergonomics
engineering programs. Not all schools are accredited by the Human
Factors and Ergonomics Society, however. There are also different
titles to consider, such as Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
and Doctor of Philosophy.
Students may focus on human factors information design, human-computer
interaction, engineering or human factors psychology. Bentley
College in Massachusetts runs their ergonomics program like a
business school, with emphasis on project management, usability
and technical writing.
Only 20 Students Per Year
The exclusive Georgia Institute of Technology only enrolls 20
students per year who focus on one of three tracks: cognitive
science psychology, graphics or computer science.
San Jose State University has a program that covers Industrial
Engineering, Psychology, Human Performance (Kinesiology), Industrial
Design and Computer Science. Students from New Mexico State University
who studied one of the oldest running ergonomic-psych programs
in the country went on to work at IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Microsoft
and HP.
Internship experience is particularly important for students
in ergonomics engineering. These work opportunities are critical
for helping students identify which industries and job descriptions
are most desirable.
Talk To Recent Grads, College Advisors And Working Professionals
Many students choose to sign up for their human factors internship
toward the end of their academic careers in hopes that they will
be subsequently hired on full-time once they’ve graduated. The
best companies offer mentoring, role models and a variety of job
experiences.
Additionally, the best companies have a well-known reputation
for hiring interns after graduation and providing a well-rounded
training program. It’s a good idea to talk to recent grads, college
advisors and professionals about which internships rank highest.
About the Author:
Joel Wannamaker has written a number of articles on Ergonomics, Computers, Computer Hardware,
and Software including
Ergonomic Keyboards,
Ergonomic Workstation,
Internet Connection Speed,
Internet Traffic,
Start A Website,
Affiliate Programs.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Give Me Just The Ergonomic Facts.....
If I want to specialize in ergonomics as a career, what do I
need to do?
If you want to specialize in ergonomics as
a career you need to have an eye for design and engineering. No,
it is not the type of engineering that produces buildings and
structures. It will be engineering and redesigning workspaces.
You will definitely need to become acquainted
with OSHA practices. That is your number one priority while learning
about how spaces can become ergonomically correct. You may even
need to take specialized courses to determine what branch of ergonomics
you want to invest your time, money and education in.
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