Program Overview

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Human Systems Engineering, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in human systems engineering is designed to ensure that graduates are well-grounded and skilled in the methods of human systems engineering. This field explores how people interact with technological and social systems in contexts that include transportation, medicine, military, computing, and other complex systems.

Program Description

Human systems engineering is a growing transdisciplinary field that consists of the disciplines of psychological sciences and engineering. The program broadly pulls from the areas of human factors and cognitive science. Human factors provides training in the foundation for the application of psychological and physiological principles to the engineering and design of products, processes, and systems. Cognitive science provides the foundation necessary for integrating human capabilities and limitations into complex sociotechnical systems.

At a Glance

• College/school: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
• Location: Polytechnic
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

The program requires 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus, and a dissertation.

• Required Core (12 credit hours)
  • HSE 520 Methods and Tools in Applied Cognitive Science (3)
  • HSE 521 Methods and Tools in Human Systems Engineering (3)
  • HSE 540 Foundations of Applied Cognitive Science (3)
  • HSE 542 Foundations of Human Systems Engineering (3)
• Foundations (6 credit hours)
• Methods and Tools (3 credit hours)
• Applications (9 credit hours)
• Electives (36 credit hours)
• Research (6 credit hours)
  • HSE 792 Research (6) or additional electives as selected by the PhD committee
• Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
  • HSE 799 Dissertation (12)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a minimum of a bachelor's degree in psychology, engineering, cognitive science, computer science, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in their first bachelor's degree program or in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program; or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in nine semester hours of graduate coursework from a U.S. institution; or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable conferred master's degree program from a regionally accredited college or university.
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts from each college or university attended
  • Personal statement
  • Professional resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall:
  • Session | Modality | Deadline | Type
  • Session A/C | In Person | 12/31 | Priority

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Graduates with a PhD in human systems engineering will synthesize research in human systems engineering into a literature review.
• Graduates with a PhD in human systems engineering will be able to answer research questions using the methods and tools of human systems engineering area.
• Graduates with a PhD in human systems engineering will be able to independently design an approach for addressing the questions, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data in the area of human systems engineering.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are well-grounded in cognitive science and skilled in its methods and applications. Employers have an ever-increasing demand for personnel who can bridge the gap between rigorous science and solutions to contemporary problems. This program prepares students for industry, academic, and government careers in positions such as:

• Human factors engineer
• Human systems integrator
• Information systems designer
• Interface designer
• Military scientist
• Usability engineer
• User experience designer

Research Areas

The program explores various research areas, including:

• The design and evaluation of learning settings and technology (learning engineering)
• Development of intelligent agents that work well with humans
• Driving simulators for research on driver distraction
• Dynamical systems models of team interaction
• Gaming simulators for studying business decision-making
• Human-in-the-loop simulation studies of cybersecurity analysis
• Medical simulations for health care research
• Models of cognitive states and processes of sociocultural systems
• Nuclear control room simulations for improved human system integration
• Pilot training research using aircraft simulators
• Simulations of consumer behavior
• Tests of future airspace control concepts using air traffic control simulators

STEM-OPT Extension

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website. The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.