COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Human Factors/Ergonomics with a Concentration in User Experience (UX) is a 30-unit graduate program designed to prepare students for careers in human-centered design, usability engineering, and human-computer interaction. The program integrates principles from engineering, psychology, and design to improve the usability, safety, and effectiveness of systems and digital products. It emphasizes understanding how people interact with technology and how interfaces can be designed to enhance user experience and performance.The core curriculum consists of 8 units and includes foundational courses in human factors. Students take ISE 210 (Human Factors/Ergonomics), which introduces key concepts of the field, and ISE 212 (Human Factors Experiments, GWAR), which focuses on experimental design, research methods, and technical writing in human factors studies. They also complete ISE 290 (Human Factors & Ergonomics Professional Seminar), which provides professional development and exposure to current research and industry practices.The concentration courses total 12 units and focus specifically on user experience and interaction design. These include ISE 215 (Usability Evaluation and Testing), which teaches methods for assessing system usability; ISE 217 (Human-Computer Interaction), which explores the principles of designing effective interactive systems; ISE 218 (Interaction Design I), which introduces foundational design techniques; and ISE 220 (Interaction Design II), which builds advanced skills in designing and evaluating user interfaces and interactive systems.Students also complete 6 units of approved electives selected in consultation with a graduate advisor, allowing them to tailor their studies based on specific career interests. The program concludes with a 4-unit culminating experience, which may be completed through either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Project), using courses such as ISE 298 (Special Problems) or ISE 299 (Master’s Thesis).Overall, this program prepares graduates for careers in UX design, product development, usability analysis, and human-centered technology roles by combining theoretical knowledge with practical design and evaluation skills.