Program: Psychology-Human Factors Specialization (Ph.D.) - University of South Dakota

Apr 03, 2025

2021-2022 Graduate Catalog

Each student’s specific program of study will be determined in consultation with the academic advisory committee and the faculty of the Human Factor Program.

Each doctoral student is required to take a comprehensive written examination preliminary to admission to final candidacy for the doctoral degree. This examination covers theory, method and research findings in psychology as well as the field of specialization.

Completion and oral defense of an original dissertation represent the capstone requirements for the degree. Successful completion of the final oral examination is required of all students recommended for the Ph.D. degree in Psychology.

For specific requirements regarding the doctoral programs’ written and oral exams, please contact the Psychology Department .

Program Overview

USD offers the state’s most comprehensive psychology program with graduate training leading to a Ph.D. degree with specializations in clinical psychology or human factors. Clinical psychologists focus on rural communities, cross-cultural differences with a focus on Native Americans, disaster mental health, first aid, trauma and substance abuse. Human factors professionals explore the interaction of humans and technology, testing the designs of systems, tasks, machines, tools and environments. The clinical psychology program has been fully accredited by APA since 1971. Learn more at usd.edu/psychology.

DELIVERY: On campus

Ph.D. Requirements for Specialization in Human Factors Psychology (84 credit hours)

Psychology Required Core Coursework 18 credit hours
Human Factors Specialization core 21 credit hours
Dissertation 15 credit hours minimum
Psychology elective courses 30 credit hours

Psychology Required Core Coursework (15 credit hours)

PSYC 771 - Research Design and Statistics I 3 cr
PSYC 772 - Research Design and Statistics II 3 cr
PSYC 798 - Master’s Thesis Research 1 to 6 cr (6 credit hours required) *Transfer students with an approved completed master’s thesis but less than 6 cr of thesis work may count additional electives towards 84 total hours.
PSYC 775 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr
Or
EDER 862 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr

Human Factors Specialization Core (21 credit hours)

PSYC 533 - Psychology of Human Performance 3 cr
PSYC 536 - Human Engineering 3 cr
PSYC 705 - Learning, Memory, and Cognition 1 to 3 cr (3 credit hours required)
PSYC 707 - Seminar: Sensation and Perception 1 to 3 cr (3 credit hours required)
PSYC 733 - Human Factors Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 737 - Seminar in Human Factors Research 1 to 3 cr (3 credit hours required)
PSYC 770 - Experimental Methods and Instrumentation 3 cr

Dissertation (15 credit hours minimum)

PSYC 898 - Doctoral Dissertation Research 1 to 15 cr

Psychology Electives* (30 credit hours)

*Transfer students with an approved completed master’s thesis but less than 6 cr of thesis work may count additional electives toward 84 hours.

Elective Area 1 (Human Capabilities) 6 cr hr minimum
BIOL 530 - Neurobiology (C) 3 cr
PSYC 506 - Cognitive Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 508 - Psycholinguistics 3 cr
PSYC 511 - Physiological Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 530 - Organizational Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 741 - Seminar: Social Psychology 1 to 3 cr
PSYC 537 - Decision Making & Risk Management 3 cr
PSYC 738 - Mental Workload 3 cr
Elective Area 2 (Human Factors methods) 3 cr hr minimum
PSYC 712 - Eye Movement: Theory and Application 3 cr
PSYC 742 - Usability Testing 3 cr
PSYC 792 - Topics (C) 1-4 cr (subject in Computational Psychology) 3cr
Elective Area 3 (Human Factors applications) 9 cr hr minimum
PSYC 523 - Aging 3 cr
PSYC 531 - Industrial Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 535 - Human Factors in Computer Systems 3 cr
PSYC 538 - Psychoacoustics 3 cr
PSYC 539 - Psychology of Safety 3 cr
Electives (may be from any of the above areas or below listed coursework) 15 cr hrs
PSYC 509 - History and Systems of Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 513 - Evolutionary Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 514 - Drugs and Behavior 3 cr
CSC 547 - Artificial Intelligence (C) 3 cr
PSYC 708 - Seminar: Advanced History & Systems of Psychology 1 cr
PSYC 709 - Teaching of Psychology 1 cr
PSYC 776 - Human Factors Practicum 1 to 9 cr (1-6 cr hrs allowed)
PSYC 791 - Independent Study 1 to 3 cr (1-6 cr hrs allowed)
PSYC 792 - Topics (C) 1-4cr

Note: Other graduate level coursework may be used with approval of program director.

Application Requirements

Completed application
$35 application fee
Official transcripts*
Letters of recommendation*
Admission test scores*
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. For specific program requirements and submission deadline, visit: catalog.usd.edu.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Questions?

Department of Psychology
605-658-3700 | psychology@usd.edu | usd.edu/psychology

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6200 | gradadmissions@usd.edu | usd.edu/grad