Course Descriptions


GOOD (Better?) DESCRIPTIONS are available here:   https://tuftshumanfactors.wixsite.com/thfes/classes 

PSY 1 – Intro. To Psychology

A systematic survey of the field of psychology, covering important general principles in the topics of psychological development, sensory processes, perception, motivation, emotion, learning, thinking, intelligence, aptitudes, social problems, and personality.


PSY 31 – Statistics For Behavioral Psychology

Using statistical methods for the treatment of data in the behavioral sciences. Descriptive and inferential methods will be considered. Computers will be used to explore conceptual issues and analyze data. One laboratory period in addition to lectures.


PSY 32 – Experimental Psychology

A laboratory based on individual and group experiments designed to familiarize students with research methods in psychological investigations. Required for psychology majors. Lectures and one laboratory period.

Requires completion of PSY 0031 or BIO 0132 or EC 0013 or MATH 162.


ENP 61 – Intro. To Human Factors And Ergonomics

A practical introduction to human performance and to designing for human use. Studies include human factors, ergonomics, workstations, and environmental and legal concerns that impact on design. Examples of good and bad designs illustrate course principles.


PSY 53/ENP 53 – Engineering Psychology

Survey of the applied areas of psychology that have proven useful in the design of equipment for human use and in the design of man-machine systems.


 ENP 105 – Assistive Technology

Examination of problems in designing and providing assistive devices to individuals with disabilities, to assist with mobility, communication, positioning, and environmental control and daily living. Processes discussed include needs assessment, search for available devices, resources available, and creative problem solving. Students work with materials commonly used to create individualized devices, in cross-disciplinary teams on a design for a specific user or group. Problems of funding and delivery of devices also explored. For students in occupational therapy and engineering, and for educators, speech/language pathologists, and rehabilitation personnel.


PSY 207 – Advanced Statistics I

The development of statistical concepts for the design and analysis of research. Consideration of the logic of statistical inference, analysis of variance, and nonparametric analysis.

Recommendations: PSY 31 or CD 193 or graduate standing.


ENP 109 – Medical Fundamentals (PDF Description)

This course primarily serves the needs of students and professionals who already engaged in or wishing to move into the medical industry and focus on technology development. They will gain a working knowledge of basic human anatomy, major medical conditions (i.e., the “great diseases”), and the related medical technologies and care delivery processes. The knowledge can be essential to the discovery of new product opportunities and matching technologies to both the clinicians’ and patients’ needs, suggesting that gaining it early and in a comprehensive manner would be advantageous. When working in industry, such knowledge can accumulate slowly over many years through occasional opportunities to visit clinical environments and observe medical procedures. This course accelerates the process through classroom instruction, direct exposure to pertinent technologies, and technology assessment and design assignments.


ENP 110 – Human Factors In Medical Technology (PDF Description)

Techniques for ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical technology ranging from over-the-counter devices to complex diagnostic and therapeutic workstations to clinical information systems. Global standards and regulations, usability engineering program planning, function and task analysis, user interface requirements, applied user interface design, user interface simulation, design verification, and design validation via usability testing. Pre-requisites: senior or graduate standing or permission of instructor.


ENP 120 – Senior Capstone

A senior-level project design (capstone course), led by faculty from engineering and psychology as well as outside lecturers. Students participate in team fashion in human-factors design problems set by industry sponsors. Professional-level work is required, including report preparation and presentations. Timely lectures supplement the projects. Spring.

Recommendations: ENP 161, 162, PSY 31, 32, 130.


PSY 130/ENP 130 – Advanced Engineering Psychology

Seminar on the various functions that humans perform in complex modern human-machine systems. Examination of psychological and engineering theories and models as they relate to these functions. Recommendations: Three courses in psychology, including PSY 53, or graduate standing.


ENP 149 – Seminar In Engineering Psychology

An advanced-level seminar course covering a “special topic”.  Different professors teach different topics under this same course-code, so be sure to read the sub-title!


ENP 161 – Human Factors In Product Design

(Cross-listed as BME 161.) Material relevant in consumer product design, biomedical engineering, architectural design, and machine design. Topics include design methodologies, user feedback techniques, performance measurements, sensory evaluation techniques, creative design, and prototyping. Extensive individual and group project design work. Emphasis on designing and creativity.

Recommendations: EN 1, 2, ENP 61, PSY 31, 32, 53, and junior standing, or permission of instructor.


ENP 162 – Human-Machine System Design

Techniques for man-machine system designs in which cognitive and dynamic aspects are of major importance. Applications to computer-interface design, auto/semiautomated systems, biomedical systems, and others. Topics include information processing, decision making, reaction times, and signal detection theory. Individual and group projects, laboratory demonstrations.

Recommendations: EN 1, 2, ENP 161, PSY 31, 32,107, or CEE 102.


ENP 163 – Analytical Methods In Human Factors Engineering

Field and laboratory research design, empirical data acquisition, recording and analysis: knowledge elicitation techniques, psychophysical methods, subjective scaling, human performance modeling, measurement of dynamic continuous signals including sampling, spectra filtering, etc, measurement of discrete signals, spectral and correlational data analysis.

Recommendations: ENP 162 or graduate standing.


ENP 166 – Computer Interface Design

(Cross-listed as BME 166.) This hands-on course challenges students to design computer-based products and systems that are easy to learn and use. Lectures cover the user interface design process, basic design principles, and design evaluation methods. In-class exercises and projects reinforce the students’ understanding of the lecture material and provide practical design experience. Students use computer-based prototyping tools to model and demonstrate their design solutions. Frequent guest lectures by user-interface design specialists from industry.

Recommendations: EN 1, 2, and junior standing, or permission of instructor.


COMP 171 – Human-Computer Interaction

Introduction to human-computer interaction, or how computers communicate with people. Methodology for designing and testing user interfaces, interaction styles (command line, menus, graphical user interfaces, virtual reality), interaction techniques (voice, gesture, eye movement), design guidelines, and user-interface management system software. Students will design a small user interface, program a prototype, and test the result for usability.

Recommendations: COMP 14 or 15.


ME 94 – Internship in Human Factors Engineering

Participate in an internship and learn-by-doing!   Please discuss the specifics with your advisor.  Note the deliverables are:

– A summary (1000-1500 words) of what you did over the semester

– What you learned from the internship (500-750 words) and some evidence/examples to back this up.

– How your work/learnings apply to the field of Human Factors/Engineering Psychology (250-500 words)

– A 1-page “web-ready” summary of the company, your work, and what you learned (e.g. to inspire future students). Please make sure to have your internship supervisor approve of this content for public display.

Please also refer to this Tufts site for some more information on internships:

Tufts Internship Advice