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Ergonomics

Ergonomists study and apply scientific principles that affect the use of human energy, with a goal of minimizing hazards and maximizing the efficiency of work systems. The field of ergonomics combines the perspectives of health science and engineering, providing students with interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills.

Outstanding faculty from four departments of the University will contribute to your training and research in ergonomics:

  • Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Physical Therapy

Funding from the Heartland Center – we’ll help pay for your graduate degree.

All students admitted to a Heartland Center training program are automatically considered for funding.
Financial support typically consists of fully paid tuition and a monthly stipend.
Heartland Center funding is available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.

Training Program Requirements

Students interested in the Ergonomics training program and in receiving the funding offered by the Heartland Center must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Enrollment in one of the approved degree programs (listed below)
  2. Approval of the director of the Ergonomics training program
  3. Enrollment in the Ergonomics Training Program required courses

Approved degree programs for the Ergonomics Training Program

Department of Occupational & Environmental Health:

  • MS in Occupational and Environmental Health
  • PhD in Occupational and Environmental Health

Department of Engineering:

  • MS and PhD in Industrial Engineering (with emphasis in ergonomics/human factors)
  • MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering (with emphasis in ergonomics/human factors)

Ergonomics Training Program required courses

MS Required Courses

OEH:4310 Occupational Ergonomics: Principles 3 s.h.
ISE:3400 Human Factors 3 s.h.
OEH:5620 Occupational Health 3 s.h.
No Registration Heartland Center Seminar*
CPH:7270 Principles of Scholarly Integrity: Public Health 1 s.h.
or
ENGR:7270 Engineering Ethics 1 s.h.

* Heartland Center trainees must attend 4-5 designated seminars each semester on occupational health topics to be held on Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30pm.


MS Additional Required Courses – OEH Trainees

OEH:6420 Methods in Exposure Science 3 s.h.
OEH:5410 Occupational Safety 3 s.h.
OEH:7010 Problems in OEH: Occupational Ergonomics: Applications 3 s.h.

MS Additional Required Courses – BME Trainees

BME:5640 Ergonomics of Occupational Injuries 3 s.h.
BME:5610 Musculoskeletal Biomechanics 3 s.h.
BME:6630 Human Response to Vibration 3 s.h.

MS Additional Required Courses – ISE Trainees

ISE:4175 Safety Engineering 3 s.h.
ISE:6211 Human Factors in Healthcare Systems 3 s.h.
ISE:6220 Cognitive Engineering 3 s.h.

 

PhD Required Courses – All PhD Trainees (in addition to the master’s required courses)

PTRS:7812 Biomedical Instrumentation
(or equivalent graduate-level instrumentation course)
3 s.h.
PSQF:6246 Design of Experiments 3 s.h.
OEH:6460 Quantitative Exposure Assessment 3 s.h.

Additional Required Course – OEH PhD Trainees

OEH:7070 Interpreting OEH Research 3 s.h.

Additional Required Course – BME PhD Trainees

ISE:6410

OEH:7070

Research Methods in Human Factors
or
Interpreting OEH Research
3 s.h.

Additional Required Course – ISE PhD Trainees

ISE:6410 Research Methods in Human Factors 3 s.h.

Admissions Requirements

The first step is to be admitted to one of the following degree programs:

  • MS/PhD in Occupational and Environmental Health – Admissions Requirements and How to Apply
  • MS/PhD in Biomedical Engineering – Admissions Requirements and How to Apply
  • MS/PhD in Industrial Engineering – Admissions Requirements and How to Apply

Additionally, you will need the consent of the Ergonomics Program Director to enroll in this Heartland Center program.

For more information contact:

Brianne Schwarz, Graduate Program Coordinator
brianne-schwarz@uiowa.edu

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