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Why Study Engineering Psychology?

Have you ever used a “user-friendly” piece of equipment only to find out it was not or had a hard time learning to use something that should have been relatively simple?

Engineering Psychology explores the relationship between humans and the tools, systems, and machines they use. By focusing on human users; how they sense, perceive, think, act, and on what they want from their systems; Engineering Psychologists are able to maximize the relationship between humans and the systems they use.

Our cadets run real research projects that you may have participated in during PL100. Our efforts include work with the following:

-Camelbak Hydration Systems

-Land Warrior

-FBCB2 digital battle command system

-USMC vehicle camouflage project

-USMA sleep study during Beast and Buckner for the Class of 2007

-Effects of sleep deprivation on Situation Awareness with the Royal Norwegian Military Academies

Engineering Psychology Goals

Engineering Psychology is a field that studies human - machine systems. The goal of Engineering Psychology is to better design these systems so that humans and machines function better as cooperative partners to accomplish this mission. Engineering Psychology is a discipline that goes by several other names, including: Human Factors, Cognitive Systems Engineering, Human Engineering, and Ergonomics.


Engineering Psychology draws upon theories and principles from many fields of psychology, as well as engineering, statistics, linguistics, biomechanics, and computer science. Engineering Psychology can be found in military, industrial, and academic settings. They can function as members of teams that design new systems. They often conduct both field and laboratory research designed to develop new theories and principles that can be applied to improving human machines.

• Apply knowledge of human performance to operational readiness and total system design
• Design, conduct, and analyze research in human performance and human-machine interface
• Evaluate research in human performance and human-machine interface
• Participate in a research project as the human factors representative of an interdisciplinary design team
• Report and defend research in written and oral formats

Engineering Psychology Coursework

Cadets can find specific course information on this and all our majors on the Cadet Web.

Autumn of Junior Year - In addition to two core courses, take the following:

• PL386 Experimental Psychology
• PL390 Biological Psychology
• MA376 Applied Probability and Statistics

Spring of Junior Year - In addition to two core courses, take the following:

• PL391 Sensation, Perception, and Psychophysics
• PL392 Cognitive Psychology
• PL394 Anthropometrics and Biomechanics

Autumn of Senior Year - In addition to three core courses, take the following:

• PL485 Human Factors Engineering
• PL475 Human-Computer Interaction

Spring of Senior Year - In addition to three core courses, take the following:

• PL490 Engineering Psychology in Design
• PL488E Colloquiem in Engineering Design

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