Why do some products make our lives easier, while others make our lives harder?

Missouri Western State University offers a Master of Applied Science with an emphasis in Human Factors and Usability Testing that is educating professionals to
be able to better answer this question. [ Informational Brochure ]

Our interaction with computing technologies is rapidly changing. This change is driven by an exponential growth of technology, which is quickly resulting in smaller and less expensive computing devices. These technologies are becoming increasingly embedded within our everyday environments (e.g., social online environments, multi-touch screens, cellular phones, music players). This technological growth is requiring professionals with multidisciplinary backgrounds (Psychology, Business, Marketing, Communications, Computer Science, Design, etc.) that are able to understand the complex interactions between humans and computing devices.

Western focuses on producing business professionals with this multidisciplinary education. Uniquely, we focus on understanding human-centered design from a psychology viewpoint; how a user will perceive, process, and respond to a product’s design.

This program targets those with undergraduate degrees in business, computer science, design, engineering or psychology who want to have a career in human factors and usability testing. Do you want to create products that make everyone’s lives a little easier, safer and better?

We will accept applications at any time.

You must complete both the Departmental Application and the Institutional Application to be considered for admission into our graduate program.

For more information, please contact Brian Cronk, PhD (cronk@missouriwestern.edu). The general institutional graduate studies page has information on financial aid and other information about Graduate Studies at Missouri Western.