Careers

What are the career opportunities with this degree?
With a master’s degree in Human Factors & Usability Testing you are qualified to design and run research projects for a number of major employers around the nation. Large employers who are constantly seeking Human Factors professionals include telecommunications companies (e.g., Sprint, AT&T), software companies (e.g., Microsoft, Google), automobile companies (e.g., Toyota, General Motors), and the military.

Human Factors specialists conduct research, perform analyses and make recommendations to:

• Design products for improved safety and ease of use.
• Improve information displays to reduce human error.
• Configure work environment and design procedures to increase productivity and reduce fatigue.
• Improve work environments to make them more acceptable to employees.

The purpose of this degree is to not only train future employees to be prepared for a career in product development. But, to provide them with the basic understanding of how such considerations might relate to the managerial, organizational and economic environment in which the company operates.

Is there a high demand for this field?
Recent news articles have focused on how companies must design products and services that are easier to use to stay competitive. This field of product development is rapidly growing in the Midwest – you just need to know where to look. Human Factors and Usability Professionals hold many different job titles (just to name a few): Interaction Designer, Web Designer, User Experience Designer, Manager User Experience, Information Architect, User Interface Engineer, User Interface Graphics Designer Team Leader, Human Computer Interface Designer, Software Engineer, Human Factors Professional and Usability Specialist.

How much does a Human Factors & Usability Testing professional earn?

Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (2009) estimates a median salary of $81,492 for those professionals living in the Mid-Central region with a Masters degree. Additionally, the Usability Professional Association (2005 to 2007) estimates a median salary of $84,000 for those living in the Midwest region with a Masters degree. 

How does this degree prepare me for a career?
Through its unique combination of graduate business education and graduate training in Human Factors, graduates of the MAS in Human Factors and Usability testing should be well prepared for a career. All graduates will have a portfolio of work to show potential employers, either as a thesis or work conducted as part of an internship.