Typical Four-year Outline: Human Factors BS

The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's Human Factors bachelor's degree provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.

The uAchieve Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.

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Year One

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
Essential Ed UN1015 Composition   3
Essential Ed STEM: A math course relevant to application area   3
Essential Ed Natural and Physical Science: BL2010 Anatomy/Physiology and BL2011 Lab   4
Essential Ed MTU Seminar: HF1999 Intro to the Human Factors Major   1
Essential Ed Foundations in the Human World: HF2000 Intro to Eng Psych   3
Essential Ed Activities for Well-being and Success   1
Total   15
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
Essential Ed Math: PSY2720 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences MA1020 or higher 3
Essential Ed STEM: Computing Elective varies 3
PSY2800 Critical Thinking HF2000 3
Essential Ed SHAPE   3
Free Elective   3
Total   15

Year Two

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
Essential Ed Arts and Culture   3
HF Visual Design Elective   3
Essential Ed Activities for Well-being and Success   1
PSY3600 Cognitive Psych PSY2000 3
PSY3000 Research Methods I HF2000, PSY2720 3
HF3850 Human Factors HF2000, UN1015 3
Total   16
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
HF Cognitive Elective   3
HF Application Area Course   3
Essential Ed Communication Intensive   3
PSY3001 Research Methods II PSY3000 3
*PSY3800 Environmental Psych HF2000, UN1015 3
Total   15

Year Three

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
Essential Ed Intercultural Competency   3
Essential Ed Activities for Well-being and Success   1
*PSY3700 Industrial/Organizational Psych HF2000 3
*HF4015 Cognitive Task Analysis HF2000, UN1015 3
HF Application Area Course   3
ENT3950 Enterprise Project Work III junior or senior 1
Total   14
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
Essential Ed Experience   3
HF3999 Third-Year Seminar junior 1
HF Application Area Course   3
HU4628 Usability Evaluation and Testing or HF4880 Usability Assessment UN1015 3
ENT3960 Enterprise Project Work IV junior or senior 1
*PSY4160 Sensation and Perception HF2000 3
Total   14

Year Four

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
HF People, Culture, and Technology Elective   3
HF4999 Fourth-Year Seminar senior 1
KIP4250 Ergonomics junior or senior 3
ENT4900 Enterprise Project Work V Non-Capstone senior 2
HF Application Area Course   3
Free Elective   3
Total   15
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credits
HF Application Area Courses   6
ENT4910 Enterprise Project Work VI Non-Capstone senior 2
Free Electives   8
Total   16

Grand Total (minimum) = 120 Credits

*NOTE: This is an optimal schedule. Because some courses are offered every other year, we may need to adjust the order in which you take them. Please contact Dr. Kay Tislar (cltislar@mtu.edu) for a customized schedule.

Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)

Required courses are:

  • Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
  • Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
  • a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
  • a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
  • an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
  • an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
  • an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
  • and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.

For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.

Additional Notes

  • Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent course.
    • Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by ©) may be taken at the same time, although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
      • Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
      • Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
      • Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult COB advisor)
  • Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
  • Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).

This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.

Revised 06/03/2025.