Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme is designed to provide a comprehensive grounding to all aspects of Ergonomics and Human Factors, with attention to cognitive and physical aspects of systems, drawing on the world-leading research and expertise within the School of Design and Creative Arts. The programme aims: 

• To foster an intellectual understanding of the field of Ergonomics and Human Factors, and mastery of vocational and professional skills, enabling students to reflect maturely on the intricate connections between theory and practice.
• To develop students’ core competencies in critical thinking and scientific investigation, to enable them to become independent Ergonomics and Human Factors scholars/practitioners.
• To provide opportunities for students to apply Ergonomics and Human Factors competencies within a range of sectors, through practice-based learning and involvement in projects.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ);
• Requirements of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors which undertakes monitoring, and performs a full review of the programme periodically;
• Requirements of the International Ergonomics Association;
• Requirements of the professional body ‘National Back Exchange’ for the Ergonomics and Human Factors for Health and Community Care specialist pathway.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of:

PG Cert

K1 Psychological aspects of ergonomics and human factors: introduction to cognitive psychology;

K2 Physical aspects of ergonomics and human factors: including anthropometry, physical workplace assessment and related methods, informed by knowledge of biomechanics, anatomy and physiology;

K3 Design ergonomics and human factors: introduction to practical aspects of design for human use, including equipment and products, the workplace and systems;

K4 Systems Ergonomics and human factors;

PG Dip

K5 Experimental design and data interpretation: experimental design and analysis, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, methods and issues concerned with understanding the needs of users;

MSc

K6 Complex aspects of human function and interaction with products, equipment, environments and systems, within the context of a chosen specialist pathway;

K7 A critical awareness of current ergonomics and human factors problems, within the context of a chosen specialist pathway.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

PG Cert

C1 Demonstrate competence in ergonomics and human factors problem-solving skills;

C2 Demonstrate evidence-based reasoning and make critical judgements about ergonomics and human factors issues;

C3 Apply understanding/knowledge of ethics in the context of ergonomics and human factors as a discipline and demonstrate this in relation to their own work;

PG Dip

C4 Find, assess, abstract and synthesise ergonomics and human factors evidence from a variety of sources, including detection of patterns and evaluation of significance in relevant data;

C5 Analyse and present with confidence, quantitative and qualitative evidence;

MSc

C6 Critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship within the context of a chosen specialist pathway;

C7 Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses for the chosen specialist pathway.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should, in the context of the programme, be able to:

PG Cert

P1 Observe, record accurately and give an objective account of human action in both laboratory and real-world settings;

P2 Communicate ergonomics and human factors concepts, information and requirements in a variety of forms, both in writing and orally and for different audiences;

PG Dip

P3 Design and execute an experiment, which compares behaviour or experience under at least two conditions of at least one experimental variable;

P4 Collect and organise quantitative and qualitative data, undertake appropriate analyses, and abstract and interpret relevant information;

MSc

P5 Apply knowledge and techniques systematically to the analysis and solution of complex ergonomics and human factors problems, within the context of a chosen specialist pathway.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

PG Cert

T1 Numeracy:  collect data in numerical form, present it in tables and graphs, and analyse it with a range of statistical tools;

T2 Problem Solving:  clarify questions, consider alternative solutions and evaluate outcomes;

T3 Teamwork: share responsibility for a task with others; agree common goals and methods to achieve them; co-ordinate the use of common resources;

PG Dip

T4 Information Analysis & Interpretation:  use instructional material (eg, experimental demonstrations) and research tools (eg,. Statistical packages) on computers, and search for relevant material on the internet;

T5 Management Skills: manage a project, including its interfaces with its context; control meetings, write reports, demonstrate key skills, understand training and skills issues;

MSc

T6 Decision making: assess and evaluate information in complex and unpredictable situations;

T7 Independent learning: exercise the initiative and personal responsibility required for continuing professional development;

T8 Self-direction and originality: act autonomously and creatively in project planning and tackling and solving problems. 

4. Programme structure

4.1 TAUGHT MODULES   

This programme enables students to choose to study from either a broad Ergonomics and Human Factors curriculum or one of four specialist pathways: Transport, Inclusive Design, Health & Community Care, Patient Safety. The specialist pathways share common core Ergonomics and Human Factors content, with a prescribed combination of relevant modules forming each pathway. For the MSc, the programme culminates in the application of acquired knowledge and skills to a research project which, for the pathways, has a specialist topic.

4.1.1 Ergonomics & Human Factors

This core programme is designed to provide a broad ergonomics and human factors education including, dependent on the level of study, a choice of optional modules and a project to facilitate in-depth study.

Compulsory modules – Semester 1 

Compulsory modules – Semester 1& 2

Compulsory modules – Semester 2

Compulsory modules – Semester 2 & 3

Optional modules - PGDip/MSc only (Students should select modules totalling 45 credits) 

Semester 1

Semester 2

4.1.1.1 PG Cert

To be considered for the award of PG Cert in Ergonomics & Human Factors, students will be required to successfully complete modules; DSP101, DSP102, DSP103. DSP105.

4.1.1.2 PG Dip

To be considered for the award of PG Dip in Ergonomics & Human Factors, students will be required to successfully complete modules; DSP101, DSP102, DSP103. DSP105, DSP106 with 45 optional credit modules from the list above.

4.1.2.3 MSc Project

The project must be in a chosen topic area appropriate to Ergonomics & Human Factors.

4.1.1.4 Part-time Study

Part time study for the MSc award is typically studied over a 3 year period. Typically, this programme would be structured as follows:

• Year One (PG Cert)  - 60 credits

Semester One: DSP101, DSP103,

Semester One and Two: DSP105

Semester Two: DSP102

• Year Two (PG Dip)– consists of 60 credits, of which 45 credits are optional, Students must select 3 of 4 optional modules.

Semester One: DSP106, DSP118 (optional)

Semester Two: DSP104 (optional), DSP114 (optional), DSP119 (optional), DSP120 (optional) DSP121 (optional)

• Year Three (MSc)

DSP110 - Project

4.1.2 Ergonomics & Human Factors in Transport specialist pathway

This specialist pathway is designed to provide an ergonomics and human factors education focusing on design and use of vehicles within a systems context.  For the MSc, this includes an ergonomics and human factors in transport specialist project, to facilitate in-depth study.

Compulsory modules - Semester 1 

Compulsory modules – Semester 1& 2

Compulsory Modules – Semester 2

Compulsory modules – Semester 2 & 3

4.1.2.1 PG Cert

To be considered for the award of PG Cert within the Human Factors in Transport specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules; DSP101, DSP103, DSP105. DSP121.

4.1.2.2 PG Dip

To be considered for the award of PG Dip within the Human Factors in Transport specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules DSP101, DSP102, DSP103, DSP104. DSP105, DSP106, DSP118, DSP121.

4.1.2.3 MSc Project

The project must be in a topic area appropriate to the Ergonomics & Human Factors in Transport specialist pathway.

4.1.2.4 Part-time Study

Part time study for the MSc award is typically studied over a 3 year period. Typically, this pathway of the programme would be structured as follows:

• Year One (PG Cert)  - 60 credits

Semester One: DSP101, DSP103,

Semester One and Two: DSP105

Semester Two: DSP121

• Year Two (PG Dip) – 60 credits

Semester One: DSP106, DSP118

Semester Two: DSP102, DSP104

• Year Three (MSc)

DSP110 - Project

4.1.3 Ergonomics & Human Factors for Inclusive Design specialist pathway

This specialist pathway is designed to provide an ergonomics and human factors education focusing on human diversity in design applications, including systems, workplaces and artefacts, information and communications devices. For the MSc, this includes an ergonomics and human factors for inclusive design specialist project, to facilitate in-depth study.

Compulsory Modules – Semester 1

Compulsory modules – Semester 1& 2

Compulsory Modules – Semester 2

Compulsory modules – Semester 2 & 3

4.1.3.1 PG Cert

To be considered for the award of PG Cert within the Ergonomics and Human Factors for Inclusive Design specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules; DSP101, DSP103, DSP105. DSP114.

4.1.3.2 PG Dip

To be considered for the award of PG Dip within the Ergonomics and Human Factors for Inclusive Design specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules DSP101, DSP102, DSP103, DSP104. DSP105, DSP106, DSP114, DSP118.

4.1.2.3 MSc Project

The project must be in a topic area appropriate to the Ergonomics & Human Factors for Inclusive Design specialist pathway.

4.1.3.4 Part-time Study

Part time study for the MSc award is typically studied over a 3 year period. Typically, this pathway of the programme would be structured as follows:

• Year One (PG Cert)  - 60 credits

Semester One: DSP101, DSP103

Semester One and Two: DSP105

Semester Two: DSP114

• Year Two (PG Dip) – 60 credits

Semester One: DSP106, DSP118

Semester Two: DSP102, DSP104

• Year Three (MSc) – 60 credits

DSP110 - Project

4.1.4 Ergonomics & Human Factors for Health & Community Care specialist pathway

This specialist pathway is designed to provide an ergonomics and human factors education for Health Professionals, focusing on those aspects concerned with promoting healthy and safe health and community care working. For the MSc, this includes an ergonomics and human factors in health and community care specialist project, to facilitate in-depth study.

Compulsory Modules – Semester 1

Compulsory modules – Semester 1& 2

Compulsory Modules – Semester 2

Compulsory modules – Semester 2 & 3

4.1.4.1 PG Cert

To be considered for the award of PG Cert within the Ergonomics for Health & Community Care specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules; DSP101, DSP103, DSP105. DSP120.

4.1.4.2 PG Dip

To be considered for the award of PG Dip within the Ergonomics for Health & Community Care specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules DSP101, DSP102, DSP103, DSP105, DSP106, DSP114, DSP119, DSP120.

4.1.2.3 MSc Project

The project must be in a topic area appropriate to the Ergonomics & Human Factors for Health & Community Care specialist pathway.

4.1.4.4 Part-time Study

Part time study for the MSc award is typically studied over a 3 year period. Typically this pathway of the programme would be structured as follows:

• Year One (PG Cert)  - 60 credits

Semester One: DSP101, DSP103

Semester One and Two: DSP105

Semester Two: DSP120

• Year Two (PG Dip) – 60 credits

Semester One: DSP106

Semester Two: DSP102, DSP114, DSP119

• Year Three (MSc) – 60 credits

DSP110 - Project

4.1.5 Ergonomics & Human Factors for Patient Safety specialist pathway

This specialist pathway is designed to provide an ergonomics and human factors education, focusing on those aspects concerned with promoting patient safety in all healthcare sectors and domains.  For the MSc, this includes an ergonomics and human factors for patient safety specialist project, to facilitate in-depth study.

Compulsory Modules – Semester 1

Compulsory modules – Semester 1& 2

Compulsory Modules – Semester 2

Compulsory modules – Semester 2 & 3

4.1.5.1 PG Dip

To be considered for the award of PG Dip within the Human Factors & Ergonomics for Patient Safety specialist pathway, students will be required to successfully complete modules DSP101, DSP102, DSP103, DSP105, DSP106, DSP114, DSP118, DSP119.

4.1.2.2 MSc Project

The project must be in a topic area appropriate to the Ergonomics & Human Factors for Patient Safety specialist pathway.

4.1.5.3 Part-time Study

Part time study for the MSc award is typically studied over a 3 year period. Typically, this pathway of the programme would be structured as follows:

• Year One - 60 credits

Semester One: DSP101, DSP103,

Semester Two: DSP102, DSP119

• Year Two – 60 credits

Semester One: DSP106, DSP118

Semester One and Two: DSP105

Semester Two: DSP114

• Year Three (MSc only) – 60 credits

DSP110 - Project

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

N/A