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Program Requirements
Admission Requirements
Admission Procedures
arch
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

The Arch Lab now offers three certificate programs within the MA in Human Factors and Applied Cognition degree program. These certificate programs are ideal for students desiring to focus on an individual specialty but may not need to take a full MA program in order to gain useful and important skills. The three specialty areas are as follows:

  • Specialty in Aviation Psychology
  • Specialty in Usability
  • Specialty in Cognitive Neuroscience

These certificate programs incorporate basic courses that form the introductory portion of our MA program and more specialized content courses in specified topic areas.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

A. Specialty in Aviation Psychology

Mandatory Core Courses (9 credits):
PSYC 530 Cognitive Engineering
PSYC 645 Human Factors Methods (Task Analysis/Verbal Protocol Analysis)
PSYC 734 Seminar in Human Factors (aviation-related topics as approved for this concentration)

Elective Courses (6 credits from the following options):
PSYC 597 Directed Readings/Research (when topic is approved for this concentration)
PSYC 768 Seminar in Cognition
PSYC 766 Seminar in Perception
SYST 560 Introduction to Air Traffic Control
SYST 671 Judgment and Choice Processing and Decision Making

 

B. Specialty in Usability

Mandatory Core Courses (9 credits):

PSYC 530 Cognitive Engineering
PSYC 645 Human Factors Methods (Task Analysis/Verbal Protocol Analysis)
PSYC 737 Psychology of Human-Technology Interaction

Elective Courses (6 credits from the following options):

PSYC 734 Seminar in Human Factors (when topic is approved for this concentration)
PSYC 737 Psychology of Human-Technology Interaction
PSYC 597 Directed Readings/Research (when topic is approved for this concentration)
PSYC 768 Seminar in Cognition
PSYC 766 Seminar in Perception
PSYC 654 Naturalistic Methods in Psychology
EDIT 526 Web Accessibility
EDIT 571 Tools -- Visual/Graphic Design
EDIT 705 Instructional Design
EDIT 773 Human Computer Interface Design

 

C. Specialty in Cognitive Neuroscience

Mandatory Core Courses (9 credits):

PSYC 530 Cognitive Engineering
PSYC 768 Seminar in Cognition (when topic is Cognitive Neuroscience)

One of the following courses:

PSYC 527 Introduction to Neurobiology
PSYC 531 Mammalian Neurobiology
PSYC 556 Chemistry & the Brain
PSYC 558 Neuronal Bases of Learning and Memory
PSYC 559 Behavioral Chemistry

Elective Courses (6 credits from the following options):

PSYC 597 Directed Readings/Research (when topic is approved for this concentration)
PSYC 702 Biological Bases of Behavior
PSYC 768 Seminar in Cognition (when topic is approved for this concentration)
PSYC 766 Seminar in Perception (when topic is approved for this concentration)

           
NOTES:
(a) Students must earn a B grade, or above, in each course to allow those courses to transfer from a certificate program to a degree program, if the student first enrolls in the certificate program.
(b) Students are permitted to carry one C grade in the certificate program, as per the George Mason University academic rules.
(c) Students, with prior permission, may take substitute courses, should their required course not be available in that particular semester to allow their certificate program to be completed on schedule.
(d) Only 3 credit hours may be transferred into a GMU graduate certificate program from another university.

CERTIFICATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The certificate programs are open to all students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and meet the admissions requirements for the MA in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Program.

CERTIFICATE ADMISSION PROCEDURE

A. New Students
New students who are interested in the certificate programs should apply for admission in either degree or non-degree status. A box on the admission forms will permit the certificate option to be selected.

Applications may be obtained from the Admissions Office and should be completed and returned with fee to:

College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Graduate Admissions Office, MSN 2D2
College Hall C119
4400 University Drive
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444

(703) 993-2400

B. Students already enrolled in the MA in Human Factors and Applied Cognition
Students who are currently enrolled in the MA in Human Factors and Applied Cognition program and who wish to take advantage of either certificate within their own program while pursuing their master’s degree may complete an application for a certificate once the appropriate fifteen credit hours have been satisfied.

C. Transfer Students
C.1 Students may transfer one course earned at another university into this certificate program. The usual rules of transfer apply in that the course being transferred must have been passed with a B grade, or higher.
C.2 Students who have been admitted as certificate-seeking students may apply to transfer to a regular masters degree in the MA in Human Factors and Applied Cognition program at any time. If they are admitted into the regular masters program, a maximum of 12 credits may be carried into that regular masters program from their certificate program. Such students, like all students in the regular MA in Human Factors and Applied Cognition programs, may apply for the appropriate certificate at any time they have satisfied the fifteen-credit requirement of that certificate.