Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Factors
Earn a doctorate degree in human factors, advance scholarly research and your career
Human Factors is a multidisciplinary field that leverages critical principles from engineering, computer science, cognitive engineering, and systems design. It is a scientific discipline that examines human behavior and capabilities in order to determine the best ways to design products, equipment and systems for safe, effective, satisfying use by humans. Human Factors professionals are focused on studying how humans interact with machines and consumer products to improve technology, safety, and usability. It is a field that has made essential contributions to the design, test, and evaluation of products and systems used by people every day around the globe.
Human Factors researchers and practitioners work in areas dealing with issues related to automation, cognition, decision-making, interface design, human-computer interaction, physiology, safety and human error, sensory systems, stress, workload, training, transportation, and workspace design. Related industries include, but are not limited to automotive, rail, aviation, aerospace, energy, and consumer products.
Human Factors professionals are in high demand and are considered a crucial part of any industry engaged in designing and producing products and systems that will be used or operated by people. Human Factors is one of the most rapidly growing fields in today’s employment market, and graduates of the Capitol Technology University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Factors can expect to find high paying jobs across all areas of industry and government.
This is a research based doctorate PhD degree where you will be assigned an academic supervisor almost immediately to guide you through your program and is based on mostly independent study through the entire program. It typically takes a minimum of two years but typically three years to complete if a student works closely with their assigned academic advisor. Under the guidance of your academic supervisor, you will conduct unique research in your chosen field before submitting a Thesis.
As your PhD progresses, you move through a series of progression points and review stages by your academic supervisor. This ensures that you are engaged in a process of research that will lead to the production of a high-quality Thesis and/or publications and that you are on track to complete this in the time available. Following submission of your PhD Thesis or accepted three academic journal articles, you have an oral presentation assessed by an external expert in your field.
Why Capitol?
Expert guidance in doctoral research
Capitol’s doctoral programs are supervised by faculty with extensive experience in chairing doctoral dissertations and mentoring students as they launch their academic careers. You’ll receive the guidance you need to successfully complete your doctoral research project and build credentials in the field.
Proven academic excellence
Study at a university that specializes in industry-focused education in technology fields, with a faculty that includes many industrial and academic experts.
Program is 100% Online
Our Ph.D. in Human Factors is offered 100% online. Once you are accepted, all you need is an internet connection and you can attend class.
Key Faculty
Career Opportunities
Market demand for human factors expertise
Get the necessary credentials to take on a leadership role; become a researcher, speaker, author, or trusted expert; or enter higher education as a teaching professional.
A degree that is relevant to any and every organization
Graduates will contribute significantly to the human factors field through the creation of new knowledge and ideas.
Degree Details
This program may be completed with a minimum of 60 credit hours, but may require additional credit hours, depending on the time required to complete the dissertation/publication research. Students who are not prepared to defend after completion of the 60 credits will be required to enroll in RSC-899, a one-credit, eight-week continuation course. Students are required to be continuously enrolled/registered in the RSC-899 course until they successfully complete their dissertation defense/exegesis.
The student will produce, present, and defend a doctoral dissertation after receiving the required approvals from the student’s Committee and the PhD Review Boards.
Prior Achieved Credits May Be Accepted
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates are subject to change.
The following rates are in effect for the 2024-2025 academic year, beginning in Fall 2024 and continuing through Summer 2025:
- The application fee is $100
- The per-credit charge for doctorate courses is $950. This is the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
- Retired military receive a $50 per credit hour tuition discount
- Active duty military receive a $100 per credit hour tuition discount for doctorate level coursework.
- Information technology fee $40 per credit hour.
- High School and Community College full-time faculty and full-time staff receive a 20% discount on tuition for doctoral programs.
Find additional information for 2024-2025 doctorate tuition and fees.
The fact that Capitol Tech offers a convenient online degree and the degree I wanted to seek made it an easy choice.
-Vianelis Martinez
PhD in Human Factors