Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

BSc (Hons) Ergonomics (Human Factors Design) [2009 entry]

Academic Year: 2015/16

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different)
Owning school/department Loughborough Design School - pre 2019
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body

The Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors

Final award BSc (Hons)/ BSc (Hons) + DPS/ DIntS
Programme title Ergonomics (Human Factors Design)
Programme code DSUB07
Length of programme The duration of the programme is either 6 semesters, or 8 semesters if students undertake professional training leading to the award of the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or Diploma in International Studies (DIntS).
UCAS code J920, J921
Admissions criteria

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/departments/designschool/ergonomicshumanfactorsdesign/

Date at which the programme specification was published Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:56:54 BST

1. Programme Aims

  • to provide a high quality honours programme which maximises students’ opportunities to graduate with a good degree and enhance their employability.
  • to equip students with the skills and knowledge which would enable them to work as professional ergonomists within industry and carry out research within academia and other research environments;
  • to enable students to acquire a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills and methods for investigating human safety, health, comfort and performance;

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

  • The Quality Assurance Agency’s framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (August, 2008);
  • requirements of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors which undertakes annual monitoring, and performs a full review once every five years;
  • requirements of the International Ergonomics Association;

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should have developed:

K1 - A systematic understanding of key aspects of ergonomics, broadly covering anatomical, physiological and psychological aspects of the design of work environments including their comfort, efficiency, productivity and safety;

K2- An ability to deploy accurately established methods and techniques of analysis and enquiry within ergonomics;

K3 - The ability to devise and solve problems using ideas and techniques from ergonomics, some of which are at the forefront of developments within the discipline;

K4 - The ability to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in the discipline.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

C1 - demonstrate evidence-based reasoning and make critical judgements about ergonomic issues;

C2 - demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge gained in one area to a cognate problem in another area;

C3 - detect meaningful patterns in biological and psychological data, and evaluate their significance;

C4 - analyse and present the outcomes of investigations within ergonomics with confidence, based on sound quantitative and qualitative evidence;

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

P1 - Analyse and critically evaluate information obtained from studies within ergonomics, including published research or reports;

P2 - observe, record accurately and give an objective account of human work-related activity in both laboratory and real-world settings;

P3 - collect and organise quantitative data for statistical analysis, and abstract relevant information from this analysis;

P4 - collect and interpret qualitative data rigorously, and abstract relevant information;

P5 - initiate, design, conduct and report an empirically-based project under appropriate supervision, recognising its theoretical, practical and methodological implications and limitations;

P6 - understand the ethical context of Ergonomics as a discipline and demonstrate this in relation to their own empirical work.

P7 - recognise and apply subject-specific theories, frameworks, concepts or principles;

c. Key transferable skills:

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

T1 - use instructional material (eg, experimental demonstrations) and research tools (e.g,. computer-based statistical packages), and conduct literature searches using databases and other resources on the internet;

T2 - collect data in numerical form, present it in tables and graphs, and analyse it with a range of statistical tools;

T3 - clarify questions, consider alternative solutions and evaluate outcomes;

T4 - manage a project; control meetings, write reports, demonstrate key skills, understand training and skills issues;

T5- share responsibility for a task with others; agree common goals and methods to achieve them; co-ordinate the use of common resources;

T6 - write or speak clearly to topic; to draft, edit and polish presentations; to contribute actively to group discussion; communicate to both peers and teachers; in writing and orally;

T7 - Seek out sources of information, plan time to make the best use of resources and review priorities in the light of deadlines.

4. Programme structure

4.1        Content Part A - Introductory Modules

Semester 1

COMPULSORY MODULES (modular weight 60) 

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

HUA101

Ergonomics and Design

10

HUA105

Introduction to Ergonomics

10

HUA201

Anatomy and Physiology 1

10

HUA351

Psychology Practicals

20

HUA111

Studying Ergonomics: Principles and Practices

10

Semester 2

COMPULSORY MODULES (modular weight 60)

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

HUA102

Ergonomics in Design of Everyday Artefacts

10

HUA104

Introduction to Environmental Ergonomics

10

HUA110

The Body at Work

10

HUA202

Anatomy and Physiology 2

10

HUA310

Basic Experimental Psychology

20

4.2        Content Part B - Degree Modules 

Semester 1

COMPULSORY MODULES (modular weight 60) 

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

DSB103

Vision

10

DSB105

Human Response to Noise and Vibration

10

PSB314

Organisational Behaviour

10

DSB108

Cognitive Ergonomics Part 1

10

DSB110

Ergonomics Research Data Analysis

10

DSB118

Ergonomics of Human Computer Interaction

10

Semester 2

COMPULSORY MODULES (modular weight 60)

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

DSB104

Thermal Environment

10

DSB102

Ergonomics in Design of Multi-User Systems

10

DSB106

Qualitative Methods

10

DSB112

Experiment Design & Analysis B2

10

DSB119

User Experience Design (Ergonomics)

10

DSB111

Ergonomics and Development of Complex Systems/Services

10

4.3        Content Part C - Degree Modules

COMPULSORY PROJECT (modular weight 40)

The Compulsory Project Module is divided between Semesters 1 and 2 with a permitted modular weight distribution of 10:30 or 20:20.

Semester 1

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

DSC100

Project

10 or 20 (of 40)

DSC101

Systems Ergonomics

20

OPTIONAL MODULES  Further Part C Modules may be selected from the following as necessary to bring the total modular weight for this Semester to 50, 60 or 70.

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

DSC117

Driver and Vehicle Ergonomics

10

DSC114

Disability, Ageing and Inclusive Design

10

PSC219

Human Performance at Environmental Extremes

20

PSC315

Psychology and Health

20

Semester 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

DSC100

Project

20 or 30 (of 40)

OPTIONAL MODULES Further Part C Modules may be selected from the following as necessary to bring the total modular weight for Part C to 120. 

Code

Title

Modular

Weight

DSC113

Applied Vision

10

DSC112

Designing Products for People

20

PSC316

Applied Psychology and Human Resources Management

20

 

One Part C module from the University U/G Module Catalogue, subject to approval of Programme Director.

 

 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, from C to D (if applicable) and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

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

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40: Part C 60 to determine the final percentage mark.

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