For more than 30 years, VTTI has worked to ensure the safety of transportation users by leading cutting-edge research, especially in the pioneering of naturalistic study methods. VTTI's innovative approaches, world-class facilities, and largest group of driving safety researchers in the world have led to a better understanding of such transportation challenges as distraction, inattention, fatigue, and the risks associated with teenaged and older drivers.
VTTI is thus positioned, with strong collaboration from the departments listed below, to offer the next generation of researchers the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding and hands-on experience and guidance in the area of transportation safety through the Human Factors of Transportation Safety Graduate Certificate Program (HFTS GCP).
Driver behavior is at the root of the majority of crashes, so human factors play a crucial role in designing efforts that enhance transportation safety and reduce crashes. The HFTS GCP will be administered through VTTI with support from the Graduate School and affiliated faculty in the following departments: Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Psychology, and Statistics. The certificate program has been designed to create and deliver to students in-depth knowledge and marketable skills applied to the research, evaluation, maintenance, improvement, and protection of all ground transportation users and their communities – all from a human factors perspective, which is a strong educational focus of VTTI and Virginia Tech. Students enrolled in the program will become leaders in the field of transportation safety within the Commonwealth, across the nation, and internationally.
The HFTS GCP is the first educational program to focus on human factors issues related to transportation safety. The program is designed to bring to life Virginia Tech's hands-on and minds-on approaches to education.
Transportation is critical to every aspect of our modern society, yet it presents some of the most difficult challenges. Each year, more than 30,000 fatalities occur on U.S. highways alone (NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System) at an estimated economic cost of more than $200 billion.
In response to this national crisis, federal agencies are funding large-scale interdisciplinary research programs with the goal of greatly improving transportation safety. Companies in the private sector are also striving to produce safer and smarter vehicles and technologies.
However, as more next-generation technologies are implemented, there is the potential to create unsafe driving conditions, such as driver overload, distraction, fatigue, and other unexpected outcomes. Therefore, human factors evaluations and solutions are key to the successful implementation of these technologies. Whether the system deals with lighting, presents a warning to a driver, or is an automated-vehicle component, it should function in collaboration with the driver to ensure that the driver and the vehicle are operating within their capabilities and expectations. These human factors considerations are vital to safe travel.
Graduate students enrolled in the HFTS GCP will be offered not only a formal educational path in the human factors of transportation safety; they will also have research opportunities that are designed to help government agencies and the private sector address the greatest transportation issues of today and the future.
The certificate is an option to Virginia Tech graduate students in the departments of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics (BEAM), Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE), Psychology (PSYC), and Statistics (STAT). Interested graduate students from other departments may contact the program coordinator.
Please refer to the Admissions & Course Requirements tab on the Graduate Catalog, HFTS.
GRA opportunities are typically available and should be discussed along with your interests when applying to the HFTS GCP.
Yes, internships and summer wage jobs may be made available through the certificate program. Students will be encouraged to spend time gaining experience at VTTI or with other industry collaborators with whom VTTI and the participating Virginia Tech departments have established relationships.
Internship opportunities may be discussed when applying to the HFTS GCP.
Learn more about VTTI by visiting our About VTTI page.
The certificate requires a total of 4 courses (3 credits each for a total of 12 credits) distributed as follows: one course from each of Categories A, B, and C, and one course from either Category D or E.
In addition, courses from at least 3 of the 5 affiliated departments (i.e., Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Psychology, and Statistics) must be represented in the student's overall graduate program of study.
Category A: Transportation Safety / Risk Core
Category B: Human Factors Core
Category C: Statistics and Research Design
Category D: Transportation-Related Eng./ Modeling / Design
Category E: Human Factors Aspects of Transportation