Additional Information
This is a relatively new job, so people come to be usability engineers
from a variety of backgrounds. Usability engineers' degrees vary and include
computer science, marketing, psychology (cognitive, experimental or organizational),
technical communication, human factors and ergonomics.
A lot of training in usability takes place on the job. However, there are
programs throughout North America that offer studies specific to usability
engineering. Programs are often at the graduate level. They concentrate in
areas such as human-computer interaction, software ergonomics, technology
and social behavior, and human factors.
In 2014, the Usability Professionals' Association did a survey of 1,355
usability professionals. Most had a master's degree (53 percent). Thirty-three
percent held a bachelor's degree, seven percent had a PhD.
"You don't necessarily have to plonk down the big bucks to get into this
field," says Susan Reale. She is a qualitative and usability research consultant
with her own company REALeResearch. For example, she says someone with a background
in sociology or psychology and strong interviewing skills could get a job
with a company's usability department and gain experience on the job.
Reale found her way to usability through experience, not education. She
has a bachelor of arts in broadcast and electronic communication arts. However,
she has noticed more and more job listings seeking candidates with human factors
and related studies.
John Hossack agrees that at the end of the day, nothing is better than
experience. He is a vice-president of usability and business development.
Experience aside, he has noticed that master's degrees are becoming the
norm in the business world. He predicts that in 15 years, PhDs will become
the norm.
For those interested in careers in usability, Hossack recommends getting
two majors during one's undergraduate degree, such as psychology and geology.
"That will allow you to be a usability person in the mining industry. Split
it up and it allows you to be general or specific and go in a bunch of different
directions."