Postgraduate DiplomaHealth, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA. 8 modules covering IEC 62682 / ISA-18.2 (alarm management), EEMUA 191 (design and management of alarm systems) and MATLAB/Simulink. Tutor assigned and enrolment open.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Postgraduate Diploma in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA — studying from the United States

Health technology and biomechanics form a significant sector in the United States, anchored by medical device hubs in Minnesota, Massachusetts, California and New Jersey. Companies develop implants, diagnostic equipment, rehabilitation devices and wearable sensors under strict regulatory oversight. Engineers apply biomechanical modeling, human factors and operational safety analysis to improve device performance and worker well-being. Careers often involve close collaboration with clinicians and regulatory affairs teams.

Fees for the United States: US$1,220 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in the United States

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Typical roles

  • Biomedical Engineer
  • Biomechanics Engineer
  • Wearables Development Engineer
  • Operational Safety Engineer

Questions from the United States

Which professional bodies in the United States relate to this area, and does a SEIUM qualification make me a licensed engineer?

In the US, the Professional Engineer (PE) license is issued by state licensing boards and generally requires an ABET-accredited engineering degree, supervised experience, and passing the FE and PE exams. Biomedical and safety work also connects to bodies such as ASME and IEEE EMBS. A SEIUM qualification is a private qualification, not a state degree, and does not itself grant PE licensure. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant licensing body.

Where do people with this training typically work in the United States?

Careers in this area commonly appear in medical device companies, wearable technology firms, hospitals and research institutions, and occupational safety departments in industrial employers. Hiring decisions depend on each employer's requirements and how they value private, non-accredited training, so you should check specific job postings and speak with target employers before enrolling.

Can I study this programme while working full time in the US?

The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home and no student visa is needed. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours, and specialist courses 300 hours, so you should plan your weekly hours realistically. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers offer sponsorship, which you can ask your employer about directly.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the situational awareness model and its levels.

02

Classify automation levels and their effects on the operator.

03

Design rationalised alarm systems in accordance with ISA-18.2.

04

Apply high-performance HMI design principles.

05

Measure situational awareness using objective and subjective techniques.

06

Analyse the risks of automation and AI in safety-critical systems.

07

Validate a supervision design through simulator trials.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Human factors engineer who wants to specialise in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA.
  • Supervision interface designer who wants to specialise in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA.
  • Alarm management engineer who wants to specialise in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA.
  • Process automation specialist who wants to specialise in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA.
  • Critical systems engineer who wants to specialise in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA.
  • Operational safety consultant who wants to specialise in Alert Design, Automation Levels and SA.
  • Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter the process industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 62682 / ISA-18.2 (alarm management)
  • EEMUA 191 (design and management of alarm systems)
  • ISO 11064 (ergonomic design of control centres)
  • ISA-101.01 (human-machine interfaces)
  • SAE J3016 (levels of driving automation)
  • NUREG-0700 (human-system interface design)
  • IEC 61508 (functional safety)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Endsley's three-level model
  2. 1.2Perception, comprehension and projection
  3. 1.3Situational awareness errors
  4. 1.4Selective and divided attention
  5. 1.5Working memory and cognitive load
  6. 1.6Experts versus novices
  7. 1.7Team situational awareness
  8. 1.8Domains: aviation, process control and healthcare
  9. 1.9Goal-oriented design
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of an accident caused by loss of SA
  1. 2.1Sheridan and Verplank taxonomy
  2. 2.2Parasuraman, Sheridan and Wickens model
  3. 2.3SAE J3016 in automated driving
  4. 2.4Adaptive automation
  5. 2.5Complacency and automation bias
  6. 2.6Out of the loop and skill degradation
  7. 2.7Calibrated trust in automation
  8. 2.8System transparency
  9. 2.9Transfer of control
  10. 2.10Practice: allocation of functions in a control room
  1. 3.1Alarm philosophy according to ISA-18.2
  2. 3.2EEMUA 191 alarm management
  3. 3.3Alarm flooding and fatigue
  4. 3.4Prioritisation and rationalisation
  5. 3.5Auditory alarms IEC 60601-1-8
  6. 3.6Visual and haptic alarms
  7. 3.7Suppression and state-dependent alarms
  8. 3.8Alarm system performance metrics
  9. 3.9Alarm lifecycle
  10. 3.10Workshop: rationalisation of an alarm list
  1. 4.1High-performance HMI
  2. 4.2Display hierarchy
  3. 4.3Use of colour and greyscale
  4. 4.4Trend indicators
  5. 4.5Ecological interface design
  6. 4.6Embedded and configuration displays
  7. 4.7Interfaces for remote operation
  8. 4.8Augmented reality in supervision
  9. 4.9ISO 11064 control room standards
  10. 4.10Practice: redesign of an HMI display
  1. 5.1SAGAT technique
  2. 5.2SART scale
  3. 5.3Process measures and eye tracking
  4. 5.4Mental workload with NASA-TLX
  5. 5.5Physiological workload measures
  6. 5.6Simulation scenario design
  7. 5.7Performance analysis
  8. 5.8Validity and reliability of measures
  9. 5.9Interpretation of results
  10. 5.10Laboratory: application of SAGAT in simulation
  1. 6.1Intelligent agents as teammates
  2. 6.2Explainability of automated decisions
  3. 6.3Automation modes and mode confusion
  4. 6.4Human oversight under the AI Act
  5. 6.5Design for failure recovery
  6. 6.6Cockpit automation and autopilot
  7. 6.7Clinical decision support systems
  8. 6.8Automated driving vehicles
  9. 6.9Lessons from incidents
  10. 6.10Case study: mode confusion in an automated system
  1. 7.1Cognitive task analysis
  2. 7.2User trials in simulator
  3. 7.3Integrated system validation
  4. 7.4Human reliability analysis
  5. 7.5HMI change management
  6. 7.6Training and instruction
  7. 7.7Safety indicators
  8. 7.8Alarm system audit
  9. 7.9Human factors documentation
  10. 7.10Practice: HMI validation plan
  1. 8.1System selection and context
  2. 8.2Analysis of SA objectives and requirements
  3. 8.3Function allocation
  4. 8.4Alarm design
  5. 8.5Interface design
  6. 8.6Simulation evaluation
  7. 8.7Analysis of results
  8. 8.8Recommendations
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online study on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, PsychoPy, Tobii Pro Lab, Python (pandas), Ignition (Inductive Automation), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied using real control room simulator procedures, situational awareness measurement with SAGAT, and analysis of alarm logs. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.

Accredited laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented thesis:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as core pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

System selection and context

Explain the situational awareness model and its levels.

Analysis of SA objectives and requirements

Classify automation levels and their effects on the operator.

Function allocation

Design rationalised alarm systems in accordance with ISA-18.2.

Alarm design

Apply high-performance HMI design principles.

Interface design

Measure situational awareness using objective and subjective techniques.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Human factors engineerSupervision interface designerAlarm management engineerProcess automation specialistCritical systems engineerOperational safety consultant
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.

The course uses MATLAB/Simulink, PsychoPy, Tobii Pro Lab, Python (pandas), Ignition (Inductive Automation). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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