Programs

Human-Computer Interaction Design

Human-Computer Interaction track of the Ph.D. in Informatics
Ph.D. Requirements

The human-computer interaction design track of the Ph.D. in Informatics offers the opportunity to conduct practical research in these areas:

  • Interaction design
  • Computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW)
  • New media
  • Dynamic visualizations
  • Computer-mediated communication
  • Usability and evaluation methods
  • Collaborative shared surfaces
  • External representations
  • Augmented reality
  • Learning systems
  • Design pedagogy

This program is research-based and interdisciplinary, with projects that may span several areas within informatics and computing, including complex systems, music informatics, security informatics, and social informatics. Course work includes core material in contemporary HCI research, as well as the opportunity to engage in a Ph.D. minor in another discipline.

While students in the Ph.D. program come from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, they generally come to us with basic knowledge about HCI or similar disciplines. For more information about prerequisites, contact Graduate Student Services to discuss your specific situation.

Download the current Ph.D. in Informatics handbook (PDF). We also recommend consulting the informatics section (PDF) of the University Graduate School Academic Bulletin for more detailed information about these requirements.

CURRICULUM

A total of 90 credit hours is required for this degree. No more than 30 of those hours will be counted from a master’s degree taken at Indiana University or a graduate program at another university. An additional six (6) hours of master’s thesis or capstone project may be counted toward the Ph.D. at the discretion of the student’s advisory committee, assuming the thesis or capstone project is of sufficient research quality.

COURSES

Required Informatics courses (27 cr.)

  • INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
  • Three Ph.D. core/breadth courses outside the HCI/d track (3 cr.)
  • Two (3) advanced research seminars within HCI/d (3 cr.)
  • INFO 600 Professionalism/Pedagogy (3 cr.) or equivalent
  • Two research rotations with student-selected faculty (6 cr.)

Theory, Methodology, and Electives (33–42 cr.)

Specific coursework, including research-oriented independent study, will be determined by the student’s advisory committee.

Dissertation Work (21–30 cr.)

MINOR

All students are required to have an appropriate minor inside or outside the school. Minors will be selected with the advisor’s recommendation. Some of the courses included in the minor may also count towards the student’s methodology or other requirements.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

Click here for the PDF version.