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Human-Computer Interaction
The M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction is a 36-credit-hour program that integrates computing, usability, interface design, the social sciences and other disciplines in the design and development of user-friendly technologies, software and information systems.

As a graduate, you’ll be well prepared for a career in private industry or academia, or for admission to the Ph.D. in Informatics program with a human-computer interaction specialization.

The program may be completed in two years by a full-time student. Part-time study options are available for domestic students. However, international students and any students funded directly by the School of Informatics and Computing (in the form of an assistantship or fellowship) must complete the program in two years.

A thesis or applied research project is required to complete your degree.

For students starting Fall 2013

Core (24 cr.)

Final Project or Thesis (6 cr.)

Final Project Option

All HCI students must complete a final project by registering for two courses: H680 HCI Professional Practice 1 (offered ONLY in the Fall) and H681HCI Professional Practice 2 (offered ONLY in the Spring). Each course includes a formally scheduled in-class time that students must attend. Students will work on one final project that extends throughout the two courses, i.e., in both fall and spring semesters. Students will receive an official grade at the conclusion of each course/semester. Students are encouraged to propose a project that can be realistically completed by the conclusion of H681, the Spring semester. Incompletes are NOT permitted.

Required Courses Thesis Option

The Thesis option is reserved for students who possess a demonstrated ability to carry out publishable empirical research. Qualified students must find a research-active faculty member willing to advise them on a thesis by the end of the second semester.

Students taking the Thesis option must take and successfully pass I575 Informatics Research Design by the completion of their first year. They should also take an additional statistics course prior to their final regular semester (see the plan of study). As with the final project, an incomplete will NOT be permitted. It is the student’s responsibility to propose a thesis that can be completed within a two-semester timeline. To do this, students MUST provide their primary thesis advisor with a full thesis proposal and outline that includes a timeline for the writing of the thesis.

Required Course

Electives (6 cr.)

School of Informatics and Computing Herron School of Art / Design Thinking & Methods*
  • HER V501 Intro to Design Thinking [Fall Wks 1-8 Seminar] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V502 Intro to Human Factors in Design [Fall Wks 1-8 Seminar] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V511 People-Centered Design Research [Fall Wks 1-8 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V521 Design Analysis [Fall Wks 9-16 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V531 Design Synthesis [Spring Wks 1-8 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V541 Design Evaluation [Spring Wks 9-16 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER R511 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 1 [Fall] (3 cr.)
  • HER R512 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 2 [Spring] (6 cr.)

Note: Herron design courses are offered during the day. Full-time graduate students are encouraged to register for these courses as electives.

Social Sciences
  • PSY I643 Field Methods and Experiments (3 cr.)
  • SOC S551 Sociological Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • SOC S659 Qualitative Methods in Sociology (3 cr.)
  • ANTH E404 Field Methods in Ethnography (3 cr.)
  • X000 Courses from the social sciences: psychology, sociology, anthropology (3 cr.)
Computer Science
  • CSCI 507 Object-Oriented Design and Programming (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 550 Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 552 Advanced Graphics and Visualization (3 cr.)

For students enrolled prior to Fall 2013

Core (18 cr.)
  • INFO H501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
  • INFO H541 Interaction Design Practice (3 cr.)
  • INFO H561 Human-Computer Interaction Design II (3 cr.)
  • INFO H543 Usability and Evaluative Methods (3 cr.)
  • INFO H563 Psychology of HCI (3 cr.)
  • INFO H564 Prototyping for Interactive Systems (3 cr.)
Final Project/Thesis (6 cr.)
  • INFO H680 HCI Professional Practice 1 (3 cr.) – Required for Final Project
    Note: Pre-requisites: INFO H541, H561, H543, H563, and H564 
  • INFO H681 HCI Professional Practice 2 (3 cr.) – Required for Final Project
    Note: Pre-requisites: INFO H680

* For the Thesis option (only with special permission), take INFO H694 HCI Thesis (6 cr.) instead of H680/H681. There are additional required courses for students who take the Thesis option (see Plan of Study).

Electives (12 cr.) Informatics / Media Arts & Science
  • INFO H503 Social Impact of Information Technologies (3 cr.)
  • INFO B505 Informatics Project Management (3 cr.)
  • INFO H534 Seminar in Human Computer Interaction (1-3 cr.)
  • INFO H550 Legal and Business Issues in Informatics (3 cr.)
  • INFO H554 Independent Study in Human Computer Interaction (1-3 cr.)
  • INFO H575 Informatics Research Design (3 cr.)
  • INFO H590 Topics in Informatics (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N503 Digital Media Application Design Processes (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N510 Web-Database Concepts (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N501 Foundations of Digital Production (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N504 Advanced Interactive Design Applications (3 cr.)
Herron School of Art / Design Thinking & Methods*
  • HER V501 Intro to Design Thinking [Fall Wks 1-8 Seminar] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V502 Intro to Human Factors in Design [Fall Wks 1-8 Seminar] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V511 People-Centered Design Research [Fall Wks 1-8 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V521 Design Analysis [Fall Wks 9-16 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V531 Design Synthesis [Spring Wks 1-8 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V541 Design Evaluation [Spring Wks 9-16 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER R511 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 1 [Fall] (3 cr.)
  • HER R512 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 2 [Spring] (6 cr.)

Note: Herron design courses are offered during the day. Full-time graduate students are encouraged to register for these courses as electives.

Library & Information Science
  • LIS S505 Organization and Representation of Knowledge & Information (3 cr.)
  • LIS S509 Introduction to Research and Statistics (3 cr.)
  • LIS S545 Systems Analysis and Design (3 cr.)
  • LIS S546 User-centered Database Design (3 cr.)
  • LIS S571 Information Architecture for the Web (3 cr.)
  • LIS S625 Information in the Social Sciences (3 cr.)
Social Sciences
  • PSY I643 Field Methods and Experiments (3 cr.)
  • SOC S551 Sociological Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • SOC S659 Qualitative Methods in Sociology (3 cr.)
  • ANTH E404 Field Methods in Ethnography (3 cr.)
  • X000 Courses from the social sciences: psychology, sociology, anthropology (3 cr.)
Computer Science
  • CSCI 507 Object-Oriented Design and Programming (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 550 Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 552 Advanced Graphics and Visualization (3 cr.)
Last Updated: February, 2014.