MSc in Human-Computer Interaction
Indianapolis, USA
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
USD 36,377 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Scholarships
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Introduction
Pushing the limits of interaction design
Businesses are hiring HCI graduates to help customers have the best experience with technology, from product design to user interfaces.
Be part of the solution when you earn a Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction from the IU School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI. Our students are committed to enhancing the user experience, designing better ways to help people engage with emerging technologies.
UX influences everything
Prepare to be immersed in a project-based, hands-on user experience environment. By earning a master’s in HCI, you’ll explore emerging field research, learning how to create effective interactive systems for companies in Indiana and worldwide.
Students in our professional, research-focused program collaborate with industry leaders on real-world projects. They gain valuable insight from faculty in human-centered design, social computing research, and the Internet of Things.
Through your classes and Capstone Project, you’ll develop the UX design and research skills essential for a professional career in the field.
You can complete the 36-hour Master of Science in HCI program in two years.
Curriculum
Final Capstone and Thesis Option
Capstone Option
All HCI students must complete a final MS capstone project by registering for two courses: H680 HCI Professional Practice 1 and H681 HCI Professional Practice 2, taken in two consecutive semesters. Each course includes a formally scheduled in-class time that students must attend. Students will work on one comprehensive, final MS HCI 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. Incompletes are not permitted.
Thesis Option
The MS 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 or an equivalent research methods course decided in concert with the thesis advisor by the completion of their first year. 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.
Electives
Students must check for prerequisites and course availability from the respective schools and departments.
Recommended Electives
- INFO-H 567 IoT Interface Design for Business Innovation
- INFO-I 575 Informatics Research Design
- INFO-H 554 Independent Study in HCI
Health Informatics and Human Factors
- INFO-B 626 Human Factors Engineering for Health Informatics
Data Science
- INFO-H 518 Deep Learning Neural Networks
- INFO-B 505 Informatics Project Management
- INFO-H 515 Introduction to Data Analytics
- INFO-H 516 Applied Cloud Computing for Data-Intensive Sciences
- INFO-H 517 Visualization Design, Analysis, and Evaluation
- LIS-S 511 Database Design
- LIS-S 541 Information Policy
- NEWM-N 510 Web Database Development
- PBHL-B 561 Introduction to Biostatistics
- STAT 514 Design of Experiments
Entrepreneurship
- INFO-H 559 Media and Technology Entrepreneurship
Game Design and Development
- NEWM-N 534 Serious Games and Simulations
- 500-level sections of game production courses
3-D Graphics and Animation
- NEWM-N 537 Virtual Worlds Design and Development
- NEWM-N 540 3D Compositing and Visual Effects
- NEWM-N 542 Advanced 3D Character Animation
- NEWM-N 549 3D Prototyping and Articulation
- 500-level sections of 3-D graphics and animation courses
Web Design and Development
- NEWM-N 504 Advanced Interactive Design Applications
- 500-level sections of web design and development courses
Digital Media and Healthcare
- NEWM-N 507 Digital Media for Healthcare
Video Production
- 500-level sections of video production courses
Computer Science
- CSCI 507 Object-Oriented Design and Programming
- CSCI 537 Introduction to Distributed Computing
- CSCI 541 Database Systems
- CSCI 550 Computer Graphics
- CSCI 552 Advanced Graphics and Visualization
- CSCI 565 Programming Language
Herron School of Art
- HER-V 501 Intro to Design Thinking (1.5 cr.)
- HER-V 502 Intro to Human Factors in Design (1.5 cr.)
- HER-R 511 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 1 (3 cr.)
Psychology
- PSY 570 Industrial Psychology
- PSY 572 Organizational Psychology
- PSY 615 Physiological Psychology
- PSY 640 Social Psychology I
- PSY 655 Cognitive Development
Communication
- COMM-C 500 Advanced Communication Theory
- COMM-C 531 Media Theory and Criticism
- COMM-C 592 Advanced Health Communication
- COMM-C 620 Computer-Mediated Communication
Sociology
- SOC-R 556 Advanced Sociological Theory I
- SOC-R 557 Advanced Sociological Theory II
- SOC-R 559 Intermediate Sociological Statistics
- SOC-R 593 Applied Fieldwork for Sociologists
- SOC-S 530 Introduction to Social Psychology
Geography
- GEOG-G 536 Advanced Remote Sensing
- GEOG-G 537 Computer Cartography and Graphics
- GEOG-G 538 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG-G 539 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Others
- ANTH 501 Fundamentals of Applied Anthropology
- ED 531 Computers in Education
- LIS-S 532 Information Architecture for the Web
Program Outcome
Upon completion of the M.S. in HCI program, students will:
- Evaluate and create interfaces by applying HCI theories, terms, principles, and methods including user experience, user-centered, and interaction design theories and practices; interactive product design and development processes and lifecycle; user profiling to interaction design (needs and requirements); system requirements and product assessments; prototype design theory and practice; and product usability evaluations and testing methods.
- Apply psychological and cognitive principles and theories to human factors and user experience design.
- Research and develop interactive collaborative systems by applying social computing theories and frameworks.
- Design novel ubiquitous computing systems by researching and applying relevant HCI and informatics theories and frameworks.
- Design effective, usable, and human-centered interactive systems using prototypes and proof of concepts.
- Critique interaction designs on their usability, human-centeredness, and satisfaction of requirements; evaluate the fitness of requirements, goals, and research methods; make recommendations; and create and defend alternative designs.
- Effectively communicate in digital, oral, and written form the processes, ideas, outcomes, and implications of HCI projects.
- Articulate decisions and reasoning behind decisions made related to interaction design choices, design, and research methods.
- Exhibit sound judgment, ethical behavior, and professionalism in applying HCI concepts and value-sensitive design to serve stakeholders and society, especially in ethically challenging situations.
- Collaborate in teams fairly, effectively, and creatively, applying group decision-making and negotiation skills.
Career Opportunities
Looking ahead to interactive careers
Opportunities in human-computer interaction are increasing daily, in fields including voice recognition, information technology, and the Internet of Things.
Our graduates have turned their expertise into jobs as user experience researchers and designers at top companies. Others have pursued further academic progress, well prepared for admission to Ph.D.-level programs.
Skills that are of the moment and in demand
HCI graduates have found full-time jobs and internships with Amazon, Ammunition Group, Apple, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Cummins, Dell, Demandware, Eli Lilly and Co., Facebook, Fossil Group, Google, InfoSys, Intel Corp., Microsoft Research, Parkview Health, Raytheon Co., Roche Diagnostics, Salesforce.com, Samsung, SAP, Splunk, Studio Science, VMWare, Walmart Labs, Yahoo!, and many other employers.
- $85,250 - Median Full-Time Starting Salary (2019-20)
- 82% - Employed, Self-Employed or Interned Within Major (2019-20)
Careers: your future in HCI
Get in touch with our Career Services staff to explore HCI internship and full-time opportunities and prepare your portfolio to land your dream job in HCI. See our selected HCI job banks to browse just a glimpse of the many HCI job opportunities currently available in the industry. Recent jobs our students have secured include:
- Interaction designer
- Product designer
- User experience (UX) consultant
- UX designer
- User interface (UI) designer
- Graphic designer/web content manager
- Software engineer
English Language Requirements
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