Program Overview

MHCI Curriculum

The Master of Human-Computer Interaction degree at Carnegie Mellon University is a rigorous, interdisciplinary program. The MHCI curriculum is strategically designed to teach core user-centered research, interaction design, user experience, and interface programming skills while allowing students to customize their own HCI path with unique electives from across the university.

Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the MHCI program are required to take 7 core classes and 4 electives to complete their degree and graduate.

Seven Core HCI Courses

1. 05-600: HCI Pro-Seminar: Communications in HCI
   This course has three objectives to strengthen HCI communication skills for work in industry: to expose students to the world of HCI through research and industry expert talks; to give students the opportunity to sharpen their English writing skills; And to introduce students to conflict management, teamwork, and active listening skills in order to give them tools to collaborate more efficiently on multi-disciplinary teams.
2. 05-610: User-Centered Research and Evaluation (UCRE)
   This course provides an overview and introduction to the field of human-computer interaction. It introduces students to tools, techniques, and sources of information about HCI and provides a systematic approach to design. The course increases awareness of good and bad design through observation of existing technology, and teaches the basic skills of task analysis, and analytic and empirical evaluation methods. Graduate students will also participate in a laboratory where they will practice HCI techniques in an independent, self-defined project.
3. 05-660 Interaction Design Fundamentals
   This studio course introduces students to design thinking and the basic practices of interaction design. It follows a human-centered design process that includes research, concept generation, prototyping, and refinement. Students must work effectively as individuals and in small teams to design mobile information systems and other interactive experiences. Assignments approach design on three levels: specific user interactions, contexts of use, and larger systems. Students will become familiar with design methodologies such as sketching, storyboarding, wire framing, prototyping, etc. No coding is required. This course serves as a prerequisite for Advanced Interaction Design (05-661).
   *May be placed out of, and another course substituted for the requirement
4. 05-661: Advanced Interaction Design
   This course follows 05-660: Interaction Design Fundamentals, and students are expected to apply what they have learned about design thinking and methodologies as a starting point for all assignments. Students will work in teams to perform guerrilla research, synthesize data, and consider the needs of multiple stakeholders in their design of mobile services and other intelligent systems. Design concepts go beyond user interfaces to include sensors, controls, and ubiquitous computing. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the students’ ideas and their ability to give form to their design concepts. By completing and presenting their work, students will gain skills related to professional UX design practice.
   **Depending on placement, this or another HCI design course may be used for the 2nd design course requirement
5. Choice: 05-635 or 05-631

• 05-635: Programming Interactive Experiences (PIX)
  PIX is an introductory course on designing, implementing, and evaluating computational interactions, such as web sites, apps, kiosks, and interactive installations. The course covers topics including input and output techniques, basic accessibility, reading and reviewing code, and iterative development between ideas and prototypes.
• 05-631: Software Structures for User Interfaces (SSUI)
  SSUI covers the basic and detailed concepts and principles that go into building software to implement user interfaces. It considers factors of input, output, application interface, and related infrastructure as well as the typical patterns used to implement them, and how these aspects are organized and managed within a well-structured object-oriented system.

6. 05-671: HCI Project I (15-unit spring course)
7. 05-672: HCI Project II (48-unit summer course)
   Experiential learning is a key component of the MHCI program. Through a substantial team project, students apply classroom knowledge in analysis and evaluation, implementation and design, and develop skills working in multidisciplinary teams. The project begins in the spring semester before graduation and continues full-time through the final summer semester; it must be taken in consecutive spring and summer semesters.

Electives

Students can choose from a variety of interdisciplinary electives. The available courses can be found on the HCII course guide or the official CMU Schedule of Classes.

Sample Plans

Prospective students can view MHCI sample study plans to reference example schedules.

Student Outcomes

Since its founding, the MHCI program has graduated more than 1,000 students. The in-depth interdisciplinary experiences at Carnegie Mellon make MHCI students the glue between design, development, and management in many companies. MHCI students are often hired to play one role but quickly become indispensable team players — in many cases, team leaders for research, design, and strategy in software, technical, or consulting engagements.

MHCI Policies and Procedures

For more information about MHCI policies and procedures, please refer to the MHCI Handbook.

Overview

The Master of Human-Computer Interaction degree at Carnegie Mellon University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in human-computer interaction, preparing them for careers in this field. The program is interdisciplinary, combining aspects of computer science, design, and social sciences to provide a well-rounded education.

Curriculum

The MHCI curriculum includes 7 core courses and 4 electives, providing students with a solid foundation in human-computer interaction principles and practices, as well as the opportunity to explore specialized topics through electives.

Admissions

Admission to the MHCI program is competitive, with applicants required to have a strong academic background and relevant experience in human-computer interaction or a related field.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Information on tuition and financial aid for the MHCI program can be found on the Carnegie Mellon University website.

Research Areas

The Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is involved in a wide range of research areas, including human-computer interaction, user experience design, and social computing. Faculty and students in the MHCI program are actively engaged in research projects, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in these fields.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the MHCI program have a wide range of career opportunities, including roles in user experience design, human-computer interaction research, and product development. Many graduates go on to work in top technology companies, while others pursue careers in academia or start their own companies.