Program Overview

Program Overview

The Human-Computer Interaction Institute offers various programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as research opportunities.

Undergraduate Programs

B.S. in HCI

• Admissions: The B.S. in HCI program is designed for students interested in human-computer interaction.
• Curriculum: The curriculum includes a range of courses in human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.

Additional Major in HCI

• Admissions: The Additional Major in HCI is available to students who want to pursue a second major in human-computer interaction.
• Curriculum: The curriculum includes a range of courses in human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.

Minor in HCI

• Admissions: The Minor in HCI is available to students who want to pursue a minor in human-computer interaction.
• Curriculum: The curriculum includes a range of courses in human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.

HCI Concentration

• Description: The HCI Concentration is available to students who want to pursue a concentration in human-computer interaction.
• Curriculum: The curriculum includes a range of courses in human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.

Graduate Programs

MHCI

• Curriculum: The MHCI program includes a range of courses in human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.
• Electives: Students can choose from a range of elective courses in human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.
• Sample Study Plans: Sample study plans are available to help students plan their course of study.
• Capstone Project: The capstone project is a required component of the MHCI program.
• Admissions: Admissions requirements for the MHCI program include a bachelor's degree and a strong interest in human-computer interaction.
• Tuition & Financial Aid: Tuition and financial aid information is available for students who are interested in pursuing the MHCI program.
• MHCI FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the MHCI program are available to help students learn more about the program.

METALS

• Description: The METALS program is a graduate program that focuses on human-computer interaction and design.

Ph.D. in HCI

• Admissions: Admissions requirements for the Ph.D. in HCI program include a master's degree and a strong interest in human-computer interaction.
• Emphasis Areas: The Ph.D. in HCI program offers a range of emphasis areas, including human-computer interaction, design, and computer science.
• Ph.D. FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Ph.D. in HCI program are available to help students learn more about the program.
• Program Requirements: Program requirements for the Ph.D. in HCI program include a range of courses and a dissertation.
• Resources for Current Ph.D. Students: Resources are available to support current Ph.D. students in the HCI program.

Research

Doing Research With Us

• Description: The Human-Computer Interaction Institute offers opportunities for students to engage in research projects.
• Faculty Projects: Faculty members in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute are involved in a range of research projects.
• MHCI Capstone Projects: MHCI students are required to complete a capstone project as part of their program.
• Affiliated Faculty Projects: Affiliated faculty members in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute are involved in a range of research projects.
• Archived Projects: Archived research projects are available to provide information about past research initiatives.
• Technical Report Collection: A collection of technical reports is available to provide information about research projects.
• Summer Research Program: The Summer Research Program offers students the opportunity to engage in research projects during the summer.
  • Application: The application process for the Summer Research Program is available to students who are interested in participating.
  • FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Summer Research Program are available to help students learn more about the program.
  • Research Projects: Research projects are available to students who participate in the Summer Research Program.
  • Your Summer at a Glance: Information is available to provide an overview of what students can expect during the Summer Research Program.

Interaction Design Fundamentals

Course Information

Course Number

• HCI Undergraduate: 05-360
• HCI Graduate: 05-660

Program Requirement

• This is a required course for MHCI, METALS, and BS in HCI programs.

Course Description

• Interaction Design Fundamentals introduces the human-centered design process and fundamental interaction design principles, methods, and practices.
• The course is designed for students who may only enroll in one interaction design course and those who intend to build upon their HCI learning by taking advanced interaction design courses.
• Students must work effectively as individuals and in small teams to learn interaction design concepts and apply them to real-world problems.

Course Objectives

• Apply appropriate interaction design methods in a human-centered design process.
• Create persuasive interim and final design artifacts that demonstrate communication design fundamentals.
• Facilitate productive and structured critique across the class and with instructors.
• Explain and apply fundamental interaction design principles.
• Create clarity and readability in artifacts, including GUIs and deliverables, through the disciplined application of visual design principles such as typography, color, and composition.
• Practice reframing a given problem in order to create opportunities that drive generating multiple solutions.
• Demonstrate habits that foster the creative process, including drawing, divergent thinking, and creative experimentation.
• Identify and explore interaction design materials.

Semester Offered and Units

• Semester: Fall and Spring
• Undergraduate: 12 units
• Graduate: 12 units

Skills

• Prerequisite knowledge: Deep interest in understanding the human-centered design process.
• Abiding curiosity about how interaction designers find problems that are worth solving and solve them through the expert application of interaction design methods and principles.
• A desire to learn how to communicate about interaction design through critique and design review as well as presentations.
• Students with experience in psychology, social sciences, design, software development, product management, product innovation, and other related fields are appropriate for Interaction Design Fundamentals.
• Only the desire to continuously produce design work is required for this class.
• No coding or prior tool operation knowledge is required for this class.

Note

• This course serves as a prerequisite for Advanced Interaction Design (05-361/05-661).
• Students who are required to take this course have priority and will be enrolled first.
• No coding is required.
• Note for Fall 2023: This course name is now "Interaction Design Fundamentals" and was updated from "Interaction Design for HCI".