The interdisciplinary Master of Science in Human - Computer Interaction (HCI) degree program is a cooperative effort of the School of Interactive Computing; the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture; and the School of Psychology. The program provides students with the practical, interdisciplinary skills and theoretical understanding they will need to become leaders in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the computer interfaces of the future.

The HCI master's degree is a four - semester program consisting of a total of thirty-six credit hours. Each student is required to complete a set of four core courses, a set of elective courses based on their academic background and interests, a set of area specialization courses based on the academic unit in which they reside, and a Master's project. The specific courses for each student will be determined by the HCI program coordinator in consultation with the academic unit. The area specialization courses are determined by the academic unit in which the student resides. The areas of specialization are: Computing; Digital Media (DM, through the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture); and Psychology.

Each student is required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average across credit hours used to fulfill degree requirements, a minimum grade of “B” in Fixed Core, Specialization, and Project credit hours, and a minimum grade of “C” in Elective credit hours.

Core Courses

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Students are expected to take CS8803-HCI and PSYC 6023 during the same semester.

A minimum grade of “B” is required in each of the Fixed Core classes.

Specializations:

Interactive Computing Specialization

A maximum of 3 hours of CS 8903 may count toward the Computing specialization.

A minimum grade of “B” is required in each of the Interactive Computing Specialization classes.

Digital Media (DM) Specialization

A maximum of 3 hours of LMC 8903 may count toward the Digital Media specialization.

A minimum grade of “B” is required in each of the Digital Media Specialization classes.

Industrial Design Specialization

A minimum grade of “B” is required in each of the Industrial Design Specialization classes.

Psychology Specialization

A minimum grade of “B” is required in each of the Psychology Specialization classes.

Electives Courses:

• 12 credit hours for Interactive Computing
• 9 credit hours for Digital Media
• 9 credit hours for Industrial Design
• 10 credit hours for Psychology

All Specialization courses may also be taken as part of the elective courses in each of the four areas of specialization. However, for the Interactive Computing track, at least 9 credits hours of the electives must be taken outside of the specialization. For the Psychology, Digital Media and Industrial Design tracks, at least 6 credit hours must be taken outside of selected specialization. A maximum of 3 credit hours of Special Problems in HCI (CS/ID/LMS/PSYC 8903) may count toward the elective courses.

A minimum grade of “C” is required in each of the Elective classes used to satisfy degree requirements.

Aerospace Engineering

Computer Science(NOTE: These courses are still approved electives, but they have been combined with the next section to create a single list of approved Computer Science courses).

International Affairs

Industrial Design

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Literature - Communication - and Culture (Digital Media)

Management of Technology (MOT)

Music

Psychology

Public Policy

Non-credit seminars

Various seminars can be used as one way to fill out your schedule if you are required to carry a full course load (12 credits), but they cannot be used as credit toward your degree. Some of the available seminars include:

CS 8001-AHS, Aware Home Seminar

CS 8001-ELC, Electronic Learning Communities Seminar

CS 8001-GVU, GVU Brown Bag

Research Project (6 credit hours)

(4 credit hours; 6 credit hours for students in the DM specialization)

Each student completes this requirement, under the supervision of a faculty member, typically during the last two semesters of their program. Students must submit a project proposal and a final report and present their work to program coordinators and other MS - HCI students late during the semester of graduation.

A minimum grade of “B” is required in the project course.

Seminar (2 credit hours as part of Fixed Core)

The MS-HCI professional preparation and practice course aims to prepare students for success in their studies and careers. It includes presentations by leading HCI practitioners concerning career choices and employment preparation and new developments in HCI-relevant domains, visits to corporate HCI labs in the Atlanta area, research presentations, skills tutorials, discussion of potential MS projects and "how to succeed" in graduate school and as a professional. Students take this seminar in the Fall semester of their first and second years of study.

A minimum grade of “B” is required in the seminar course.

Other expectations

All students are expected to complete a corporate internship in an HCI-relevant position between their second and third semesters.

Requirements

1. Evidence of award of a bachelor's degree, its equivalent, or higher degree (prior to matriculation) from a regionally accredited institution; demonstrated academic excellence; and evidence of experience with the selected field of graduate study.
2. For international applicants, satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 600 (paper based), or 100 (Internet based).
3. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended in your native language. Note that transcripts printed from your student account and degree audits or self-translated transcripts and transcripts from evaluation services (e.g., World Education Services or Josef Silny) aren't acceptable.
4. English translations of any transcripts submitted for review. If the institution won't provide a translated copy, translations done by a public translator (through your embassy or an apostille) will be accepted.
5. Native language degree documents, if awarded degree isn't noted on transcript(s).
6. English translations of degree documents submitted. If the institution won't provide a translated copy, translations done by a public translator (through your embassy or an apostille) will be accepted.
7. Official GRE/GMAT/TOEFL scores sent directly from ETS.

Recommended 

• Unofficial copy of GRE/GMAT/TOEFL score sheets.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.

Scholarships

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• President’s Fellowships ($5,500 per year)
• Institute Fellowships