Human-Computer Interaction

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 34.1 k / Year(s) Deadline: Feb 1, 2025
38 place StudyQA ranking:4059 Duration:2 years

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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.

Course of Study
Specializations Fixed Core Credit Hours Specialization Credit Hours Elective Credit Hours Project Credit Hours
Interactive Computing 9 9 12 6
Digital Media 9 12 9 6
Industrial Design 9 12 9 6
Psychology 9 10 11 6

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

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Core Courses 9

CS 8803

HCI,Human-Computer Interaction

 

PSYC 6023

Psyc Res Methods for HCI  

CS/LMC/PSYC 6753

HCI Prof Prep & Practice (one credit hour Fall of first year and one credit hour Fall of second year)  

.

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

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Software  
Select 3 credit hours from the following: 3

CS 6300

Software Dev Process  

CS 6452

Prototyping Interact Sys  

CS 6456

Principles-UI Software  

CS 7470

Ubiquitous Computing  

CS 8803

MAS,Mobile Apps and Services

 
Design-Evaluation-and Cognitive Modeling  
Select 6 credit hours from the following: 6

CS 6010

Principles of Design  

CS 6150

Computing for Good

 

CS 6451

Human-Centered Computing  

CS 6455

User Interface Dsgn&Eval  

CS 6460

Educ Tech-Foundations  

CS 6465

Computational Journalism  

CS 6470

Online Communities  

CS 6474

Social Computing  

CS 6770

Mixed Reality Design  

or LMC 6340

Reality Experience Desi

CS 6763

Design of Environments  

CS 6795

Intro-Cognitive Science  

CS 7450

Inform Visualization  

CS 7460

Collaborative Computing  

CS 7465

Edu Tech-Design and Eval  

CS 7632

Game AI  

CS 7633

Human-Robot Interaction  

CS 7790

Cognitive Modeling  

or PSYC 7790

Cognitive Modeling

CS 8803

Design Games

 

CS 8803

HEF,Healthcare Informatics

 

CS 8803

HAR,Handheld Augmented Reality Game Studio

 

CS 8803

Introduction to Bio Informatics

 

CS 8803

Visual Data Analytics

 

CS 8803

CC,Computational Creativity

 

CS 8803

Technology & Poverty

 

INTA 8803

Technology & Poverty

 

CS 8803

HI, Personal Health Informatics

 

CS 8803

PCB,Ubiquitous Computing & Human Behavior

 

CS 8903

Special Problems ( Special Problems (variable hours))  
Total Credit Hours 9

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

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
   
Select one of the following- preferably taken in the first year of study: 3

LMC 6650

Project Studio  

LMC 6310

The Computer Expressive  

LMC 6313

Prin of Interaction Desi  

LMC 6399

Discovery & Invention  

LMC 8903

Special Problems in HCI  
LMC 6000- or 8000-level courses 9
Total Credit Hours 12

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

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Required:  
ID 6100 Intro to ID Grad Studies 3
ID 6101 Human Centered Design 3
ID 6401 Visualizing Interaction 3
Select one of the following: 3

ID 6214

Strategic Design Language  

ID 6215

Service Design  

ID 6271

Healthcare Des of Future  

ID 6420

Advanced Sketching  

ID 6509

Comp Creativity Des Cogn  

ID 6510

Design for Interaction  

ID 6515

Interface Prototyping  

ID 6763

Design Interactv Environ  

ID 6800

Adv Universal Design  

ID 6820

Web Usability & Access  
Total Credit Hours 12

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

Psychology Specialization

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Required  
PSYC 6022 Psyc Stat for HCI (Fall or Spring) 4
PSYC 7101 Engineering Psy I 3
Select 3 credit hours from the following: 3

PSYC 6011

Cognitive Psychology  

PSYC 6012

Social Psychology  

PSYC 6014

Sensation & Perception  

PSYC 6041

Topics in Cog Aging  
Total Credit Hours 10

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

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
AE 6551 Cognitive Engineering 3
AE 6721 Eval Human Integ Systems 3

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).

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
CS 6010 Principles of Design 3
CS 6150 Computing for Good 3
CS 6300 Software Dev Process 3
CS 6451 Human-Centered Computing 3
CS 6452 Prototyping Interact Sys 3
CS 6455 User Interface Dsgn&Eval 3
CS 6456 Principles-UI Software 3
CS 6457 Video Game Design 3
CS 6460 Educ Tech-Foundations 3
CS 6465 Computational Journalism 3
CS 6470 Online Communities 3
CS 6474 Social Computing 3
CS 6770 Mixed Reality Design 3
or LMC 6340 Reality Experience Desi
CS 6795 Intro-Cognitive Science 3
CS 7450 Inform Visualization 3
CS 7460 Collaborative Computing 3
CS 7465 Edu Tech-Design and Eval 3
CS 7470 Ubiquitous Computing 3
CS 7610 Modeling and Design 3
CS 7632 Game AI 3
CS 7633 Human-Robot Interaction 3
CS 7790 Cognitive Modeling 4
or PSYC 7790 Cognitive Modeling
CS 8803:ANI,Animal Interaction 3
CS 8803 DG, Design Games 3
CS 8803 HEF,Healthcare Informatics 3
CS 8803 HAR,Handheld Augmented Reality Game Studio 3
CS 8803 IBI,Introduction to Bio Informatics 3
CS 8803 MAS,Mobile Apps and Services 3
CS 8803 Adaptive Personalize Information Environments Interaction 3
CS 8803 VDA,Visual Data Analytics 3
CS 8903 Special Problems 1-21
CS 8803 CC,Computational Creativity 3
CS 8803 TD,Technology & Poverty 3
INTA 8803 TD,Technology & Poverty 3
CS 8803 HI,Personal Health Informatics 3
CS 8803 PCB,Ubiquitous Computing & Human Behavior 3

International Affairs

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
INTA 8803 Computers, Communications, and International Development 3

Industrial Design

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
ID 6100 Intro to ID Grad Studies 3
ID 6101 Human Centered Design 3
ID 6200 Graduate Studio I 6
ID 6214 Strategic Design Language 3
ID 6215 Service Design 3
ID 6401 Visualizing Interaction 3
ID 6510 Design for Interaction 3
ID 6515 Interface Prototyping 3
ID 6420 Advanced Sketching 3
ID 6271 Healthcare Des of Future 3
ID 6763 Design Interactv Environ 3
ID 6820 Web Usability & Access 3
ID 8903 Special Problems in Human-Computer Interaction 3

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
ISYE 6413 Dsgn & Analy-Experiments 3
ISYE 6414 Regression Analysis 3
ISYE 6739 Statistical Methods 3
ISYE 6772 Mgt Resources-Tech Firms 3
ISYE 7210 Real-Time Interact Sim 3

Literature - Communication - and Culture (Digital Media)

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
LMC 6215 Issues in Media Studies 3
LMC 6310 The Computer Expressive 3
LMC 6311 Visual Culture and Desi 3
LMC 6312 Dsgn Tech & Representati 3
LMC 6313 Prin of Interaction Desi 3
LMC 6314 Design of Networked Medi 3
LMC 6315 Produc Production 3
LMC 6316 Historical Approahces Di 3
LMC 6317 Interactive Fiction 3
LMC 6318 Experimental Media 3
LMC 6319 Intellectual Property 3
LMC 6325 Game Design and Analysis 3
LMC 6399 Discovery & Invention 3
LMC 6650 Project Studio 3
LMC 8000 Media Theory 3
LMC 8001 Digital Media Studies 3
LMC 8903 Special Problems in HCI 3

Management of Technology (MOT)

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
MGT 6056 Electronic Commerce 3
MGT 6057 Bus Process Analy&Design 3
MGT 6059 Emerging Technologies 3
MGT 6086 Entrep Financ&Pvt Equity 3
MGT 6111 Innov&Entrepreneur Behav 3
MGT 6165 Venture Creation 3
MGT 6326 Collaborative Prod Dev 3
MGT 6359 Bus Str Sustainability 3
MGT 6450 Project Management 3
MGT 6772 Mgt Resources-Tech Firms 3
MGT 6799 Legal Issues-Tech Transf 3
or ME 6799 Legal Issues-Tech Transf
MGT 6789 Technology Ventures 3
or ME 6789 Technology Ventures
or CHBE 6789 Technology Ventures
or BMED 6789 Technology Ventures
MGT 8803 Big Data Analytics in Business 3

Music

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
MUSI 6001 Mus Perception&Cognition 3
MUSI 6002 Interactive Music 3
MUSI 6003 Mus Tech Hist&Repertoire 3
MUSI 6004 Technology Ensemble 3
MUSI 6103 Music Recording & Mixing 3
MUSI 6203 Proj Studio-Music Tech 3
MUSI 7100 Music Tech Research Lab 3

Psychology

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
PSYC 6011 Cognitive Psychology 3
PSYC 6012 Social Psychology 3
PSYC 6014 Sensation & Perception 3
PSYC 6022 Psyc Stat for HCI 4
PSYC 6041 Topics in Cog Aging 1
PSYC 7101 Engineering Psy I 3
PSYC 7102 Engineering Psy II 3
PSYC 7104 Psychomotor & Cog Skill 3
PSYC 8903 Special Problems in HCI 3

Public Policy

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
PUBP 6111 Internet & Public Policy 3
PUBP 6401 Sci,Tech & Public Policy 3

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.

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Select one of the folloiwng: 4-6

CS 6998

HCI Master's Project 1  

LMC 6998

HCI Master's Project 1  

PSYC 6998

HCI Master's Project 1  
Total Credit Hours 4-6
1

 repeatable; variable semester hours

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.

Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
CS 6753 HCI Prof Prep & Practice 1 1
LMC 6753 HCI Prof Prep & Practice 1 1
PSYC 6753 HCI Prof Prep & Practice 1 1
1

 may be repeated for credit once

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 
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