By taking core courses, working on a major design and development team project, and completing five electives, you will leave the program with a general background in HCI implementation, design, and analysis and evaluation sufficient to allow you to be an effective member of a multi-disciplinary development team. Advanced courses can provide depth in an area of your choice.
To earn the Master of Human-Computer Interaction degree, the following components are required:
3 Place-out Courses
Place-out Opportunities
Carnegie Mellon MHCI is a rigorous interdisciplinary program. Every student comes here with his or her own set of talents and skills. We would like to reward you for your prior hard work by giving you the opportunity to “Place out” of several of the required courses. Please take advantage of this opportunity. We feel strongly that this will allow you get the most out of your education here and give you more time to take the electives, independent studies or various other courses you may find of interest. If you choose not to take advantage of these place-out opportunities, then we cannot guarantee the completion of the program in 12 months.
Knowledge of Programming
Proficiency in a programming language such as C, programming methodology and style, problem analysis, program structure, algorithm analysis, data abstraction, and dynamic data. Normally met through an introductory course in programming in C, C++, Pascal or JAVA, that requires the student to write programs of about 300-lines of code from scratch. Equivalent course at CMU is 15-100 Introductory/Intermediate Programming.
Knowledge of Statistics
Basic concepts, logic, and issues involved in statistical reasoning, such as probability theory, methods for statistical inference, introductory research methods, exploratory data analysis, and the use of some statistical tests in the regression analysis and the contingency table families. Equivalent courses at CMU are 36-220 Engineering Statistics and Quality Control and 36-202 Statistical Methods.
Knowledge of Design
Familiarity with the visual and verbal vocabulary of graphic designers, with the design process, and with the communicative value of word and image. Often met through an introductory typography class. Equivalent course at CMU is Communication Design Fundamentals. Students may be admitted to the program before satisfying one or more prerequisites. Prerequisites may be completed at Carnegie Mellon after matriculation, but doing so may extend the length of the program. Students who take the Design prerequisite course, Communication Design Fundamentals, at Carnegie Mellon, may count this course as one of their 6 electives.
4 HCI core courses
All students are required to take the following 4 core courses:
05-600 HCI Pro Seminar Students will attend the HCII Seminar Series of talks by leaders in the field of Human-Computer Interaction, then meet to discuss these topics.
05-610 Intro to HCI Methods 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.
05-650 Basic Interaction Design What is visual interface design? An interface is the link between a product and its user. An interface needs to communicate how a product is to be used, and to create an experience for the people who will use it. In this course, we will explore issues that pertain to interface design, focusing on basic 2-dimensional design principles, information hierarchy and navigation, user-product interactions, and how these elements become part of a larger design process. Students will become proficient in basic design fundamentals as applied to the visual interface, including use of grid, typography, color and contrast, scale, ordering and hierarchy. In addition, students will develop a process for creating interface designs that can be reapplied in future contexts. Communication Design Fundamentals or the placement equivalent is a pre-requisite for this course.
05-630 Programming Usable Interfaces This course is a combination programming course and design studio. Students will learn how to use Visual Basic & Director, how to design and implement effective GUI interfaces, and how to perform rapid, effective iterative user tests. This course is intended for HCII masters students who come to CMU with only a minimal programming background. It is also appropriate for CMU HCI undergraduate "second majors" in HCII who have only had an introductory programming course. Students who were (or are) CS majors, CS minors, or who have any kind of substantial Computer Science background must take 05-631 instead of this course to fulfill the core requirement; however, they may take this course as one of their six electives. Because this course has a design studio component, class attendance is mandatory.
05-631 Software Architectures for User Interfaces This course is intended for those with advanced programming skills who want to do serious development of graphical user interfaces. This course includes: an introduction to task analysis and functional design of the user interface; basic principles of computer graphics used in UI implementation; event handling and event dispatching models; screen update algorithms and multi-view architectures; input syntax formalisms and their transformation into programs; interactive geometry; architectures for advanced features such as cut/copy/paste, macros and groupware. The student and the Program Director will jointly determine the choice of 05-630 or 05-631, based upon the student's previous programming experience.
05-671 HCI Project I (12-unit spring course) 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. The course number for spring is 05-671 and for summer 05-672. Please see the project pages for a list of previous projects and more information. Additionally, please see our brochure (PDF) describing the sponsorship process.
5 electives
You may use the five elective courses to tailor the program to your individual interests and background. You may choose to broaden your experience by sampling courses from a variety of application or technology areas, or you may choose to concentrate in a particular specialized area. This will enable you to be the leader or sole practitioner representing that specialty in a multi-disciplinary development group. Each elective course must be the equivalent of a full-semester (9 or 12 unit) course; two half-semester courses (6 units each) count as one elective. These courses must be different from any that you may have taken as part of the HCI core, and they cannot have counted toward a degree previously awarded by CMU. Electives must be individually approved by the Director of the Program, on a case-by-case basis for each student. Typically graduate courses and 300- and 400-level courses in many departments are eligible for consideration. Because the MHCI program provides an opportunity for students to expand their education into areas they may not have previously explored, it is possible that a 200-level course may be considered for students really broadening their horizons (e.g., a design major may want to take the sophomore-level Fundamentals of Computer Science, an intense 200-level course for CS majors; this 200-level course could be considered for approval given this student's educational background). 100 level courses are typically considered to be non-appropriate. Following is a list of courses that have been previously approved as electives for individuals in the HCI program, listed in various areas of specialization. Since course availability changes, and because new courses are introduced often, this is not a comprehensive list and students should discuss alternatives with the Director of the program.
Analysis and Evaluation/Behavioral Science
Following is a list of courses that have been available for consideration as electives in the past. This list will change as courses are added and deleted.
05-810 Computer-supported cooperative work
05-811 Cognitive modelling for HCI
05-813 Human factors
05-814 Perception
36-743 Statistical methods for the behavioral and social sciences
45-792 Human behavior in organizations
47-902 Seminar on organizational behavior
47-907 Research methods for behavioral science I
70-343 Interpersonal communication
76-791 Design and testing of documents
76-878 Working and writing in groups
85-211 Introduction to cognition
85-310 Research methods for cognitive psychology
85-408 Visual cognition
85-502 Real world applications of cognitive psychology
85-711 Cognitive processes of problem solving
85-712 Production system models of thought
85-713 Information processing of psychology and artificial intelligence
85-775 Cross-cultural psychology
88-260 Organizations
88-366 Social issues of computing
88-367 Computers in organizations
Design/Graphics/Fine Arts
Following is a list of courses that have been available for consideration as electives in the past. This list will change as courses are added and deleted.
05-831 Building virtual worlds
15-820 Media technology
15-863 Physically-based modeling
16-899 Robotic art studio
19-448 Science technology and ethics
39-649 Green engineering and design
51-211 Generation of form: Industrial design I
51-241 How people work
51-243 Prototyping
51-251 Digital prototyping
51-263 Industrial design fundamentals
51-265 Beginning photography
51-301 Seminar in HCI design
51-329 Designing identities
51-333 How people work things
51-335 Mapping and diagramming
51-336 Letterform design
51-341 How things are made
51-342 How people work with things
51-370 Information design
51-371 Learning to look: significant images
51-372 Contemporary design
51-442 Integrated product development
51-701 Graduate design seminar I
51-702 Graduate design seminar II
51-704 Issues in interaction
51-711 Graduate design studio I
51-712 Graduate design studio II
51-723 Time and motion communication
51-725 Interactive visual interfaces
51-732 Color and communication
51-742 Design technology research
51-773 Language in design
60-206 Contemporary visual culture
60-415 3D Animation
60-421 Gizmology
76-213 Culture communication and technology: Mapping the internet
76-321 Documenting the visual
76-791 Design and testing of documents
76-792 Integrating visual and verbal information
76-797 Research in document design: principles and application
76-887 On-line information design
88-371 Designing interactive multimedia
Implementation/Computer Science
Following is a list of courses that have been available for consideration as electives in the past. This list will change as courses are added and deleted.
05-810 Computer supported cooperative work
05-830 User interface software
05-835 Speech recognition and understanding
05-872 Rapid prototyping of computer systems
15-200 Data structures
15-211 Fundamental structures of computer science I
15-212 Fundamental structures of computer science II
15-229 Multimedia information processing
15-381 Artificial intelligence: Representation and problem solving
Following is a list of courses that have been available for consideration as electives in the past. This list will change as courses are added and deleted.
05-871 Dramatic structures of interactive games
15-860 Principles of audience interactivity
45-795 Oral management communications
45-877 Entrepreneurship
46-821 Internet marketing
70-451 Management information systems
76-374 Electronic media: Videogames and their influences
76-779 Technical communications for engineers
76-875 Writing in software engineering
76-879 Corporate marketing communications
76-881 Writing for multimedia
79-359 History of computing: Current controversies
90-751 Internet and the law
Sample Plans of StudyFull Time Study
The MHCI degree is designed to be earned in one year, August through August. Here is a sample full-time schedule:
Fall
Spring
Summer
05-600 HCI Pro Seminar 05-610 Intro to HCI Methods Elective 1 Elective 2 or 51-761 Com. Design Funds. (counting as Elective 2) 05-631 Software Architecture for User Interfaces or Elective 3
05-671 HCI Project I 05-650 Basic Interaction Design 05-630 Programming Usable Interfaces or Elective 3 Elective 4 Elective 5
05-672 HCI Project II
Part Time Study
Pittsburgh-area students may find it more convenient to complete the program on a part-time basis. By exercising this option, you will be able to tailor completion of the coursework to suit your needs. You will work with an advisor to set up an appropriate plan of study. Ideally students should be able to complete the degree within a period of two years by taking two courses per semester, including summers. During the summer HCI Project II course, students are expected to be enrolled as full-time students, and should make the appropriate arrangements with their employers. Part-time students must also be aware that all HCI core courses are held during the day, so it is not possible to complete the degree as a night student. The following is a sample part-time plan of study that keeps in mind required course sequences:
First Fall
First Spring
First Summer
51-761 CDF (counting as Elective 1) or Elective 105-631 Software Architecture for User Interfaces or Elective 2
