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MS in Human-Computer Interaction 
The Masters Program in Human-Computer Interaction provides students with skills and expertise for designing, prototyping and testing user interfaces and websites.
 

MS in Human-Computer Interaction 2009


The Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction at DePaul prepares students to design, implement, and evaluate computer interfaces so that they are accessible and easy for people to use. This interdisciplinary degree integrates concepts and methods from computer science, graphic design and the social sciences to provide a comprehensive understanding of the user-centered design process.


What Students Learn From This Program

  • Carry out the full user-centered design process
  • Conduct usability tests
  • Perform research on users and their tasks
  • Create the information architecture for a web site or complex application
  • Develop working prototypes of dynamic web sites.

Grade and GPA Requirements


Grades: Students must receive a grade of B- or better in each prerequisite course and a C- in all other course.

GPA: Students must maintain a graduate level GPA of 2.50 or higher while pursuing their degree. Students will not be approved for graduation with less than a 2.50 GPA. Students with a GPA of 3.90 or higher will graduate with distinction.


Program Requirements 2009 


This program has five phases, with each phase preparing the student for the subsequent phase. The master's degree program consists of:

  • Prerequisite Courses
  • Fundamental Courses
  • Core Courses
  • Advanced Phase Courses
  • Capstone Course
M.S. in Human Computer Interaction 2009
Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction 2009
Prerequisite Phase
The courses in the Prerequisite Phase for the MS in Human-Computer Interaction are listed below.
Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
√ √      IT 130 The Internet and the Web   Self Placement Test 
√ √      IT 223 Data Analysis   Self Placement Test 
√ √      IM 230 Scripting for Interactive Media   
√ √      or  IM 336 Interactive Media Scripting for Programmers   
√ √      IM 270 User-Centered Web Design   
√        HCI 402 Foundations of Digital Design   
 
By taking these courses and receiving a grade of a B- or better in each, the student will have completed the requirements of the Prerequisite Phase. All or part of the Prerequisite Phase may be waived if a student has the equivalent academic background. Alternatively, students with practical experience may complete a Graduate Assessment Examination (GAE) to show competency in a prerequisite. The student must submit an online Change of Status request when the Prerequisite Phase is completed to inform the Student Services offices that the block can be removed. The online request must be submitted two weeks before the student intends to register for graduate level classes. The student will then be considered a fully admitted student, and may pass to the Graduate Phase of the program. Students may submit the Change of Status request by logging in to MyCDM.

Fundamental Courses
Students should complete their Prerequisite courses before beginning the Fundamental courses. However, while completing the Prerequisite courses, students may take Fundamental courses with consent of their faculty advisor. The Fundamental courses for the MS in Human-Computer Interaction are:

Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
√ √      HCI 440 Usability Engineering   
√ √      HCI 450 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction   
√        HCI 470 Digital Page Formatting I   
 
Core Courses
Students must complete all Prerequisite courses and should complete all Fundamental courses before taking Core courses. The Core courses are:

Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
         HCI 430 Prototyping and Implementation   
         HCI 445 Inquiry Methods and Use Analysis   
√ √      HCI 460 Usability Evaluation Methods   
         HCI 454 Interaction Design   
 
Advanced Phase Courses
Students must complete four courses either from the HCI offering or from the courses listed below, plus one advisor-approved elective from the College of CDM. All advanced phase courses in CDM must be numbered 420 or higher.

The HCI offering includes:
Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
         HCI 422 Multimedia   
         HCI 432 User-Centered Web Development   
         HCI 511 Designing for Disabilities   
         HCI 530 Usability Issues for Handheld Devices   
         HCI 590 Topics in Human-Computer Interaction   
 
Non-HCI Advanced phase courses open to all HCI graduate students
Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
√ √      CSC 423 Data Analysis and Regression   
         CSC 424 Advanced Data Analysis   
         CSC 428 Data Analysis for Experimenters   
         CSC 449 Database Technologies   
√ √      CSC 451 Database Design   
         CSC 587 Cognitive Science   
         ECT 433 Survey of Web Programming Technologies   
√ √      ECT 455 E-Commerce Web Site Engineering   
         ECT 480 Intranets and Portals   
         ECT 586 Customer Relationship Management Technologies   
         IS 456 Knowledge Management Systems   
√ √      IS 511 Social Issues of Computing   
         IS 570 Enterprise System Implementation.   
         ITS 427 Learning and Technology   
         ITS 431 Instructional Delivery and Course Management Systems   
         ITS 560 Training and User Support   
√        IT 432 Web Architecture for Non-Programmers   
√ √      PM 430 Fundamentals of IT Project Management   
√ √      PM 440 Collaborative Technology for Leading Projects   
         PSY 402 Perceptual Processes   
√        PSY 404 Learning and Cognitive Processes   
         PSY 473 The Psychology of Judgment and Decision- Making   
√        PSY 557 Seminar in Learning and Cognitive Processes   
√        PSY 680 Industrial and Organizational Psychology   
√ √      SE 425 Principles and Practices of Software Engineering   
√ √      SE 477 Software and Systems Project Management   
         SE 482 Requirements Engineering   
 
Advanced phase courses open to students with programming experience
Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
√ √      SE 430 Object Oriented Modeling   
√        GPH 425 Survey of Computer Graphics   
         GPH 438 Computer Animation Survey   
 
Capstone Course
Offered Fall 
In classOnline 
         HCI 594 Human-Computer Interaction Capstone   
 
All courses in degree
 
  • CSC 423 Data Analysis and Regression
  • CSC 424 Advanced Data Analysis
  • CSC 428 Data Analysis for Experimenters
  • CSC 449 Database Technologies
  • CSC 451 Database Design
  • CSC 587 Cognitive Science
  • ECT 433 Survey of Web Programming Technologies
  • ECT 455 E-Commerce Web Site Engineering
  • ECT 480 Intranets and Portals
  • ECT 586 Customer Relationship Management Technologies
  • GPH 425 Survey of Computer Graphics
  • GPH 438 Computer Animation Survey
  • HCI 402 Foundations of Digital Design
  • HCI 422 Multimedia
  • HCI 430 Prototyping and Implementation
  • HCI 432 User-Centered Web Development
  • HCI 440 Usability Engineering
  • HCI 445 Inquiry Methods and Use Analysis
  • HCI 450 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
  • HCI 454 Interaction Design
  • HCI 460 Usability Evaluation Methods
  • HCI 470 Digital Page Formatting I
  • HCI 511 Designing for Disabilities
  • HCI 530 Usability Issues for Handheld Devices
  • HCI 590 Topics in Human-Computer Interaction
  • HCI 594 Human-Computer Interaction Capstone
  • IM 230 Scripting for Interactive Media
  • IM 270 User-Centered Web Design
  • IM 336 Interactive Media Scripting for Programmers
  • IS 456 Knowledge Management Systems
  • IS 511 Social Issues of Computing
  • IS 570 Enterprise System Implementation.
  • IT 130 The Internet and the Web
  • IT 223 Data Analysis
  • IT 432 Web Architecture for Non-Programmers
  • ITS 427 Learning and Technology
  • ITS 431 Instructional Delivery and Course Management Systems
  • ITS 560 Training and User Support
  • PM 430 Fundamentals of IT Project Management
  • PM 440 Collaborative Technology for Leading Projects
  • PSY 402 Perceptual Processes
  • PSY 404 Learning and Cognitive Processes
  • PSY 473 The Psychology of Judgment and Decision- Making
  • PSY 557 Seminar in Learning and Cognitive Processes
  • PSY 680 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • SE 425 Principles and Practices of Software Engineering
  • SE 430 Object Oriented Modeling
  • SE 477 Software and Systems Project Management
  • SE 482 Requirements Engineering
 
Career Options: 

Graduates of the HCI Masters Program conduct user research, organize web sites, design user interfaces, prototype consumer devices, run usability tests or perform various combinations of these activities.

Common job titles include:

  • Information Architect
  • Interaction Designer
  • Usability Engineer
  • User Interface Designer and
  • User Experience Designer 

DePaul University's College of Computing and Digital Media
243 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago IL. 60604 | (312)362-8381
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