Worldwide Masters Programs in

HCI & IxD &

Created by Hezi Taniani hezitaniani.com

e mail: hezihezi@gmail.com

HCI: Human-Computer Interaction

IxD: Interaction Design

Generated reviews from Interaction Design Association

Photos by Robert Scales & Design Jam London

USA

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

• MS in Human-Computer Interaction:

Website: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/education/grad/ms-hci

• MS in Digital Media (MS in Information Design & Technology)

Website: http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/graduate/dmms/

Carnegie Mellon

• Program in HCI program (1 year)

Website: http://www.hcii.cmu.edu/

• Program in Interaction Design (2 years)

Website: http://www.design.cmu.edu/show_program.php?s=2&t=1

• Master of Tangible Interaction Design

Website: http://code.arc.cmu.edu/mTID/

University of Baltimore

• M.S. Interaction Design and Information Architecture

Website: http://iat.ubalt.edu/IDIA/

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT Media Lab)

• Master of Science - Program in Media Arts and Sciences (MAS)

Website: http://admissions.media.mit.edu/admissions/degrees-study

University Of Michigan

• Master of Science in Information (MSI), HCI Specialization

• Review: Faculty include George Furnas, Judy Olson, Gary Olson, and Paul Resnick. I found the program to be

strongest in UX research and collaboration/social software/online communities.

Website: http://si.umich.edu/msi/hci.htm

Cornell University

• HCI program

Website: http://www.hci.cornell.edu/

Indiana University - Bloomington, Indiana (IUB)

• Master in human-computer interaction Design

- requires 36 credit hours to graduate. Technically, you could do that in about 16 months if you took classes in

the summer.

Website: http://xavier.informatics.indiana.edu/gradsites/hcid/masters/

Indiana University - Indianapolis, Indiana (IUPUI)

• Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction

• Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction

Website: http://informatics.iupui.edu/hci/degrees.html

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

• MS in HCI

• Online HCI MS program

Website: http://www.hci.iastate.edu/Academics/ms.php

New York University – ITP

• The Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), Tisch School of the Arts (2 years).

• Review: It's a great program with an extremely diverse offering in terms of courses, faculty; the students are

almost 50% international. The program has evolved over time, & is constantly changing to keep pace with the

field. What I loved about ITP was, apart from some wonderful people I met, the chance to dabble with

different technologies: digital video, audio, physical computing, mobile, etc. ITP is strong on experimentation,

so if you like a less structured, playful approach to things, you'll like it here. That said, it pays to keep yourself

focused especially in the second year on career goals & appropriate courses & project work: the party does

end, & one may find one has been playing in the sandbox too long!

Website: http://itp.nyu.edu/itp/

Stanford, California

• MS Computer Science - Human Computer Interaction

• Review: Pretty flexible with elective units but requires Computer Science breadth (graphics, programming,

etc). You can waive out of the breadth with equivalent coursework. Especially good if you're interested in

ubiquitous computing.

Website: http://hci.stanford.edu/

University of Maryland

• Human-Computer Interaction Lab

Website: http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/

School of Visual Arts, New York

• The MFA in Interaction Design program trains students to research, analyze, prototype, and design concepts

in their business, social, and cultural contexts.

Website: http://interactiondesign.sva.edu/

University of California, Berkeley -iSchool

• Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS)

Website: http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/programs/masters

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY

• MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN-CENTERED COMPUTING (HCC)

Website: http://www.is.umbc.edu/programs/graduate/HCC_MS_program.asp

Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts

• MS in Human Factors in Information Design

• Review: It's more heavily weighted to the cognitive science side of IxD and understanding how we process

the world around us (sight, sound, touch), but there are also required applied courses in design, research and

testing. It also houses the Design and Usability Testing Center that provides testing services for corporations.

Joe Dumas, PhD who, with Ginny Redish, wrote the book *A Practical Guide to Usability Testing* teaches

there.

Website: http://www.bentley.edu/graduate/ms/mshfid_curriculum.cfm?crn=st_612

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) – Chicago

• Master of Information Technology and Management

Website:http://www.iit.edu/graduate_admission/programs/areas_of_study/info_tech_management.shtml

DePaul - Chicago

• MS in HCI.

- It is 13 courses, so more like two years if attending full time.

Website: http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/academics /Pages /MSinHuman -ComputerInteraction.aspx

Simon Fraser University's - School of Interactive arts and Technology

• Review: there is a great set of faculty and facilities that have combined for a great program. It's one of the

few undergrad Interaction Design programs (they also have MA and PHD options).

Website: http://www.siat.sfu.ca

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), NEW YORK

• Master degree in HCI (as well as a certificate, and it is at least to some degree doable remotely).

• Review: it is a very well-established and long-running program (must be 20 years, almost now, and in the

distance learning game, that means something), granting graduate degrees in many tough engineering fields as

well, with a rigorous video satellite model (or at least they did when I was there... the interactive satellite

courses with all the multiple cameras and course discussions did require sophisticated work site facilities, so

most attendees were at big companies, like GM, IBM, and so on).

• Website: www.rpi.edu

RICE UNIVERSITY

• Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in HCI & HF (Human Factors)

Website: http://psychology.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=94

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT OSWEGO

• Interdisciplinary Master's Degree Program in Human Computer Interaction

Website:http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/interdisciplinary/hci/in

dex.html

Michigan State University- MindLAB

• HCI program

Website: http://si.umich.edu/msi/hci.htm

Review: focusing on human-computer interaction, communication, and virtual environment

Website: http://www.mindlab.org

University of Washington

• MS program in Human Centered Design & Engineering

Website: http://www.hcde.washington.edu/

Florida International University

• Human Factors Program - Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering

• Review: It is housed in an Enterprise Systems Design program, so it focuses on designing big scale

interactions like social networks, e-business systems and the like. The interaction design in that kind of system

is much more interesting than what I have seen being done at a lot of other programs…And the other benefit is

that you get to live in sunny Miami!

• Website: http://www.ise.fiu.edu/ISE_HumanFactors.htm

University Of Colorado

• Boulder Digital Works (BDW)

• Program Ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYHv-aVCC2c

• Website: http://bdw.colorado.edu/

Virginia Tech's Center for HCI

- Website: http://www.hci.vt.edu/index.php

Canada

University Of Toronto

• Master of Information Website: http://www.ischool.utoronto.ca/

• The Interactive Media Lab (IML) Website: http://imedia.mie.utoronto.ca/IML/model/home.php

• KMD Collaborative Program (interaction between media, technology, design and society) Website: http://past.kmdi.utoronto.ca/

EUROPE

Sweden

Umeå Institute of Design (UID)

• Master in Advanced Product Design / Interaction Design / Transportation Design.

Review: They have a fully international master program in IxD which has a combination of studio

courses, and applied design projects .According to BusinessWeek's global list of top 200 design

programs 2006 ( http://bwnt.businessweek.com/dschools/2006/ ) UID is listed as one of only 33

listed schools outside of the US.

Website: http://www.dh.umu.se/default.asp?sida=94

• HumLAB - http://www.humlab.umu.se/english/

Malmö University - School of Arts and Communication

• Master degree in Interaction Design (2 years).

• Review: since 1998! - Studio-based, general emphasis on innovative concept development, use/

activity focus and user participation. First year provides intro to the scope of the field, with studio

themes such as Mobile computing, Physical computing, Mass media and interactive media, and

Digital gaming. In the second year, students specialize in a field of their choice and execute their

graduation projects. A couple of design-theoretical courses are included to enhance reflective and

communicative abilities. Admission once a year, applications in mid-April, studies start around the

end of August. 16 seats available, selection based on portfolio or design test. As with all Swedish

university education, there are no tuition fees.

Website: http://www.edu.mah.se/TIDPZ

Chalmers University of Technology

• Master in Interaction Design and technologies (2 years)

Website: http://www.chalmers.se/en/education/programmes/masters-info/Pages/Interaction-

Design-and-Technologies.aspx

Hyper Island

• A two-year university course focused on on-line related technologies, products, services and

businesses.

Website: http://www.hyperisland.se/

Finland

Aalto University, Helsinki

• Media LAB (MLAB)

- MA IN NEW MEDIA

- MA IN SOUND IN NEW MEDIA

Website: http://mlab.taik.fi/

Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki

• Innovation and Design Program

• Review: It's a mix between Business, Marketing and Design, including the Service Design part. When

I was there, the schedule was 3 full days per month, so that it could be done along a full-time job.

(There are good sides and bad sides to this approach). Oh, it's free, by the way : ) But you do have to

support your stay in Finland.

• Website: http://servicedesign.laurea.fi/mastersdegree.html

Denmark

COPENHAGEN institute of interaction design (CIID)

• Interaction Design Program

• Review: a collaborative initiative between CIID and The Danish Design School(DKDS).

Our aim is for students, faculty and staff to work together in a multi-cultural, multidisciplinary studio

environment to co-create a new kind of education that is relevant for academia and industry. After a

rigorous selection process, 21 students from all around the world have been chosen to participate in

a full-time, experimental version of a future Masters course in interaction design.

Website: http://ciid.dk/education

Netherlands

European Media Master of Arts (Emma Program) • Game Design and Development

• Interaction Design

• Digital Media Design

• Digital Video Design

• Image Synthesis and Computer Animation

• Sound and Music Production

• Sound and Music Technology

• ECompostion in Context

- Review: I did my MA there a couple years ago. Very creative faculty and a rewarding program. I'd

recommend it to those who are comfortable with self-directed study, as it's a lightly structured

program (taught in English, but very Dutch culturally) and is probably a better fit for those with a

running start on what they want to pursue academically.

Website: http://www.hku.nl/web/English/MastersProgrammes/EuropeanMediaMasterOfArts.htm

Delft University of Technology

• Master of Science Design for Interaction

Website: http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=b4c76e5e-3a59-4be9-a050-

c847d3a5fbb2&lang=en

• Master of Science Integrated Product Design

Website: http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=2515f356-b6b8-43dd-8787-

7a142d972092&lang=en

Design Academy Eindhoven

• Master in IM Design (Industrial, interior and identity design)

• Master in Man & Humanity

Website: http://www.designacademy.nl/indexnl.htm

United Kingdom

Royal College of Art (RCA)

• Interaction Design Program

Website: http://www.rca.ac.uk/Default.aspx?ContentID=161712&CategoryID=36692

University College London (UCL)

• MSc in HCI with Ergonomics

• Review: I completed my HCI degree in UCL and now I am a well-seasoned UX professional in the

industry. UCL (UCLIC) offers very solid theory / academic foundation, with the advantage of its

excellent Psychology department and Computer Science department. On the other hand, the

program at UCL was also very close to industry. During my time at UCLIC, I have had plenty of chances

to take part in usability testing, user centred design and rapid prototyping

Website: http://www.uclic.ucl.ac.uk/

City University London

- MSc in Human-Centred Systems

Review: I'm just finishing up my MSc in Human-Centered Systems from City University. It was a great

experience, and definitely a combination of theoretical and practical. I found that I learned as much from my

cohorts as I did from my professors. We were an eclectlc group, ranging from recent uni grads to people like

me with 10-20 years experience in the industry. The friendly push-pull between the academics and

practitioners was unexpected but very valuable to the experience.

Website: http://www.soi.city.ac.uk/pgcourses/hcs/index.html

MIddlesex University

• Interaction Design Center (IDC)

Website: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/computing_and_it/interaction_design_msc.aspx

The University Of York

• MSc in Human-Centred Interactive Technologies (HCIT)

- Review: I got both my undergrad and postgrad from York. It's an incredible University, a beautiful city and

the Dept. of Psychology and the Dept. of Computer Science are both world class. I would recommend them

without hesitation.

- Website: http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught-courses/msc-hcit/

Kingston University

• MA/MSc in User Experience Design

• MSc in User Interaction Design

• Review: interdisciplinary project across the faculties of Art, Design and Architecture, Arts and Social Sciences,

Computing, Information Systems and Maths and Science. It aims to bring together diverse and heterogenous

expertise and resources in digital media, providing a collaborative focus for the varied teaching, research and

enterprise activities currently taking place within the University.

• http://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/digital-media-institute-courses/

France

L'École de design Nantes

Master program in Tangible Interfaces / New Mobilities / Virtual reality

Website: http://www.lecolededesign.com/en/postgraduate-studies/masters-program-tangible-interfaces/

University Paul Sabatier & Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile

- Master in HCI

Website: http://www.masterihm.fr/

Spain

Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona

• Master in Cognitive Systems and Interactive Media

Website: http://www.iua.upf.edu/csim/

• Master Program in Information, Communication and Audiovisual Media Technologies (TICMA)

Website: http://www.upf.edu/ticma/index.html

Italy

The Domus Academy & Interaction Design Institute Ivrea

• Interaction Design Master courses.

• Review: IDI and Domus Academy unified their Interaction Design Master courses. During this year, the two

individual courses took place within Domus Academy in Milan. From January 2007 there will only be one

Interaction Design Master course that will sum up the know how and culture of the two prestigious

institutes.The new IDI and Domus Academy I-Design combined course, which started in January, is certified by

the University of Wales, and lasts 12 months carrying 180 credits. It will offer its students an innovative

experience in the didactic nature of this sector, unifying the best of the experience from both institutions to

reach the best results in theory and practice.

Website: http://www.domusacademy.com/eng/8/index.php?tmp=8&id=23

Germany

University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

• Interaction Design Lab (IDL)

Website: http://design.fh-potsdam.de/forschung/interaction-design-lab/interaktionsdesign.html

Belgium

Experience Design Lab, KHLim

• Website: http://www.experiencedesign.be/EN/index.php

Switzerland

Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)

MA Program in Interaction Design

Research area: Sonic Interaction Design / Finance and Banking Experience

Website: http://iad.zhdk.ch/en/ma-interaction

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

• Master in Interaction Design

Website: http://www.maind.supsi.ch/

Portugal

University of Madeira & Carnegie Mellon University program

• Master in HCI ( dual degree in 2 years)

Website: http://www.m-iti.org/mhci/application

Outside USA/Europe

Brazil

Universidade Positivo, Curitiba

• User-Centered Design Program

• The course brings the experience of designers and engineers of CESAR professionals / researchers from

Curitiba and brings a professional discuss for the area of interaction design and user experience. The path

chosen is the user-centered design, the same used by renowned companies such as IDEO, CESAR, Apple, Intel,

IBM, Nokia, Adaptive Path and many others.

Website: http://www.cesar.org.br/english/

Faber-Ludens Institute

Specialization Course on Interaction Design

Website: http://www.faberludens.com.br/?q=en/node/198

Korea

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (ID KAIST) - Master of Science

http://id.kaist.ac.kr/education.asp?ct=2&ln=en

Singapore

Nanyang Technological University

• Master of Arts In Interactive Design

Website:http://www.adm.ntu.edu.sg/ProspectiveADM/GraduateProgrammes/GraduateDegrees/Page

s/MasterofArtsinInteractiveDesign.aspx

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

• Master of Interaction Design

Website: http://www.sd.polyu.edu.hk/web/Postgraduate

China

Dalian Maritime University (SEUC program)

Master in usability engineering / HCI design

Website: http://www.usabilitychina.com/postgraduate_en.html

India

Indian institute of technology Bombay

• Interaction Design program

Website: http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/academics/interaction-design.html

Australia

The University of Sydney

Master in INTERACTION DESIGN AND ELECTRONIC ARTS (IDEA)

website: http://sydney.edu.au/architecture/programs_of_study/postgraduate/IDEA.shtml

The university of Queensland

Master of Interaction Design (MIDes)

website: http://www.uq.edu.au/study/program.html?acad_prog=5371

University of Technology Sydney

Master in Interactive Media and Learning (IML)

Website: http://mim.iml.uts.edu.au/index.html

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