      HOME > Programs :: Undergraduate | Graduate | Distance Ed. | Certificates | Financial Aid | Job Placement |
|
|
 |
Graduate Programs M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
The integration of computer systems and the Internet into the working world and home life have highlighted the need for professionals who can design human-computer interfaces that allow people to work intuitively in a wider range of contexts than ever before. The M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) combines coursework in human-computer interaction with theory in allied areas such as technical communication, information design, and cognitive science, to help the next generation of designers and researchers meet the challenges these new contexts present. Rensselaer's approach to human-computer interaction differs from other HCI programs by being centered in communication rather than computer science. While the program will provide HCI implementation skills, the focus is on understanding and addressing basic problems in human-technology interaction, including the support of social interaction. Students will learn about cutting edge areas of HCI research through advanced seminars. They will leave the program with a portfolio-ready final project that demonstrates the integration of the skills they've acquired in the program. Our graduates are prepared to work as information architects, usability engineers, interface designers, or webmasters, depending on the specific course selections students make.
Download a guide about the M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction:  Master's Program Guide (.pdf, revised 09.14.2007)To learn more about the M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction at Rensselaer, use our automated Inquiry Wizard. You can request further information be delivered to you as email attachments or by postal mail. You can also use the inquiry system to send an email directly to Kathy Colman, LL&C Recruitment Coordinator. Degree Requirements
Many students attending full-time on campus are able to complete the course requirements in a single academic year. The courses in this area are regularly offered by distance education delivery, making it an attractive program for employees in corporations. Students who will be completing courses by distance education delivery should consult Rensselaer's Education for Working Professionals website. Since distance students will be taking courses part-time, they will need more than one academic year to complete the degree.
Students may apply for a waiver for one of the above requirements and may substitute with the following:
You may wish to refer to this course rotation grid while developing your personal plan of study. The grid is also available as a portable document: Course Rotation (.pdf, revised 09.22.2006)
Stacy A. Newman ECM Visual Design, User Experience Team IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory "RPI's program stands out from the majority of HCI programs currently offered across the country. It is one of a handful of forward-looking programs that puts communication at the center of their vision and curricula. The program weaves together a solid base in the theory and practice of technical and professional communications, rhetoric, visual communication, design, and media and perception studies, and it merges it with other relevant disciplines, such as cognitive psychology, computer science, instructional technology, and graphic design." Dr. Barbara Mirel Research Scientist, School of Information University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
