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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Master of Science Plan of Study

The M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction is a 36-credit-hour program that integrates computing, usability, interface design, the social sciences and other disciplines in the design and development of user-friendly technologies, software and information systems.

A thesis or applied research project is required to complete your degree.

Core (18 cr.)

  • INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
  • INFO I541 Interaction Design Practice (3 cr.)
  • INFO I561 Human-Computer Interaction Design II (3 cr.)
  • INFO I543 Usability and Evaluative Methods (3 cr.)
  • INFO I563 Psychology of HCI (3 cr.)
  • INFO I564 Prototyping for Interactive Systems (3 cr.)
  • INFO I680 HCI Professional Practice 1
  • INFO I681 HCI Professional Practice 2

Electives (12 cr.)

Informatics / Media Arts & Science

  • INFO I503 Social Impact of Information Technologies (3 cr.)
  • INFO I505 Informatics Project Management (3 cr.)
  • INFO I534 Seminar in Human Computer Interaction (1-3 cr.)
  • INFO I550 Legal and Business Issues in Informatics (3 cr.)
  • INFO I554 Independent Study in Human Computer Interaction (1-3 cr.)
  • INFO I575 Informatics Research Design (3 cr.)
  • INFO I590 Topics in Informatics (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N503 Digital Media Application Design Processes (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N510 Web-Database Concepts (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N501 Foundations of Digital Production (3 cr.)
  • NEWM N504 Advanced Interactive Design Applications (3 cr.)

Herron School of Art / Design Thinking & Methods*

  • HER V501 Intro to Design Thinking [Fall Wks 1-8 Seminar] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V502 Intro to Human Factors in Design [Fall Wks 1-8 Seminar] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V511 People-Centered Design Research [Fall Wks 1-8 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V521 Design Analysis [Fall Wks 9-16 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V531 Design Synthesis [Spring Wks 1-8 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER V541 Design Evaluation [Spring Wks 9-16 Methods] (1.5 cr.)
  • HER R511 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 1 [Fall] (3 cr.)
  • HER R512 Studio: Designing Integrated Experiences 2 [Spring] (6 cr.)

Note: Herron design courses are offered during the day. Full-time graduate students are encouraged to register for these courses as electives.

Library & Information Science

  • SLIS L505 Organization and Representation of Knowledge & Information (3 cr.)
  • SLIS L509 Introduction to Research and Statistics (3 cr.)
  • SLIS L545 Systems Analysis and Design (3 cr.)
  • SLIS L546 User-centered Database Design (3 cr.)
  • SLIS L571 Information Architecture for the Web (3 cr.)
  • SLIS L625 Information in the Social Sciences (3 cr.)

Social Sciences

  • PSY I643 Field Methods and Experiments (3 cr.)
  • SOC S551 Sociological Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • SOC S659 Qualitative Methods in Sociology (3 cr.)
  • ANTH E404 Field Methods in Ethnography (3 cr.)
  • X000 Courses from the social sciences: psychology, sociology, anthropology (3 cr.)

Computer Science

  • CSCI 507 Object-Oriented Design and Programming (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 550 Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 552 Advanced Graphics and Visualization (3 cr.)

Thesis/Applied Research Project (6 cr.)

  • INFO I680 Human-Computer Interaction Professional Practice 1 (3 cr.)
  • INFO I681 Human-Computer Interaction Professional Practice 2 (3 cr.)

Beginning Fall 2011 I680 and I681 are the required thesis courses. (Previous course INFO I694 Thesis/Project in Human-Computer Interaction)