Overview

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a fast growing field devoted to the design, implementation, and evaluation of interactive computer-based technology. Examples of HCI products include intelligent computer tutors, wearable computers, social networking sites, and internet-connected personal digital assistants (PDAs). Constructing an HCI product is a cyclic, iterative process that has at least three stages: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation.

The Design stage involves principles of design and human behavior, the Implementation stage principles of computer science, and the Evaluation stage empirical research methods common to several disciplines. There are thus four topical areas to cover in this major: Human Behavior, Design, Implementation, and Evaluation. In slightly more detail, the major involves the following sorts of knowledge and skill:

Design

  • Eliciting from the client, formulating, and articulating functional specifications
  • Knowing how human factors and cognitive models should inform design
  • Knowing the principles of, and having experience with, communication design
  • Understanding how implementation constraints should inform design
  • Incorporating evaluation results into iterated designs

Implementation Programming Skills

  • Standard programming languages - e.g., C++, Java
  • Rapid prototyping skills
  • Computational literacy, i.e., knowledge sufficient for effective communication and decision making about:
    • interface construction tools and languages
    • multimedia authoring tools
    • data structures and algorithms
    • operating systems, platforms, etc.

Evaluation

  • Experimental design
  • Focus groups
  • Surveys
  • Usability testing (Cognitive walkthroughs, user models, heuristic evaluation, GOMS)
  • Statistical analysis

There are over 45 courses relevant to these areas that are now offered by eight different departments in four different colleges at Carnegie Mellon (School of Computer Science, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Fine Arts, and Tepper School of Business).

 

About the Additional Major

The Additional Major in Interdisciplinary Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is available to current undergraduate students from any CMU college. Students maintain their primary major, and by adding an additional major in HCI, can explore multiple areas of study during their time at CMU. Applications to the additional major are processed once a year, in the spring semesters. Learn more about our Additional Major in Interdisciplinary HCI admissions process.
 

Curriculum

Curriculum requirements for the Additional Major in Interdisciplinary Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)  are available via the CMU Course Catalog.

Note: Beginning in spring 2025, 05-430: Programming Usable Interfaces (PUI) will not be offered by the HCII department. This class will likely be permanently retired. The new requirement for HCI additional major students in the “programming”/”technical HCI” category is one of the following:

 

Accelerated Master's Program (AMHCI)

The HCII currently offers a three semester (12-month), 15 course Masters in HCI. Undergraduates currently enrolled in the HCI major may apply for the Accelerated Masters in HCI program in the fall semester of their senior year. If admitted, students finish the masters degree the following fall semester.