Introduction

In this concentration, students learn techniques, processes, principles, and theory of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This interdisciplinary field aims at understanding how interactions with digital technologies and services can augment what humans do. It also aims at understanding what design, prototyping, and evaluation processes lead to innovative digital technologies and services that fulfill human needs. The concentration enhances what is learned in the SCS majors by addressing how digital products and services can be designed and evaluated so they benefit individuals, small groups, organizations, larger networks, and societies. It is synergistic with SCS majors in that envisioning, designing, and implementing innovative digital interactions benefit from superior technical skill. The concentration consists of 5 courses (2 required courses and 3 electives).

The concentration helps prepare students for jobs as technically skilled specialists in design and development of interactive systems. The concentration will give students a broader perspective on how technologies impact humans, which may help them move faster into product management positions. It also lays a foundation for graduate study in the field of Human-Computer Interaction.
 

Course Requirements

New HCI Concentration Curriculum (Effective Fall 2025)

Prerequisites

  • 15-122: Principles of Imperative Computation
  • 15-150: Principles of Functional Programming

5 Required Courses

Two Required Courses

  • Select One From:
    • 05-391: Designing Human-Centered Software
    • 05-380: Prototyping Algorithmic Experiences
    • 05-431: Software Structures for User Interfaces

Students who completed 05-180 (Introduction to HCI) in spring 2025 or later should register for 05-380 or 05-431

  • Select One From:
    • 05-360: Interaction Design Fundamentals
    • 05-315: Persuasive Design
    • 05-317: Design of Artificial Intelligence Products
    • 05-362: Transformational Game Design Studio
    • 05-418: Design Educational Games
    • 05-452: Service Design
    • 05-470: Digital Service Innovation

 

Three Electives: at least one technical, at least two 05-xxx courses

  1. At least one of the electives must have strong technical content and must be selected from the following list:
    • 05-318: Human-AI Interaction
    • 05-333: Gadgets, Sensors and Activity Recognition in HCI
    • 05-434: Machine Learning in Practice
    • 05-499: HCII Special Topics
    • 05-839: Interactive Data Science
    • 15-464: Technical Animation
    • 15-466: Computer Game Programming
    • 15-494: Cognitive Robotics: The Future of Robot Toys
    • 16-467: Introduction to Human Robot Interaction
    • 17-422: Building User-Focused Sensing Systems
    • 17-428: Machine Learning and Sensing
    • 17-437: Web Application Development
    • 17-537: Artificial Intelligence Methods for Social Good
    • Other courses as approved by the concentration director
       
  2. The remaining two electives must be courses in HCI offered by the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, meaning they have an 05 prefix number, or be included in this pre-approved list of electives. 
     
  3. Of the three HCI elective classes, at least two must be 05-xxx courses.
     

Double Counting: At most 2 courses can be double counted with any major, minor or other concentration being pursued by the student. 
 

Concentration Form

To request approval to add or drop the HCI Concentration, please contact Amelia Baisley, academic program manager, via email.
 

Learning Objectives 

Students will learn skills and methods for:

  • Eliciting and understanding human objectives, preferences, and needs through qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis
  • Generating and imagining possible solutions and design concepts that involve human/technology partnerships
  • Basic visual design, including typography, grids, color and the use of images
  • Design of interactive systems, experiences, and technologies
  • Developing and evaluating interactive prototypes as a way of iteratively refining designs
  • Evaluating interactive technologies to assess and improve their functioning through data-driven redesign, including discount and empirical evaluation methods

Students will also learn about:

  • Digital technologies, such as: web and mobile platforms, conversational technologies, wearable computing, gadgets, digital fabrication, virtual reality and mixed reality
  • Human psychology, regarding individuals, groups, organizations, societies, and cultures, as it relates to interactions with digital products and services