This area of specialization within the MS in Applied Technology program prepares students to design, implement, and evaluate computer interfaces so that they are accessible and easy for people to use. This interdisciplinary specialization integrates concepts and methods from computer science, graphic design and the social sciences to provide a comprehensive understanding of the user-centered design process. The combination of coursework, liberal learning seminars, and independent workplace-based projects advance students’ capabilities to influence organizations and apply a repertoire of strategies and techniques to the user-centered design process, including usability assessment and testing, user task and preference analysis, information architecture, and construction of dynamic and function-driven web sites and other applications.
Introductory Courses
Introductory courses may be waived for any of the following conditions:
- The student has the appropriate course work to satisfy an Introductory Course.
- The student has appropriate and verified professional experience to satisfy an Introductory Course.
- The student passes a Graduate Assessment Examination (GAE) in the Introductory Course area.
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| HCI 402 | FOUNDATIONS OF DIGITAL DESIGN | 4 |
| HCI 406 | WEB SITE DESIGN FOR HCI | 4 |
| IT 403 | STATISTICS AND DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| IT 411 | SCRIPTING FOR INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS | 4 |
Foundation Courses
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| HCI 440 | INTRODUCTION TO USER-CENTERED DESIGN | 4 |
| HCI 445 | USER RESEARCH METHODS | 4 |
| HCI 454 | INTERACTION DESIGN AND INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE | 4 |
Advanced Courses
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| 12 |
| PROTOTYPING AND IMPLEMENTATION | |
| FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION | |
| USABILITY EVALUATION METHODS | |
| DIGITAL DESIGN | |
| ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN HCI | |