• Research Experience for Undergraduates
HCI Graduate Program
1620 Howe Hall
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-2089
Follow @isuhci
• Virtual Reality Applications Center
• The HCI program is well represented in the list of award finalists announced by the Technology Association of Iowa. Faculty members Debra Satterfield and Eve Wurtele, PhD candidate Sondra Ashmore, and MS student Bethany Juhnke are all finalists.
posted: November 03, 2011
• The HCI Graduate Program will host their annual HCI Recruiting Open House on Friday, February 24, 2012 from 10 am to 5 pm in Howe Hall. Please contact Pam Shill if you would like to attend.
posted: November 01, 2011
• Meta!Blast wins Honorable Mention in the 2011 International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge sposored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
— Science: 02/03/2012
• Eve Syrkin Wurtele decided the best way to get the attention of the science-deprived, gamer generation is to take the information out of a textbook and put it in a medium that kids crave - video games. Eve and her team developed Meta!Blast.
— ISU News Service: 02/02/2012
• Claver Hategekimana, HCI PhD, Fall 2008, designs a solar kit to light African homes and brighten lives
— The Wenatchee World: 10/27/2011
• Iowa State alumna Daniela Faas has had an enthralling journey that began with a move from Germany to the US as a teen, beginning what she calls her own version of the “American Dream.”
— INNOVATEonline: 09/22/2011
Master of Science Degree Program
The MS in Human Computer Interaction is an interdisciplinary degree program. In addition to four core HCI graduate courses, students take electives from a wide variety of disciplines and write a thesis of their research for graduation. The program prepares students for a career in business or industry as well as for continuation of studies in a PhD program. Specific program requirements are outlined below.
MS Course Requirements
In order to earn an MS at Iowa State University, each student’s POS must include at least 30 graduate credits, but no more than 36 credits. At least 22 of the graduate credits must be earned at ISU.
MS students will be required to choose any four courses, 1 each from the Design, Implementation, Phenomena, and Evaluation categories. MS students will therefore be required to take a total of four courses from the core. In addition to these courses, MS students will be required to take two credits of the HCI 591 Seminar in HCI plus a minimum of 3 research credits.
Core Courses
-
[A grade of 'B'—3.0 GPA—or better is required.]
- HCI 521 — Cognitive Psychology of HCI
- ArtGR 672B — Graphic Design and Human Interaction: Design for Social Inclusion
- HCI 573X — User Interface Implementation for Web Application
- HCI 575 — Computational Perception
- HCI 574X — Computational Implementation and Prototyping
- CprE/ME 557 — Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling
- HCI 655 — Organizational and Social Implications of HCI
- HCI 589X — Design and Ethics
- ENGL/STAT 332 — Visual Communication of Quantitative Information
- HCI 504 — Evaluating Digital Learning Environments
- PSYCH 501X — Foundations of Behavioral Research
- STAT 480 — Statistical Computing Applications
Design
HCI 591 Seminar, 1 credit
Recommended Electives
- ArtIS 508 - Computer Aided Visualization - Implementation
- CI 503 - Theories of Designing Effective Learning and Teaching Environments - Design
- CI 511 - Technology Diffusion Leadership and Change - Phenomena
- HCI 520 - Computational Analysis of English - Implementation
- HCI 522 - Scientific Methods in HCI - Evaluation
- HCI 558 - Introducation to the 3D Visualization of Scientific Data - Implementation
- HCI 580X - Virtual Worlds and Applications - Implementation
- HCI 585X - Developmental Robotics - Implementation
- HCI 594 - Organizational Applications of Collaborative Technologies and Social Media
- HCI 595 - Visual Design for HCI - Design
- HCI 596 - Emerging Practices in Human Computer Interaction - Evaluation
- HCI 603 - Advanced Learning Environments Design - Implementation
- HCI 681X - Cognitive Engineering
- IE 577 - Human Factors
- ME/FLNG 584 - Technology, Globalization and Culture - Phenomena
- STAT 401 - Statistical Methods for Research Workers - Evaluation
Sample HCI Masters Curricula
Example 1 HCI 575 - Computational Perception HCI 655 - Organizational and Social Implications of Human Computer Interaction HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of HCI Stat 480 - Statistical Computing Applications HCI 580 - Virtual Worlds and Applications IE 577 - Human Factors ME 557 - Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling HCI 591 - Seminar in HCI, 2 Cr. HCI 699 - 7-9 Research credits, including thesis research Example 2 ArtGr 672B - Graphic Design and Human Interaction: Design for Social Inclusion HCI 589X - Design and Ethics HCI 520 - Computational Analysis of English HCI 574X - Computational Implementation & Prototyping in HCI CI 503 - Theories of Designing Effective Learning and Teaching Environments HCI 522 - Scientific Methods in HCI HCI 521 - Cognitive Psychology of HCI HCI 591 - Seminar in HCI [3 cr] HCI 699 - 6 Research credits, including thesis research Example 3 HCI 520 - Computational Analysis of English HCI 655 - Organizational and Social Implications of Human Computer Interaction HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of HCI HCI 504 - Managing and Evaluating Instructional Technology Programs MIS 533 - Data Management for Decision Makers MIS 534 - Electronic Commerce ME 584 - Technology, Globalization and Culture HCI 591 - HCI Seminar [2 cr] HCI 699 - 7 Research credits, including thesis research Example 4 HCI 574X - Computational Implementation & Prototyping in HCI HCI 589X - Design and Ethics ArtGr 672B - Graphic Design and Human Interaction: Design for Social Inclusion HCI 504 - Managing and Evaluating Instructional Technology Programs ArtGr 672A - Graphic Design and Human Interaction: Design for Social Inclusion HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of HCI Art Is 509 - Computer and Video Game Design and Development HCI 591 - HCI Seminar [2 cr] HCI 699 - 7 Research credits, including thesis research
Admission to the MS HCI Program
Admission into the HCI graduate degree program depends on a combination of your academic qualifications, area of interest, research specialties and the current research needs of the faculty. Evidence of creative talent, the ability to speak and write English clearly, and promise for a successful career are also important considerations for entry into the HCI Graduate program. Other admission requirements include
- Transcripts, test scores and other indicators that the student applicant can be successful at the graduate level
- 3.0 GPA.
- GRE for all international students.
- TOEFL score of 95 iBT or greater or IELTS of 7.0 or greater for nonnative English speakers.
- Demonstrated ability to write software competently. This requirement can be met during your course of study in the program.
In addition to the above requirements, the following conditions apply when reviewing your application for admission.
- Meeting or exceeding these guidelines does not guarantee admission.
- An HCI faculty member must agree to work with and support you as your major professor.
- Your complete file must be available for HCI faculty members to review. (See the faculty page to learn more about the diverse members of the HCI faculty.)
The MS Graduate Program Application Process
Using the resources found on this web site, determine which faculty members and related fields of study departments best match your interests. You will be asked to specify up to three faculty members on the pre-admission application.
- Fill out and submit the online HCI pre-admission form . No costs are associated with this step. (Please complete this pre-admission form and wait for notification from the HCI Graduate Program before applying to the Iowa State University Graduate College.)
- Send your resume to gradapp@hci.iastate.edu.
- Ask references to send their letters of reference to gradapp@hci.iastate.edu. A suggested template for letters of recommendation can be found at Applicant Recommendation Form. If you are invited to enter the HCI Graduate Program, apply to the ISU Graduate College to be formally admitted to the University. This is the time that you will pay your application fee and submit your official transcripts and test scores.
If you have any questions about the program, the university or any part of the process, contact Pam Shill at pshill@iastate.edu or hci@iastate.edu.
Deadlines
The application deadline for the Fall semester is January 15.
Faculty Notification and Review
After all of the pre-application materials are received, the three faculty members listed on the pre-application are notified of your application. If those faculty members are not able to admit you, the application package is made available to all HCI faculty. Students are admitted for the Fall semester. Our policy is to send email notifications to those not admitted by June 1 for the Fall semester.
If you need to know if you will be admitted before those deadlines, please contact Pam Shill at pshill@iastate.edu and she will update you on your admission status.
Checklist for Admissions
- Fill out the pre-admission form found here .
- Send resume to gradapp@hci.iastate.edu.
- Ask references to send their letters of reference to gradapp@hci.iastate.edu. A suggested template for letters of recommendation can be found at Applicant Recommentation Template.
If you believe that you can add value to this process by contacting the faculty member directly with additional information about yourself, please feel free to do so.
Contact Pam Shill at pshill@iastate.edu with questions about your admission status.