Online Master of Science Degree Program

The Human Computer Interaction Graduate Program is pleased to announce the addition of an Online HCI MS degree program beginning with the Fall 2008 semester. This degree program was created from the growing demand from business and industry for a graduate degree program that provides education in the field of Human Computer Interaction.

Students in this program will take a total of 30 course credits, with nine of the credits coming from three core courses and three of these credits from a capstone course. Students will be required to come to campus to present the results of their capstone course.

Online MS Required Courses

Listed below are the core (required) courses for the HCI Graduate program. Additional courses may be added at the direction of the Program of Studies Committee. Sample curricula for the Masters program are shown below.

HCI 575 - Computational Perception
- or CprE/ME 557- Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling
- or HCI 574 - Computational Implementation and Prototyping
- or HCI 573X - User Interface Implementation for Web Application
HCI 655 - Organizational and Social Implications of HCI
- or HCI 589X - Design and Ethics
HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of Human Computer Interaction
HCI 598 - HCI Design, Implementation & Implications

Note: A grade of 'B' (3.0 GPA) or better is required for each of the core HCI courses.

Recommended Electives include, but are not limited to:

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
HCI 591 Seminar in HCI, 1 credit. (This course can be taken up to three times on the Program of Study.)

Course descriptions can also be found on the Engineering Online Learning website.

Sample HCI Online MS Curricula

Example 1:
*	HCI 575 - Computational Perception
*       HCI 655 - Organizational and Social Implications of Human Computer Interaction
*       HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of HCI
*       CprE/ME 557- Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling
*       HCI 580X - Virtual Environments, Virtual Worlds and Applications
*       HCI 596X - Emerging Practices in HCI
*       IE 577 - Human Factors
*       ME 584 - Technology, Globalization and Culture
*       HCI 585X - Developmental Robotics
*       HCI 598X - HCI Design, Implementation & Implications

Example 2:
* 	HCI 574X - Computational Implementation & Prototyping in HCI
*       HCI 655 - Organizational and Social Implications of Human Computer Interaction
*       HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of HCI
*       MIS 437 - Project Management
*       MIS 533 - Data management for Decision Makers
*       MIS 534 - Electronic Commerce
*       HCI 594X - Managerial Application of Collaborative Technologies and Social Media
*       HCI 596X - Emerging Practices in HCI
*       HCI 592 - Entrepreneurship Workshop, 1 credit
*       HCI 597X - Scientific Information Design, 2 credits
*       HCI 598X - HCI Design, Implementation & Implications

Example 3:
* 	HCI 574X - Computational Implementation & Prototyping in HCI
*       HCI 589X - Design and Ethics
*       HCI 521 - The Cognitive Psychology of HCI.
*       IE 681X - Cognitive Engineering
*       HCI 595X - Visual Design for HCI
*       HCI 596X - Emerging Practices in HCI
*       ME 584 - Technology Globalization and Culture
*       HCI 522 - Scientific Methods in HCI
*       IE 577 - Human Factors
*       HCI 598X - HCI Design, Implementation & Implications

Course Delivery

Courses are available online through Engineering Online Learning using streaming media over the web. The courses consist of recorded lectures delivered using streaming media technology as well as teacher-student interaction via chat-room, email, and phone conversations. More information about the streaming media technology used to deliver the courses is available on the Engineering Online Learning Support page.

Tuition and Fees for Online Courses

Students taking online courses are assessed in-state tuition plus a distance education fee and a computer fee. Additional information about tuition and fees can be found on the Engineering Online Learning tuition and fees page.

Admission to the Online HCI MS Program

The Online HCI MS program is most appropriate for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, business, or artistic discipline, who are pursuing a professional career, and who already have a strong base of information technology skills.

The program requires that admitted students have undergraduate degrees from an accredited university and have graduated with a GPA that places them in the upper half of their graduating class. Demonstrable programming skills will be required. A minimum TOFEL score of 240(CBT), 95(iBT), or 587(PBT) will be required of all non-native English speaking students. Candidates may be considered for admission by the HCI supervisory committee if they do not meet all these requirements but otherwise show outstanding potential. However, all students must meet the university’s minimum requirements for admission.

Other admission requirements for the Online HCI MS program include the following:

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.

The Online HCI MS Graduate Program Application Process

Fill out the Application for Graduate Admission to ISU form. Please mention somewhere on the form that you are interested in the HCI Online MS degree program.
Send the application, application fee, official transcripts, and official examination results, if required, to:
- The Office of Graduate Admissions
  Iowa State University
  100 Enrollment Services
  Ames, IA 50011
Send your resume, a statement of professional goals, a statement of software development proficiency, and three letters of recommendation electronically to Pam Shill, or by mail to:
- Attn: Pam Shill
  Human Computer Interaction Graduate Program
  Iowa State University
  1620 Howe Hall
  Ames, IA 50011