• Research Experience for Undergraduates
HCI Graduate Program
1620 Howe Hall
Ames, IA 50010
515-294-2089
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HCI FAQ
What are the application deadlines for the HCI Graduate Certificate program?
Answer: Applications to the HCI Graduate Certificate program are accepted throughout the year. There are no application deadlines for this program.
Should I send any pre-application materials to you in the mail?
Answer: We prefer to receive your pre-application materials electronically by email, but we will also accept application materials through the mail. It is not necessary to send them both by email and in the mail.
What is the eportfolio that is required for admission to the PhD program?
Answer: The eportfolio is an electronic collection of documents that demonstrates your potential for research. Most eportfolios are contained on a website, though we will also accept a cd with these electronic files, as well. Your eportfolio should include documents to demonstrate your potential for research. You might want to include any research projects that you have been part of in the past. Or you might include a problem that you encountered on the job that you used creativity to solve. Some students include examples of code that they created, as well. You may also want to include any writing samples or publications you may have had and any papers or posters from any conferences you may have attended and presented at. Any information that you can include that will supplement your other application materials will be helpful.
Is the GRE required?
Answer: The GRE is required of students who have earned their undergraduate degree from an international institution only. It is not required of students who have earned their undergraduate degree from a US institution.
Must I have an MS degree before I apply to the PhD program?
Answer: It is not required that students have an MS degree before they apply to the PhD program.
Can I transfer credits into your program from another institution?
Answer: At the discretion of the POS committee, and with the approval of the program and the Graduate College, graduate credits earned as a graduate student at another institution or through a distance education program offered by another institution may be transferred if the grade was B or better. A maximum of 8 credits may be transferred into an MS program. A maximum of 36 credits may be transferred into a PhD program.
How much time does it take to complete the programs?
Answer: It typically takes a traditional student 2 years to complete the MS program and an additional 3 years to complete the PhD.
What type of programming is required for admission to the program?
Answer: Students are required to have the demonstrated ability to write software competently. These skills will be put to use in the required course HCI 575X Computational Perception. The instructor recommends that C/C++ is used in the course but also gives tutorials on the use of Matlab. It is helpful for students to have some knowledge of a programming language to be successful in this course. Student who did not have a programming background have taken Com S 207 Programming I, which is a Java course or ComS 229 Advanced Programming Techniques, which is a C++ course. We have also had students take an introduction to programming course online before they take HCI 575X.
Can I still apply to the program if I do not have programming skills?
Answer: Students may still apply to the program if they do not have programming skills. Students will be expected to take an introduction to programming course before they take the required course HCI 575X, Computational Perception. We recommend that students take either Com S 207 Programming I, which is a Java course or ComS 229 Advanced Programming Techniques, which is a C++ course or an introduction to programming course that is found online or at a community college in their area.
Is there an online MS program?
Answer: At this time, we do not have an official online MS degree program. If a student can take all of their courses online, can do their research remotely, and find a faculty member who is willing to support them programmatically by serving as their major professor, it is possible to earn your MS from a distance.
What do HCI students typically do after graduation?
Answer: Our graduates have taken positions across the country as a usability engineer, software engineer, GIS Modeler, IT operations manager, game programmer, web developer, product engineer, program manager, and an assistant professor. Some of the companies that have hired our graduates include Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Rockwell Collins, John Deere, Saint Jude Medical Center, Raytheon, Hazen & Sawyer, Electronic Arts, and Oklahoma State University.
What is the cost of the certificate program?
Answer: Off-campus students taking online courses are assessed in-state tuition, plus a distance education fee and a computer fee. For the Fall 2007 semester, this makes on three-credit course cost approximately $1635. More information about tuition and fees can be found on the Engineering Distance Education website at http://www.ede.iastate.edu/Tuition-and-Fees/Tuition-and-Fees.html Fees are subject to change, so it is difficult to predict tuition and fees for the future. The cost today of four 3-credit online courses would be approximately $6540.
Links:What is a graduate assistantship?
Answer: One requirement for admission to the program is securing a graduate assistantship. A half-time graduate assistantship will require that you work for your major professor for 20 hours per week in exchange for a stipend. In addition, students with a graduate assistantship are also eligible for a tuition scholarship and health insurance benefits. MS students on a graduate assistantship receive a 50% tuition scholarship. PhD students on a graduate assistantship receive a 100% tuition scholarship.
Links:What are the admission requirements?
Answer: Admission into the HCI 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. Specific admissions requirements include:
- 3.0 GPA or better.
- The demonstrated ability to write software competently. For those who do not have the required computing background, we recommend an introductory course.
- A minimum TOEFL score of 240(CBT), 95(iBT), or 587(PBT) for non-native English Speakers.
- GRE for international students only.
- Transcripts, test scores, and other indicators that the student applicant can be successful at the graduate level.
- Eportfolio for PhD applicants demonstrating the student's potential for research.
What are the institutional or departmental codes to use if I want my GRE or TOEFL scores sent to your program?
Answer: If you would like to have your GRE or TOEFL scores sent directly to Iowa State University, please use the ISU code of 6306. The HCI Departmental code is 80460.
When will I be notified of my application status?
Answer: Students will be notified by email when their completed application package has been sent to the three faculty members listed in their pre-application. If you feel 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. Applications are made available to all HCI faculty for review. If a faculty member is found that will support the student both financially with a graduate assistantship and programatically by serving as the student's major professor, the student will then be invited to apply to the ISU Graduate College for formal admission to the university. Students may contact Pam Shill at pshill@iastate.edu at any time throughout this process for an update on their admission status.
How do I apply to the HCI Graduate Certificate program?
Answer: Students applying to the HCI Graduate Certificate program will fill out the Application for Graduate Admission to ISU form at http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html You will also send application materials to both the Office of Admissions and to the HCI program. Please send the application, application fee, official transcripts and official examination results to The Office of Graduate Admissions, Iowa State University, 100 Alumni Hall, Ames, IA 50011. Please email a copy of your application, resume, statement of professional goals, statement of software development proficiency, and three letters of recommendation to the HCI program at pshill@iastate.edu.
Links:How do I apply to the MS or PhD programs?
Answer: The HCI Graduate program has a pre-application process that we ask students to go through before they apply to the Graduate College. No costs are associated with the pre-application process. The online pre-application form can be found at https://www.hci.iastate.edu/Apply/preapp.php. After the form is filled out and submitted, we ask that you email your resume to gradapp@iastate.edu. Your references should also email their letters of recommendation to gradapp@iastate.edu. If you are applying to the PhD program, we ask that an e-portfolio demonstrating potential for research is also sent to gradapp@iastate.edu.
Links:Are my references required to use the recommendation letter template?
Answer: The suggested template is not required for letters of reference. The template gives persons writing reference letters some idea of the type of information that we find helpful about a potential student. They may write a letter without using the template, if that is easier for them. Letters of recommendation may be sent to us via email. The template for letters of recommendation can be found at http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/pdf/us_gr_rec.pdf.
Are there other resources that can help answer some of my questions?
Answer: Please refer to the HCI Handbook for specific program information. The Graduate College Handbook will give you general information about graduate programs.
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