• Research Experience for Undergraduates
HCI Graduate Program
1620 Howe Hall
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-2089
Follow @isuhci
• Virtual Reality Applications Center
• HCI graduate students Jim Koopman and Alan Vetter are working to improve and expand the use of assistave technology at Iowa State.
— Iowa State University Office of the CIO: 04/26/2012
• You should get to know … Sondra Ashmore. Des Moines Register runs a business feature on HCI Ph.D. graduate Sondra Ashmore.
— Des Moines Register: 04/11/2012
• HCI faculty member Daniela Dimitrova examines how media coverage impacts campaigns worldwide.
— Ames Tribune: 02/25/2012
• Video game playing can compound kids' existing attention problems according to research by Douglas Gentile, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State and HCI faculty member.
— ISU News Service: 02/23/2012
• A video game developed at Iowa State University is helping students understand biology better
— WHO TV: 02/22/2012
• Sondra Ashmore, PhD student in human computer interaction (HCI), is part of the Business Record’s Forty under 40 Business Leaders Class of 2012.
— ISU CoE News: 02/10/2012
HCI FAQ
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: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.
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 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. Our program will receive the scores sent to ISU.
What is a graduate assistantship?
Answer: One requirement for admission to the PhD and MS programs on campus 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: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.
Links:What are the application deadlines for the HCI Online MS program?
Answer: Applications to the HCI Online MS program are accepted throughout the year. You will want to submit your application materials by the following dates so that we have enough time to process the application. There may be some flexibility in these deadlines. Fall Admission: June 1 Spring Admission: November 1 Summer Admission: March 1
How do I apply to the HCI Online MS program?
Answer: Students applying to the HCI Online MS 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 resume, statement of professional goals, statement of software development proficiency, and three letters of recommendation to the HCI program at pshill@iastate.edu.
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. These skills can be developed after the student has been admitted to the program and will be demonstrated by successfully completing either HCI 575 Computational Perception, HCI 574 Computational Implementation and Prototyping or CprE/ME 557 Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling. .
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 faculty. Some of the companies that have hired our graduates include Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Rockwell Collins, John Deere, Garmin, Saint Jude Medical Center, Raytheon, Hazen & Sawyer, Electronic Arts, and Oklahoma State University. Additional information about placement of alums can be found on the Alumni webpage at http://www.hci.iastate.edu/People/alumni.php
Links: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 can be developed after the student has been admitted to the program and will be demonstrated by successfully completing either HCI 575 Computational Perception, HCI 574 Computational Implementation and Prototyping or CprE/ME 557 Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling. HCI 575X uses C++ programming to complete some of the homework assignments and final project. CprE/ME 557 uses C++ programming and Open GL. HCI 574 teaches Python programming and uses that language for a final project. We recommend that those students without previous programming experience take HCI 574. It is recommended that the student familiarize themself with Python before taking this course.
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. This requirement can be met during your course of study in the program.
- 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.
Is there an online MS program?
Answer: Yes, the HCI Online MS program began accepting students in the Fall of 2008. Students in this program take 27 course credits plus a three-credit capstone course. An oral presentation is required for the capstone course. These credits may be earned online. The diploma and transcripts for students earning the Online MS degree state that the student earned their Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction. It does not state "online" on your diploma or transcript.
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, with links to the documents you want to show. 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.
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.
What are the application deadlines for the HCI Graduate Certificate program?
Answer: Applications to the HCI Graduate Certificate program are accepted throughout the year. You will want to submit your application materials by the following dates so that we have enough time to process the application. There may be some flexibility in these deadlines. Fall Admission: June 1 Spring Admission: November 1 Summer Admission: March 1
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 your resume, statement of professional goals, statement of software development proficiency, and three letters of recommendation to the HCI program at pshill@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://hci.iastate.edu/Academics/docs/Applicant_Recommendation_Form.doc.
What is the cost of one online course in the Online MS degree program?
Answer: Off-campus students taking online courses are assessed in-state tuition, plus a distance education fee and a computer fee. The cost of one three-credit online course in the Spring of 2011 is about $1804. More information about tuition and fees can be found on the Engineering Distance Education website at http://www.eol.iastate.edu/fees.php Fees are subject to change.
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