Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction (MS-HCI) is one of the oldest and most prominent programs of its kind. As an interdisciplinary program offered by four schools—Industrial Design; Interactive Computing; Literature, Media, and Communication; and Psychology—students with backgrounds in these and related fields enroll in the the most appropriate School, and interact with one another and with faculty from many disciplines, providing the broad base of knowledge and experiences that are so important to successful HCI (also know as User Experience, or UX) practitioners. The program provides students with the practical skills and theoretical understanding needed to become leaders in the design, implementation and evaluation of the next generation of human-computer interfaces. Our alumni work around the globe for national and international companies, as well as for the many dozens of companies in the Atlanta region needing HCI/UX skills.
The MS-HCI is a four–semester, 36 credit-hour degree. All students take the same core courses, a set of courses related to their chosen specialization (Computing, Digital Media, Industrial Design or Psychology), a broader set of electives and complete a master’s project. Elective courses can be in a wide variety of areas, such as Architecture, Music Technology, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Human-Robot Interaction, Human Factors, Management of Technology, Aerospace Engineering and Cognitive Science. Interested students can earn the Management of Technology Certificate from the Scheller College of Business.
Overview
Total credit hours: 36; Minimum GPA Overall: 3.0; Minimum grade of "B" is required in all Fixed Core, Specialization, and Project Credit Hours; Minimum grade of "C" is required for Elective courses.
Tracking Requirements
Current students can track and view their requirements at degreeaudit.gatech.edu or download the most recent graduate student orientation booklet from the forms and documents page.
For current eligible courses, click on credit hours below.
| Specialization | Fixed Core Credit Hours |
Specialization Credit Hours |
Elective Credit Hours |
Project Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Computing | 9 | 9 | 12 | 6 |
| Digital Media | 9 | 9 | 12 | 6 |
| Industrial Design | 9 | 12 | 9 | 6 |
| Psychology | 9 | 10 | 11 | 6 |
Each student is required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average across credit hours used to fulfill degree requirements, a minimum grade of “B” in Fixed Core, Specialization, and Project credit hours, and a minimum grade of “C” in Elective credit hours.
Project
Each student completes a six-credit project, working with an MS-HCI faculty member, typically during their second year. Students submit a project proposal late in the spring of their first year, and write a report and present their work to the graduate coordinator and the four school faculty coordinators and other MS-HCI students late during the semester of graduation (as described in the MS-HCI Project Requirements document). Many students leverage course projects, their work as graduate research assistants, or their corporate internships with the project (all students are expected to do a summer internship between their second and third semesters). Students register their project hours with a specific professor using CS/ID/LMC/PSYC 6998.
A minimum grade of “B” is required in the project course.
GRA/GTA Credits
Students must have a 12-credit course load in order to achieve full-time student status. Students with a GRA or GTA are able to accomplish this by registering for 1-6 credits for their GRA/GTA. The course numbers are CS/ID/LMC/PSYC/etc. 8997 Teaching Assistantship and 8998 Research Assistantship.
Other Expectations
All students are expected to complete a corporate internship in an HCI-relevant position between their second and third semesters.
