Human-Centered Design Master's Degree

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Human-Centered Interaction Design (HCID) program at Harrisburg University equips individuals with the skills to design human-centered experiences, products, and services. The program emphasizes human behavior, design science, research, and digital technologies. Graduates gain expertise in designing effective and engaging interfaces and user experiences, preparing them for careers in UX research, interaction design, and other related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Science in Human-Centered Interaction Design (HCID) program at Harrisburg University aims to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to design human-centered experiences, products, and services. The program targets individuals with backgrounds in liberal arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and business. The program's objectives include:

• Providing a foundation in human behavior and design science theories and applications.
• Developing effective communication, collaboration, and coordination skills across diverse populations and media.
• Enhancing research capabilities, problem identification, and determination of research relevance.
• Facilitating self-reflection as designers and professionals.
• Empowering students to design and execute engaging interventions leveraging digital technologies.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will gain the expertise to design effective and engaging interfaces, interactions, and user experiences that seamlessly integrate digital technologies into complex human environments.

Outline:

The HCID program requires the completion of 36 semester hours, comprising:

• 18 semester hours of core courses
• 6 semester hours of experiential courses
• 12 semester hours of individualized concentration courses

Core Courses:

• HCID 500 - Design Perspectives:
Introduces students to various design perspectives, exploring their political, social, and technological implications.
• HCID 504 - Methods for Design Research:
Equips students with design research methodologies, execution, and reporting.
• HCID 510 - Human Sociotechnical Interactions:
Delves into theories and perspectives of human social behavior in HCID, covering information, action, sociality, conflict, and interaction within traditional and digital environments.
• HCID 520 - Users and Populations:
Examines design-based theories and contexts of users and populations, focusing on cohorts, environments, and capabilities.
• HCID 540 - Design Tools and Processes:
Exposes students to various tools, templates, and techniques for design practice.
• HCID 570 - Design Patterns and Contexts:
Introduces the contextual design of patterned interfaces, exploring contexts, visuals, patterns, and actions.

Experiential Courses:

Experiential courses provide hands-on opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world projects.

Individualized Concentration Courses:

Teaching:

• The program is led by Dr. Richard Wirth, Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Program Lead of Human-Centered Interaction Design.
• The faculty includes experienced professionals from academia and industry, bringing a blend of theoretical and practical expertise.
• The program utilizes a combination of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, case studies, workshops, and project-based learning.

Careers:

Graduates of the HCID program can pursue various career paths, including:

• UX Researcher
• Interaction Designer
• UX Designer
• Information Architect
• Interactive Systems Designer
• Digital Systems Analyst
• Digital Services (or UX) Manager