MS-HCI/UX Program Overview
Our master’s in human–computer interaction and user experience will equip you with the skills you need to rise to the top in a career in UX design or UX research in the AI age. Offered both on-campus and online, the program teaches the tools and techniques of UX design and research, as well as analyzing the social implications of designed systems. You will learn quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as the processes and techniques for idea generation, prototyping and evaluation to create effective solutions for the web, mobile, wearables, conversational agents and AI.
This newly revamped master’s program offers cutting-edge coursework in human–AI interaction, accessibility and inclusive design and more, as well as the foundations of HCI and UX. The courses emphasize hands-on learning and are taught by faculty who are research leaders in HCI and social computing and experienced industry UX professionals.
Whether you are changing careers or seeking to deepen your UX expertise, Drexel is an ideal environment to study HCI/UX. We offer a wide range of research labs and partnerships with industry, healthcare, and cultural institutions with plenty of opportunities for internships and projects. Our graduates complete the degree with a strong portfolio of experience and are prepared to enter the workforce at a professional level.
Who is Drexel’s HCI/UX program for?
The master’s in Human–Computer Interaction and User Experience (HCI/UX) at Drexel University is ideal for students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds who are interested in designing technologies that meet human needs.
Successful students have come from both tech and non-tech backgrounds, including psychology, sociology and anthropology. No coding experience is required, but our program offers opportunities for interested students to build their skills in programming and computation.
Meet HCI/UX Students
"I feel prepared for a professional career in user experience (UX) design through Drexel CCI’s practical coursework and networking opportunities. My coursework has given me theoretical knowledge about design and human behavior, which has better informed my practice in team projects."
- Alexandra Chaustre McNally
Read More About Alexandra's Experience
"I had a wonderful experience as a co-op at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which helped me experience considerable growth as a UX researcher. The experience connected the dots between academic coursework and the real world, as I immediately put to practical use concepts from my coursework. I absolutely loved my experience at CHOP, and for those of you who are just starting your academic journey, the one thing I want to impart on you is to breathe, take a deep breath, and have confidence in your abilities; you got this!"
– Miranda Johnson, User Experience & Human Factors Co-op at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
"In my co-op, I gained hands-on experience with end-to-end UX work. My main project was improving an HR Manager’s Portal that had the right information but still generated many direct calls and questions, so the goal was to understand why managers weren’t finding answers and redesign the experience to make it clearer, less cluttered, and faster to navigate. Beyond UX, I also gained experience collaborating with cross-functional teammates, documenting insights clearly, and supporting company-wide initiatives like event planning and design materials. Seeing real users benefit strengthened my confidence and my communication skills."
– Suruchi Gokhale, Learning Experience Coordinator Co-op at the National Board of Medical Examiners
Fast Facts
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Hours
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Full-time (FT) or Part-time (PT)
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Time-to-Degree
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1.5 years (FT); 2.5 years (PT)
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Format
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On campus or online
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Term Starts
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Fall, Winter
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Hands-on experience
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- Coursework emphasizes hands-on skills that employers are seeking, including projects and teamwork
- Program culminates in a hands-on, collaborative capstone project
- For further industry experience, graduate co-op is available for on-campus, full-time students
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Technical experience required?
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No
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GRE Required?
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No
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Meets F1 Visa STEM Requirements?
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Yes
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Curriculum
The master’s program in HCI/UX includes a set of core courses to teach you the fundamental skills of UX design and UX research, including the human-centered, design thinking process for innovation, methods for prototyping and evaluating digital products, design considerations for accessibility and AI applications, and empirical research methods. To deepen and specialize your knowledge, you can choose elective courses from across the Department of Information Science in areas such as information visualization, data science, digital curation, cybersecurity, application development and more.
Students can select their electives to pursue a pathway in human-centered artificial intelligence, which includes courses such as Applied Artificial Intelligence and Recommender Systems, drawing on our extensive faculty expertise at the junction of AI and human-centered computing.
Please visit the Drexel Course Catalog for a full description of each course and elective for this program.
HCI/UX Career Outlook
Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience, like all disciplines within the computer and information sciences, has a very healthy employment outlook. According to Forbes, the importance of HCI/UX will increase as the use of artificial intelligence becomes more pervasive. Read more about this field and the places you can go with this master’s degree here.
Where Our HCI/UX Graduates Work
- The Philadelphia Inquirer
- Chatham Financial
- tuition.io
- Lowe's Companies, Inc.
- Pluto TV
- Accenture
- Morgan Stanley
- Sciton Laser and Light Technology
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Shopify
Graduate Co-op
Full-time, on-campus students who are accepted for fall and winter term admissions can also choose a Graduate Co-op option. Please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center to learn more about cooperative education and its benefits.
Other Programs in HCI/UX
Admissions Requirements
Please visit our Graduate Admissions section for admissions requirements and application deadlines.
Finances
Tuition
Please visit Drexel’s official Graduate Tuition & Fees webpage. Note that this master’s degree requires 45 quarter credits.
Scholarships
There are a variety of sources of financial aid and scholarships to help you fund your master’s degree — explore them here.
Request More Information
Be in touch with us to get answers to all your questions! We can connect you with a Recruitment Specialist, one of our Graduate Dean’s Ambassadors, or a faculty member to help. Contact our graduate recruitment team at cciinfo@drexel.edu, or by filling out this form, and we’ll get back to you soon.
Schedule a Visit or Register for an Online Information Session
Learn more about the College of Computing & Informatics experience through an online information session or an in-person visit. Contact our recruitment team to schedule your visit today by contacting us at cciinfo@drexel.edu!