Master's (MS) in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) & User Experience (UX)

Who is the Human-Computer Interaction and UX program for?

Drexel College of Computing and Informatics’ (CCI) Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience (HCI/UX) program attracts students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds who are interested in designing technologies that meet human needs. These interdisciplinary fields draw on human-centered disciplines like psychology, sociology and anthropology as well as technology-centered disciplines like software engineering and computer science. CCI’s HCI/ UX master's program prepares students to create technologies that support and complement human needs and abilities in contexts such as work, wellness, home, entertainment and artistic expression.

Fast Facts

Program Overview

In this master's program, you will learn not only the tools and techniques of HCI/UX design, but also to analyze and understand the social implications of design interventions for individuals, groups, and society at large. You will learn and apply qualitative and quantitative user research methods, user-experience design techniques and tools, and standards for design documentation, evaluation, and reporting.

A collaborative, hands-on capstone project completes the program, ensuring that you have practical work experience by the time you graduate and are prepared to enter the workforce at a professional level.

HCI and UX courses are taught by an interdisciplinary, world-class HCI/UX faculty with expertise and training in engineering/human factors, social sciences, multimedia design, education and healthcare. Drexel is an exceptional environment for HCI/UX courses both online and in person studies with a wide range of research labs and partnerships with industry, healthcare, and cultural institutions that offer rich opportunities for internships and projects.

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 and we’ll get back to you soon.

Meet an HCI/UX Student

Curriculum

NOTE: Drexel operates on the quarter, not semester, system, offering classes during four 10-week terms throughout the year. (You are not required to take classes every quarter, but full-time students must complete the degree in 3 years.)

Our master’s degrees are 45 credits (15 courses) which is the equivalent of 30- to 33-credit degrees at other universities. The benefit of the quarter system is that students receive instruction in more topic areas than through the semester system and have more freedom to personalize their curriculum using electives.

Traditional Curriculum

The degree program includes:

• Three foundation courses;
• Five core courses;
• A choice of five elective courses allowing you to tailor your degree;
• A capstone course: You can choose to pursue either a research- or production-oriented capstone project.

Please visit Drexel’s Course Catalog for a full description of each required course and elective for this program. You can also find a sample Plan of Study for the degree.

Modular Certificate Curriculum

This curriculum allows the student to select several certificates in order to 1.) gain a foundation in HCI-UX principles and practice and 2.) focus in-depth on specific skills and knowledge through certificates, customized to your needs and professional goals.

Following the modular certificate option enables you to earn marketable credentials — skills set-based certificates — on your way to completing the master’s degree, and it lets you complete a certificate, step away from the program if you need to, and return to seamlessly pick up where you left off.

There are a variety of possible certificate combinations, and you will work with your advisor and the faculty to determine the best sequence to pursue for your needs and background.

The following certificates can be used to create the MS in HCI-UX:

• Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Computer Science Foundations
• Data Science Foundations
• Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Research and Design
• Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Theory and Frontiers
• Web Application Development

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.

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

Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience and the Career Outlook

Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience, like all disciplines within the computer and information sciences, has a very healthy employment outlook. Read more about this field and the places you can go with this master’s degree here.

Other Programs in HCI/UX

• Post-Baccalaureate/Graduate Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Theory and Frontiers
• Post-Baccalaureate/Graduate Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Research and Design

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.

Get in Touch

Our Recruitment Specialists are here to walk you through the sometimes confusing world of financing your graduate education. Get in touch with us now by filling out this form.

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!