College of Arts and Sciences

BA in Human-Computer Interaction Design

The BA in Human-Computer Interaction Design program was formerly known as Multimedia Web Design and Development. The program was renamed to better reflect a revised computer science and design curriculum that goes beyond mobile and web applications. It also offers a liberal arts core to offer students a creative mindset for forward-thinking design.

If you have an interest in designing user experiences and interfaces that extend beyond mobile phones and desktop computers, you should consider our unique program in Human-Computer Interaction Design (HCID).

The program features innovative coursework and offers real-world experiences that give you the digital design and computer programming background necessary to succeed in this integrated field.

About the Major

Human-Computer Interaction Design (HCID) is the science of creating measurably effective ways to interact with computational resources. Some modern examples include cloud services, voice activated assistants, semantically aware chatbots, and virtual/augmented reality systems. You will learn how to design user-friendly computer interfaces that are efficient, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and unique. This interdisciplinary program combines course work in computer science and design with an enriching liberal arts core, enabling you to foster a creative mindset for design-forward thinking.

UHart’s HCID graduates prepare for careers as:

Applications system analysts
User experience designers
Computer architects
Game developers
Web developers
Mobile app developers
Software engineers
Web application programmers
Multimedia developers

Degree Requirements

You must complete a total of 40–44 credits that includes a combination of human-computer design, computer science, communication, and design courses.

Examples of core courses include:

Interface Prototyping
Interactive Data Visualization
Communication in the Digital Age
Fundamentals of Computing I
Introduction to Internet Programming
Foundations of Web Design and Development

For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Minor Requirements

The HCID minor is a great option if you are choosing to major in another field (like Computer Science, Communication, Visual Communication Design, or Business) but would like to also learn skills in the creation of user-friendly computer applications.

You must complete 20–21 credits that includes core courses and an HCID elective.

Examples of courses for a minor include:

Fundamentals of Computing I
Introduction to Internet Programming
Introduction to User Interface Design
Foundations of Web Design and Development
Web Services

For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for all software developers was $105,590 in 2019, and the predicted job growth was much faster than average at 21% between 2018 and 2028.

Learning Outcomes

Bachelor of Arts in Human-Computer Interaction Design students will:

Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
Apply web design principles and contemporary methods.
Design effective Internet-based communication interfaces.
Communicate and function effectively in a variety of professional contexts and team-based roles.

The best part about this major is you are given the ability to look at nearly any website and know what went into making it and how to improve it to enhance the user experience.

Alec Dergachev '24, Human-Computer Interaction Design