Human-Computer Interaction (HCIM)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Information Studies
Abstract
In the HCIM program, students learn to design, evaluate, and implement new information technologies that are understandable, usable, and appealing to a wide variety of people. Our students develop a fundamental understanding of the technology design process, tool-building technologies, evaluation techniques, application areas for users, and the social impact of technology on the individual and community. The program prepares students to become human-computer interaction (HCI) leaders in industry and government, or to become successful in doctoral work in a particular specialization of HCI.
Our 30-credit program is typically completed in two years by full-time students, while offering flexibility to accommodate part-time and professional students. Our core curriculum grounds students in the fundamentals of HCI perspectives and methodologies, while electives offer in-depth insight into specialized areas of the field. Students are free to spend the summer in between working at an internship they secure, volunteering, taking courses, or developing their own projects of interest. The choice of an individual thesis or a client-based team capstone project allows students to demonstrate the skills they’ve acquired in the form best suited to their career goals.
Financial Assistance
The HCIM program is not able to offer applicants financial aid on admission. Many of our students apply for and secure graduate assistantships after being admitted to the program, but these positions are administered by individual faculty, departments, and offices, not by the program itself. For more information about scholarships and financial aid offered by the College of Information Studies, please see here.
Contact
For more information about applying to the HCIM program, please contact Dustin Smith, the HCIM program's academic advisor, at hcim@umd.edu.
Please visit the College of Information Studies website for details on upcoming Information Sessions or Open House programs.
iSchool Student Services Office
4110 Hornbake Building, South Wing
4130 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.2038
Email: hcim@umd.edu
Website: http://www.ischool.umd.edu/hcim
Relationships: Information Management (INFM) Information Studies (INFS) Library and Information Science (LBSC) Library and Information Science (online) (LBSO)
General Requirements
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s): Uploading unofficial transcripts is sufficient for the purposes of the application review process. However, if you are offered admission and choose to enroll in the University of Maryland, you will need to provide an official and unopened transcript.
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
Program-Specific Requirements
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- CV/Resume
- Supplementary Application
- Portfolio PDF Upload
All applicants to the College of Information Studies must meet the minimum requirements set by the University of Maryland Graduate School.
- Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution.
- Applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 average GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all prior undergraduate course work.
- Applicants must provide an official copy of a transcript for all their post-secondary work.
Admission to the HCIM program is competitive. Applicants are evaluated for admission to the program based primarily on academic achievement (GPA and prior coursework) and admissions essays. TOEFL score should be 100 or higher. GRE should be in the 40th percentile or higher for Verbal scores and in the 60th percentile or higher for Qualitative scores.
Application Deadlines
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | January 6, 2023 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants | January 6, 2023 |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Program Website: https://ischool.umd.edu/
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions
The College operates six research centers: the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL), the Information Policy and Access Center (iPAC), and the Center for Advanced Study of Communities and Information (CASCI), the Cloud Computing Center (CCC), the Trace Center, and the Digital Curation Innovation Center (DCIC).
iSchool faculty and doctoral students also participate in or have affiliations with the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH), and the Computational Linguistics and Information Processing Laboratory (CLIP), as well as the Departments of Computer Science, English, and Sociology, the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the College of Education, and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bederson | Benjamin B. | Full Member | B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1986; M.S., New York University, 1989; Ph.D., 1992. | Professor, Computer Science Affiliate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction |
| Bertot | John | Full Member | Ph.D., Syracuse University. | Professor, History and Library & Information Science Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Information Management Professor, Information Studies Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Bonsignore | Elizabeth | Full Member | PhD Information Studies, 2011; MS Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School, 1991; EdM Education/Human Resources, 1989; BS English Language and Literature/Letters, United States Naval Academy, 1985. | Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Information Studies Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Choe | Eun Kyoung | Adjunct Member | Ph.D., University of Washington, 2014 | Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Clegg | Tamara | Full Member | B.S., North Carolina State University, 2002; Ph.D. Georgie Institute of Technology, 2009 | Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership Assistant Professor, History and Library & Information Science Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science Assistant Professor, School Librarianship Assistant Professor, Youth Experience Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction |
| Dearstyne | Bruce W. | Adjunct Member | B.A., Hartwick College, 1966; Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1974. | Lecturer, History and Library & Information Science Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Information Studies Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Druin | Allison J. | Full Member | B.F.A., Rhode Island School of Design, 1985; M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987; Ph.D.,University of New Mexico-Albuquerque, 1997. | Associate Dean, Information Studies Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Library and Information Science Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Elmqvist | Niklas | Full Member | PhD., Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2006 | Director, Human-Computer Interaction Associate Professor, History and Library & Information Science Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Associate Professor, Information Management Associate Professor, Information Studies Associate Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Findlater | Leah | Full Member | B.Sc., Computer Science, 2001; M.Sc., Computer Science, 2004; Ph.D., Computer Science, 2009. | Assistant Professor, History and Library & Information Science Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Frias-Martinez | Vanessa | Full Member | M.S., Columbia University, 2003; Ph.D., Columbia University, 2008 | Associate Professor, Library and Information Science Assistant Professor, History and Library & Information Science Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies |
| Golbeck | Jennifer | Full Member | PhD., Computer Science, University of Maryland | Associate Professor, History and Library & Information Science Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Associate Professor, Information Management Associate Professor, Information Studies Associate Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Gorham-Oscilowski | Ursula | Full Member | PhD., Information Studies, JD, University of Maryland School of Law; University of Maryland; MLS, University of Maryland; MPM, Master of Public Management. | Lecturer, History and Library & Information Science Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Jaeger | Paul T. | Full Member | B.A., New College, 1996; M.Ed., University of North Florida, 1998; J.D., Florida State University, 2001; MSLIS, Florida State University, 2003; Ph.D., Florida State University, 2006. | Professor, History and Library & Information Science Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Information Management Professor, Information Studies |
| Kacorri | Hernisa | Full Member | PhD Computer Science, City University of New York, 2016; MS Computer Science, City University of New York, 2014; MS Advanced Computer Systems, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2011; BS Computer Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2007. | Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Kirschenbaum | Matthew G. | Full Member | B.A., SUNY Albany, 1992; M.A., University of Virginia, 1994; Ph.D., 1999. | Professor, English Language and Literature Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Affiliate Associate Professor, Information Management Affiliate Associate Professor, Information Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Kolowitz | Brian | Adjunct Member | PhD., Robert Morris University | Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Kules | Bill | Full Member | PhD., Computer Science, University of Maryland, 2006. | Visiting Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Visiting Associate Professor, Information Management Visiting Associate Professor, Information Studies Visiting Associate Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Lawley | Katy Newton | Full Member | Ph.D. University of Maryland. | Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Information Studies Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Lazar | Amanda | Full Member | PhD, University of Washington, 2015; BS University of California, San Diego, 2011. | Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Marciano | Richard | Full Member | PhD, University of Iowa. | Professor, History and Library & Information Science Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Information Management Professor, Information Studies Professor, Library and Information Science Professor, Curation and Management of Digital Assets (online) |
| Oard | Douglas William | Full Member | M.Elect.E., Rice University, 1979;B.A., 1979; Ph.D., University of Maryland-College Park, 1996. | Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Information Management Professor, Information Studies Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Library and Information Science Affiliate Professor, Computer Science |
| Piety | Philip | Adjunct Member | M.A., Georgetown University, 2003; Ph.D., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 2008 | Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Information Studies Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Plaisant-Schwenn | C. | Adjunct Member | Ph.D.,Pierre & Marie Curie University, 1982. | Senior Research Scientist, Human-Computer Interaction |
| Preece | Jennifer J. | Full Member | B.Sc., University of Ulster, 1971; Ph.D., Open University, 1985. | Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Information Management Professor, Information Studies Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Shilton | Katie | Full Member | B.A., Oberlin College, 2003; MLS, UCLA, 2007; PhD., UCLA, 2011 | Director, Information Studies Associate Professor, History and Library & Information Science Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Associate Professor, Information Management Associate Professor, Information Studies Associate Professor, Library and Information Science Associate Professor, Curation and Management of Digital Assets (online) |
| St. Jean | Beth | Full Member | B.A., Smith College, 1988; M.S. University of Michigan, 2006; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2012. | Assistant Professor, History and Library & Information Science Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Subramaniam | Mega M. | Full Member | Ph.D. Florida State | Associate Professor, History and Library & Information Science Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Associate Professor, Information Management Associate Professor, Information Studies Associate Professor, Library and Information Science Associate Professor, School Librarianship Associate Professor, Youth Experience |
| Tausczik | Yla | Full Member | PhD. Social and Personality Psychology, University of Texas at Austin. | Assistant Professor, History and Library & Information Science Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Vanderheiden | Gregg | Full Member | PhD., University of Wisconsin-Madison | Professor, History and Library & Information Science Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Professor, Information Management Professor, Information Studies Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Vitak | Jessica | Full Member | Ph.D. Michigan State University, 2012. | Assistant Professor, History and Library & Information Science Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Assistant Professor, Information Management Assistant Professor, Information Studies Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Wang | Ping | Full Member | Ph.D., University of California - Los Angeles UCLA 2005. | Associate Professor, History and Library & Information Science Associate Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Associate Professor, Information Management Associate Professor, Information Studies Associate Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Weaver | Kathy | Full Member | PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore. | Director, Information Management Lecturer, History and Library & Information Science Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Information Studies Lecturer, Library and Information Science |
| Weeks | Ann C. | Adjunct Member | B.S., Indiana State University, 1971; M.L.S., Indiana State University, 1973; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1982. | Professor of Practice, Human-Computer Interaction Professor of Practice, Information Management Professor of Practice, Information Studies Professor of Practice, Library and Information Science Professor of Practice, School Librarianship Professor of Practice, Youth Experience |
| Winter | Susan | Full Member | PhD, University of Arizona | Lecturer, History and Library & Information Science Lecturer, Human-Computer Interaction Lecturer, Information Management Lecturer, Information Studies Lecturer, Library and Information Science |