The Ph.D. in Human Centered Design prepares students to become interdisciplinary scholars who can apply a variety of methodological approaches at the intersection of technology, human behavior, and design. Students will be able to explore the use of technologies in the context of complex problems through empirical studies and apply results to the design of innovative technologies, strategies, and practices. By working with world renowned faculty, students will be trained to advance the field of human centered design through participation in research relevant to both academic and practitioner communities. Students will be prepared for careers in academic institutions, industry research labs, and government and civic organizations.

Degree Requirements

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Design and conduct research studies including determining the appropriate research methodology for the context and implementing research protocols, and analyzing data.
• Engage in academic research discussions, including, but not limited to, conducting literature reviews and engaging in academic writing.
• Translate research findings into principles to design human-centered experiences.
• Create design-based artifacts and experiences in a chosen disciplinary area.

Career Opportunities

Students will engage in research that integrates theories from various fields, including (but not limited to) social computing, human computer interaction, games and learning sciences.

Students will be prepared for careers in:

• academia (in departments such as information sciences, computing, design, learning sciences),
• industry research labs (like Google, Motorola Labs, Lucent Technologies, IBM), and
• government and civic organizations (e.g., OpenCivic, City of Chicago, Data & Society).

The Ph.D. in Human Centered Design will prepare graduates to advance the field of digital technology and media design by taking a transdisciplinary and collaborative approach that blends theory with practice. The program embraces a broad diversity of scholarly traditions and creative practices that include design, learning sciences, computer science, human-computer interaction, game design and development, and psychology.

Overview

The Foundation Phase

Students entering the program will begin by completing the necessary foundation courses and participating in small-scale research projects led by their faculty advisors. The purpose of the foundation phase is to ensure that students have the appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge necessary to formulate relevant research questions as well as develop skills for conducting research.

•  HCD 421 Design and Human Experience
•  HCD 450 Theories and Methods in Human-Centered Design
•  HCD 510 Research Methods and Practice of Scholarship

Students will select 2 core studio courses from the following:

•  EXP 442 Designing Interfaces for Emerging Technologies
•  EXP 440 Designing Playful Experiences
•  EXP 441 Designing Learning Experiences

Students must also select 1 additional research methods course:

•  CMNS 582 Quantitative Research Methods
•  HCI 445 User Research Methods
•  PSY 420 Quantitative Research Design

Students can waive out of any course (except methods courses which can only be substituted) for which they can prove equivalent course experience. Waivers are defined as when students do not take the course (up to 12 hours; all other courses must be substituted); substitutions are the replacement of one course for another. To request a waiver or substitution, students should present evidence of the equivalent course taken (with a minimum of B-) to their faculty advisor, who will then request approval from the HCD Committee. In rare cases, students may request a waiver due to extensive work experience. To request a waiver, students must present evidence (e.g. work portfolio) to their faculty advisor, who will then make the request to the HCD committee. In both cases, the HCD committee will make the final decision on whether a course can be waived or substituted because of course equivalency or work experience.

Design and Production Phase

During this phase, there is one (1) required course and students will work with their advisors to select at least eight specialized courses to develop their design and production skills. Additional electives not listed below may be selected after students receive written approval from both their faculty advisor and the HCD committee.

•  CMNS 545 Communication and Technology

Students will select at least 32 credit hours from the following courses:

•  CSC 500 Research Colloquium
•  CMNS 570 Introduction to Digital Cmn
•  DMA 415 Audio Workshop
•  DMA 425 Still Image Workshop
•  DMA 475 Moving Image Workshop
•  DMA 480 Web/Media Delivery Workshop
•  GAM 424 Game Design Workshop
•  HCI 430 Prototyping and Implementation
•  HCI 440 Introduction to User-Centered Design
•  HCI 450 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
•  HCI 460 Usability Evaluation Methods
•  HCI 470 Digital Design
•  HCI 511 Accessibility Considerations in HCI
•  HCI 515 Design Ethnography
•  HCI 520 Learner-Centered Design
•  HCI 530 Mobile Design
•  HCI 553 Social Interaction Design
•  HIT 421 Health Informatics
•  IS 511 Social Issues of Computing
•  JOUR 504 Multimedia News Production
•  JOUR 520 Data Journalism
•  JOUR 529 Online News Bureau
•  MCS 530 New Media and Culture
•  MCS 575 Digital Media Ethics
•  PSY 404 Perception and Cognition
•  PSY 430 Social Psychology of the Self
•  PSY 567 Special Topics in Community Psychology
•  SOC 463 Social Psychology
•  SOC 464 Social Inequality and Stratification

Research Phase

During the research phase, students will focus on completing their qualifying examinations, candidacy, and dissertation.

• Breadth Examination: By the end of the second year in the program, students will take the breadth examination to assess their knowledge of core concepts and principles.
• Depth Examination: Under the supervision of their faculty advisor and assisted by two additional faculty members, students will lead a small research project from inception to publication of the results in one of the following areas: human-centered design, learning sciences, game design and development, or interactive media.
• Candidacy Phase: This phase begins with successful defense of the dissertation proposal based on a focused research project. Students will enroll in  HCD 699 Research until complete.
• Dissertation Phase: All students must complete a dissertation that provides a significant contribution to the student's intended area of expertise. Students will enroll in  HCD 701 Candidacy Dissertation Research until complete. The doctoral dissertation must demonstrate the student's ability to engage in significant research that is recognized by an academic community as exhibited by:
  • Relevant and significant research question(s) to a technology-based field
  • In-depth literature review of relevant research
  • A conceptual framework that serves as the foundation for the research
  • Significant research findings and contribution

The designated courses for the research phase are:

•  HCD 599 Independent Study
•  HCD 699 Research
•  HCD 701 Candidacy Dissertation Research

Course Requirements

Ph.D. students are expected to complete at least 60 credits of graduate-level courses. The length of time students spend in the program will vary depending on the student's background. We anticipate that students will finish on average in 4-5 years.