Create new applications of technology to enhance the way we work, play and live.
This 48-credit Doctor of Science program in Information and Interaction Design offers an in-depth exploration of designing for human interaction. Through interdisciplinary
courses covering cognitive psychology, library science, computer science, user research,
and interaction design, doctoral students become leading researchers and designers.
They develop innovative design solutions grounded in a solid understanding of human
behavior.
Doctor of science in Information and Interaction Design
This program is unique in its careful balance between theory and practice, and in
its focus on the challenges of designing for audiences with special needs, such as
children, older adults, people with low literacy skills, or people who need assistive
technology. Required coursework will include applied qualitative and quantitative
research methods, experiment design, applied statistics, HCI theory and project management.
When you graduate from this program, you will be able to:
conduct well-designed quantitative and qualitative user research
communicate research findings to academic and industry audiences
evaluate the user research methods in studies performed by others
develop user experiences that meet the needs of a global and diverse audience and
that can accommodate change and growth
develop new conceptual models and hypotheses of interaction design based on both existing
interaction design knowledge and user-centered iterative design
evaluate the social and cultural effects of information systems and their implementations.
Your studies culminate in a dissertation project with a significant impact on the
field; you will submit your dissertation project for evaluation by a committee of
faculty and experts. You'll have the opportunity to work on high-impact digital technology
projects through cutting-edge research with such tools as a Tobii Pro Fusion eye tracker
in the UBalt User Research Lab and the immersive visualization technologies in the UBalt GameLab.
Our students are primarily educators and industry practitioners who possess refined research and
writing skills and a demonstrated interest in user-centered design and user research.
Our faculty are recognized scholars in interdisciplinary research. Their accomplishments range
from designing online information and services for “at-risk” audiences, to co-designing
with children, to studying online communities, to developing new game genres.
Our graduates have moved into faculty appointments at top universities and leadership positions
in business and technology. Many of them combine disciplines in innovative positions—researching
virtual communities, for example, or developing new visualizations for web searches.
In this program, you'll have the opportunity to test new approaches to user research
and experience design, adding theoretical sophistication to productive practice.
I would not have gotten the opportunities without this education. It opened up many
doors.
Admission
Requirements
a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
a master's degree in a related field with a minimum 3.2 GPA from a regionally accredited
college or university.
Application deadlines:
fall semester admission only:May 1
*Applications received after the deadline date will be considered depending on availability
of space, strength of your credentials and sufficiency of time for processing.
departmental fellowships: March 1
Online application. Complete and submit the online application and pay the $50 application fee. (To pay in-state tuition, you must submit the Maryland
In-State Residency form).
Statement of Personal Interest.This can be submitted electronically as part of the online application. Explain why this degree is a good
fit for you.
Official transcript(s). Request that an official transcript of all prior college or university work (including
graduate courses, if applicable) be sent directly from each institution attended; electronic transcripts are encouraged.
Letters of recommendation. Have three professors or employers submit letters of recommendation on your behalf; these should
be sent in sealed envelopes with signatures across the sealed portion.
GRE General Test scores.Have your GRE scores sent directly from the testing agency; UBalt's code is 5810.
Your scores should be no more than five years old. If you have taken the GMAT or MAT
but not the GRE, those scores may be substituted.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae.Submit your resume/CV directly todocuments@ubalt.edu.
Essay. Submit a sample of your prior academic work directly to the program director. This sample will be used to evaluate your intellectual preparedness to undertake
doctoral study.
Send all materials, unless otherwise noted, by email to documents@ubalt.edu or by mail to The University of Baltimore Office of Graduate Admission, 1420 N. Charles
St., Baltimore, MD 21201.
Materials to be submitted to the program director should be sent to: Kathryn Summers, The University of Baltimore, Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, 1420 N. Charles
St., Baltimore, MD 21201.
Contact Us
For more information about graduate admission, please contact the Office of Admission
A D.Sc. in Information and Interaction Design from The University of Baltimore equips
graduates with a strong foundation in user-centered design, research, and technology. This leads to a variety of career paths, particularly in fields that prioritize user
experience (UX) and human-computer interaction (HCI).
Common Roles
Research Scientist
UX/Interaction Design Lead/Manager
User Researcher
Information Architect
UX Strategist
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Specialist
University Professor/Researcher
A Message from Dean Christine Spencer
A degree from the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences is more than an academic credential; it is a gateway to new possibilities.
