masters-interaction-design-and-information-architecture

Requirements and Learning Outcomes

Earn your master's degree in Interaction Design and Information Architecture.

Degree Requirements

These requirements apply to students entering this program in fall 2023 and thereafter. Students who enrolled earlier should consult the catalog in effect at the time they enrolled.

Read the course descriptions.

Complete THIS 36-CREDIT PROGRAM your way

Complete 30 credits of coursework and a thesis/project for 6 credits, for a total of 36 credits. No credits with grades lower than B can be applied to the degree.

All core courses must be completed before thesis work begins. Thesis work must be spread over two semesters (3 credits each semester). Thesis projects must be approved by a thesis adviser before registering for any thesis credits. All thesis projects must incorporate significant elements of user research; thesis topics may have either a research or project focus.

Core Courses (12 credits)

IDIA 612 Interaction and Interface Design
IDIA 630 Information Architecture
IDIA 640 Humans, Computers and Cognition
IDIA 642 Applied User Research for UX

technical course (3 credits)

choose one course from the following:

IDIA 618 Dynamic Web Sites
IDIA 619 Programming for UX Design

Area concentration (3 credits)

choose one course from the following:

IDIA 712 Topics in Advanced Interaction Design
IDIA 730 Topics in Advanced Information Architecture
IDIA 742 Topics in User Research

Electives (12 credits)

With the approval of the program director, choose four elective courses from the following list:

IDIA 602 Graphic Design Principles
IDIA 614 Sequential Visualization and Analysis
IDIA 616 Designing for Mobile Web
IDIA 712 Advanced Interaction Design
IDIA 715 Managing UX Projects
IDIA 730 Topics in Advanced Information Architecture
IDIA 740 Topics in Computers and Cognition
IDIA 742 Topics in Advanced User Research
IDIA 750 Special Topics
IDIA 841 Statistics and Quant Analysis for UX
IDIA 842 Experimental Methods for User Research
APPL 601 The Biological Basis of Behavior
APPL 603 Learning and Cognition

Thesis/Project (6 credits)

IDIA 799 Thesis/Project, 3-6 credits

Complete the following 36 credits. No credits with grades lower than B can be applied to the degree.

Core Courses (24 credits)

IDIA 612 Interaction and Interface Design
IDIA 630 Information Architecture
IDIA 640 Humans, Computers and Cognition
IDIA 642 Applied User Research for UX
IDIA 740 Topics in Computers and Cognition
IDIA 742 Topics in Advanced User Research
IDIA 841 Statistics and Quant Analysis for UX
IDIA 842 Experimental Methods for User Research

technical course (3 credits)

choose one course from the following:

IDIA 618 Dynamic Web Sites
IDIA 619 Programming for UX Design

Area concentration (3 credits)

choose one course from the following:

IDIA 712 Topics in Advanced Interaction Design
IDIA 730 Topics in Advanced Information Architecture

Electives (6 credits)

With the approval of the program director, choose two elective courses from the following list:

IDIA 602 Graphic Design Principles
IDIA 614 Sequential Visualization and Analysis
IDIA 616 Designing for Mobile Web
IDIA 618 Dynamic Web Sites
IDIA 619 Programming for UX Design
IDIA 712 Advanced Interaction Design
IDIA 715 Managing UX Projects
IDIA 730 Topics in Advanced Information Architecture
IDIA 740 Topics in Computers and Cognition
IDIA 742 Topics in Advanced User Research
IDIA 750 Special Topics
APPL 601 The Biological Basis of Behavior
APPL 603 Learning and Cognition

LEARNING OUTCOMES

ASSURANCE OF LEARNING: M.S. IN INTERACTION DESIGN AND INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

Mission Statement

The Interaction Design and Information Architecture masters program encourages innovation and discovery in the study of information and interaction. Through interdisciplinary courses in topics like cognitive psychology, library science, computer science, user research, interaction design, and game design, and a combination of theoretical inquiry and real-world projects, students with varied backgrounds become leaders and innovators in the field of user experience design.

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduating from the M.S. in Interaction Design and Information Architecture, students will be able to:

apply principles of iterative, user-centered design to the development of interactive information systems
develop proper structures of information as they apply to global and diverse target audiences
conduct user research with industry standard tools and techniques
evaluate methodological, social, and cultural effects of interactive information systems and their implementations
design interactions that meet the needs of diverse environments and users
communicate research findings to computer programmers, graphic designers and business partners.