Human Systems Engineering (User Experience Research), MS
Design Research, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, approved for STEM-OPT extension
The MS program in human systems engineering with a concentration in user experience research focuses on how to conduct human-centered and experimental research to produce products that are useful, usable, desirable, efficient, and easy to learn and remember. It focuses on the research, design and validation of system components an end user interacts with, including software user interfaces, documentation, help systems, user support, aesthetics and communication.
Students may complement their education with courses in graphic information technology, technical communications and entrepreneurship to strengthen their skills in information architecture, visual design and user interface prototyping. Additionally, hands-on user experience projects in these classes help students build portfolios necessary for entry-level positions.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 36 months. This OPT work authorization term may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.
The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing the degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
- Location: Polytechnic
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours and a portfolio, or
30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (HSE 593)
Required Core (12 credit hours) Concentration (9 credit hours) Electives or Research (3 or 9 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students completing a portfolio for the culminating experience must complete nine credit hours of electives or research coursework, while students completing an applied project or thesis must complete three credit hours of electives or research coursework.
HSE 520 Methods and Tools in Applied Cognitive Science (3)
HSE 530 Intermediate Statistics for Human Systems Engineering (3)
HSE 531 Data Analytics: Modeling Human Subjects Data (3)
HSE 542 Foundations of Human Systems Engineering (3)
HSE 521 Methods and Tools in Human Systems Engineering (3)
HSE 525 Health and Human Systems Engineering (3)
TWC 511 Principles of Visual Communication (3)
TWC 514 Visualizing Data and Information (3)
TWC 544 User Experience (3)
HSE 593 Applied Project (6) or
HSE 599 Thesis (6) or
portfolio (0)
For electives and research coursework, enrollment in HSE 592 Research for three credit hours is required for students completing a thesis and optional for students completing the applied project or portfolio culminating experience. Students in all culminating experience options should contact the academic unit for an approved electives list.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, user experience, psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in their first bachelor's degree program or in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program; or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in nine semester hours of graduate coursework from a U.S. institution; or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable conferred master's degree program from a regionally-accredited college or university.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- curriculum vitae or professional resume
- professional statement
- research summary
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Unofficial transcripts may be submitted at time of application. If admitted, applicants must then submit official transcripts to ASU Admission Services.
The letters of recommendation should be from college professors, employers in a human factors-related field or a combination of both academic and professional references.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Apply the appropriate statistical analysis, address violations of assumptions (e.g., sphericity), & conduct analyses using SPSS to answer User Experience Research based questions.
- Apply the methods of human systems engineering create hypothesis or solve an applied problem related to User Experience Research.
- Conduct an independent evaluation to address problems in the space of human performance in User Experience Research.
This master's degree program prepares students for industry and government careers in positions such as:
- game designer
- human factors engineer
- human systems integrator
- information systems designer
- interface designer
- military scientist
- usability engineer
- user experience designer
Graduates of the Master of Science program in human systems engineering find employment in user experience design and user experience research at companies like Apple, Hulu, Slack, HP, GoDaddy and Intel.
Human Systems Engineering
|
SUTON 240
polygrad@asu.edu
480-727-1874
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
