Pathways
There are many different pathways to completing the HCI Certificate. Below are just a few examples of how students with different majors and areas of interest might complete the certificate.
A computer science student might take:
- (Foundations): COMP_SCI 330 Human-Computer Interaction
- (Technical domain): COMP_SCI 111 Fundamentals of Computer Programming 1, COMP_SCI 150 Fundamentals of Computer Programming 1.5 & COMP_SCI 214 Data Structures
- (Breadth): 1 design class, 1 social sciences class
A mechanical engineering student might take:
- (Foundations): COMP_SCI 397 HCI Studio
- (Technical domain): MECH_ENG 224 & 333, and another technical elective such as COMP_SCI 349 Machine Learning.
- (Breadth): 1 design class, 1 social sciences class
A computer engineering student might take:
- (Foundations): COMP_SCI 397/497 Inclusive Making
- (Technical domain): COMP_ENG 395/495 Wearable and Physical Computing, COMP_ENG 346 Microprocessor/Microcontroller System Design, COMP_ENG 365/465 Internet-of-Things Sensors, Systems, and Applications
- (Breadth): For a design class, COMP_SCI 497 Digital Musical Instrument Design would build on physical computing concepts and prototyping.
A computer science student interested in physical computing might take:
- (Foundations): COMP_SCI 397/497 Inclusive Making
- (Technical domain): COMP_ENG 395/495 Wearable and Physical Computing, COMP_ENG 205 Fundamentals of Computer System Software OR COMP_SCI 213 Intro to Computer Systems as a pre-req to COMP_ENG 346 Microprocessor/Microcontroller System Design, COMP_ENG 365/465 Internet-of-Things Sensors, Systems, and Applications
- (Breadth): For a design class, COMP_SCI 497 Digital Musical Instrument Design would build on physical computing concepts and ease prototyping with micro:bits
A SoC, SESP, Weinberg, or Medill student interested in software interfaces might take:
- (Foundations): COMM_ST 351 Technology & Human Interaction
- (Technical domain): COMP_SCI 110 Intro to Computer Programming, COMP_SCI 150, and COMP_SCI 130 Tools and Technology for the Web
- (Breadth): 1 design class, 1 social sciences class
A SoC, SESP, Weinberg student interested in data science might take:
- (Foundations): COMM_ST 351 Technology & Human Interaction
- (Technical domain): COMP_SCI 110 Intro to Computer Programming, COMP_SCI 150 Intro to Computer Programming II, and another technical elective such as COMP_SCI 396 Interactive Information Visualizations
- (Breadth): 1 design class, 1 social sciences class
A Medill student interested in technology and journalism might take:
- (Foundations): COMM_ST 351 Technology & Human Interaction
- (Technical domain): COMP_SCI 110 Intro to Computer Programming, COMP_SCI 150 Intro to Computer Programming II, JOUR 342 Knight Lab Studio
- (Breadth): 1 design class, 1 social sciences class