We are happy to announce a NEW master programme in Human-Computer Interaction*!
It is a joint degree master programme of the University of Salzburg together with the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.
This interdisciplinary degree programme combines principles from computer science, design and psychology and is dedicated to understanding the evolving relationship between people and interactive systems.
The programme prepares future experts to ideate, design, implement and evaluate novel interfaces and innovative forms of interaction that better respond to the needs of users. Topics include HCI theory, methodology and prototyping, human factors & user experience engineering, interaction design & digital innovation, contextual interfaces, HCI innovations & future technologies and their application in research and industry.
Student Profile
The joint degree master’s degree programme is designed for international graduates from fields such as human-computer interaction, computer science, design, media, communication studies, psychology, sociology and engineering. Preparation courses help students from diverse backgrounds to develop basic skills in programming, visual design and research methodology.
If you have questions on the study programme or application procedures, please contact
Curriculum
Human-Computer Interaction is a large, cross-disciplinary and dynamic field. Professionals require an understanding of the interactive systems, the capabilities of the people using them as well as the context in which the interaction occurs. The curriculum is designed to reflect that diversity and provides the theoretical grounding, practical knowledge, and hands-on experience for students to become technologically competent designers and design-minded engineers.
Students will learn:
- Fundamentals of HCI theory and methodology, paradigms and trends
- Theories of human behaviour and user-centred design methods
- Usability and experience engineering methods
- To analyse and specify the context of use in various fields of applications
- Methods of innovation management and design thinking
- To assess and use novel forms of interactive technologies such as mixed reality,
multimodal interaction and tangible interfaces - To design and develop interface prototypes
- Advanced research methods
- Project and team management skills
- Ethical, legal and cultural factors
Contextual HCI
As technology evolves, Human-Computer Interaction is all about innovation and finding solutions to novel problems. Students can specialise in the research and development of interactive prototypes in application areas such as industrial settings, ambient assisted living, public spaces, smart mobility or virtual and augmented reality.
Research & Industry
The curriculum is based on a research and an industry pillar including several courses targeting both areas. Students will undertake one research and one industry project under the supervision of academic staff members. The research topic can range from purely theoretical studies to empirical user studies or practical design work, developing and evaluating prototypes of novel interaction techniques. Students will also take part in a practical project solving a real-world problem in cooperation with an industry partner, e. g. creating an enterprise UX strategy, developing an interface for an interactive system and conducting an empirical study.
Elective Courses
Students can choose elective courses from each university with a total sum of 12 ECTS or gain industry experience as an intern. Lectures offered by Salzburg University of Applied Sciences include e.g., Game Design, Recommender Systems, Mixed Reality Technologies, Digital Ideation, Data Analysis, Information Visualization, Predictive Analytics, Realtime Visualization or Interaction Design. Paris Lodron University Salzburg provides lectures such as Data Science and Big Data, Geoinformatics and Cognitive Psychology.
Application
Interested? The initial registration is done via the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences: Please apply online.
*The Master Programme is subject to approval by AQ Austria and committees of PLUS.