Online Education

Graduate Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Business and Information Technology

About the Certificate

There is a growing demand within industry for workers with expertise in human-computer interaction (HCI), with titles such as interface designer, usability research analyst, usability engineer, user experience specialist, and information architect. HCI specialists bridge the gap in organizations between groups who build the technologies and groups who use the technologies.

The qualifications for these positions generally fall into the following categories:

  • A general knowledge/background in human-computer interaction;
  • Skills in collecting user requirements
  • Skills in developing prototypes, both low fidelity (e.g., paper) and high fidelity (e.g., html mock-up); and
  • Research skills in evaluation of the impact of technologies on humans.

The HCI graduate certificate program prepare students for positions as HCI specialists, and provide working IT professionals with additional skills to aid in the design and evaluation of usable systems. The IST department at Missouri S&T includes some of the leading researchers in the field of HCI, with strong ties to industry usability professionals.

The graduate certificate program is open to all individuals holding a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in areas such as business, social sciences, technology, engineering, humanities, or related disciplines.

Students admitted only to the certificate program will have non-degree graduate status but will earn graduate credit for the courses they complete. A student who completes the human-computer interaction graduate certificate at Missouri S&T, having earned a grade of "B" or better in each of the certificate courses, may be admitted to the MBA program in business administration or the MS program in information science and technology. The normal application process will be followed, but the minimum undergraduate GPA and GRE score requirement will be waived. Normal course prerequisites still apply.

Once admitted to the certificate program, a student will be given three years to complete the program as long as a B or better average is maintained in the courses taken.

Students applying for a graduate certificate must submit the following:

  • Completed Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Transcripts

Online Application

  • When you start a new application, select "Graduate Online/Distance" and then select the certificate program.
  • Don't forget to list your current employer and company location on the application.
  • Statement of purpose should be 2-3 paragraphs explaining why you are applying for this program. 
  • Statement is to be submitted electronically on the online application; you'll copy and paste it into the provided text box.

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for an admit decision. 

  • Upload your transcripts on the online application under your "Institutional Data." If you previously attended S&T, you must upload your transcript. An unofficial transcript can be requested through Joe’SS. How to Request Unofficial Transcripts (pdf)  
  • PDF scans are preferred.
  • The university requires official transcripts from all schools attended before a student may register for a second semester.
  • In order for a transcript to be counted as official it must be sent directly from the school to S&T, it cannot come from a student. 

Official transcripts should be mailed to Global Learning:

Missouri University of Science and Technology
Office of Global Learning
G8 Norwood Hall, 320 West 12th Street
Rolla, MO 65409

 

Pathway to a Master's Degree

Are you a working professional who wants to earn your master's degree, but you don’t have time to take the GRE/GMAT? Then start in a graduate certificate program. Graduate certificates were designed as a pathway to a master's degree.* The admission requirements are more relaxed and credit earned will count toward your degree. Once you successfully earn your graduate certificate, you can continue with the corresponding master's degree without having to take the GRE/GMAT.


Related Degrees

This graduate certificate may act as a pathway to the following master’s programs:

*Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply.

Questions?

Contact Us

Missouri S&T Online Education

Sylvia Skouby, Associate Director for Online Admissions

Phone: 573-341-6903
Email: stgrad@mst.edu

Business and Information
Science and Technology

Business and Information Science and Technology
101 Fulton Hall
301 W. 14th St.
Rolla, MO 65409
Phone: 573-341-4776
Email: bit@mst.edu
Web: bit.mst.edu