Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do graduates of the MS program in HCI go on to do?
A: Many students pursue the PhD in a related field, at Georgia Tech or other leading universities. However, most graduates have gone on to work as HCI professionals and researchers at prominent companies and governmental agencies, including AT&T (Human Factors group); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); ChoicePoint Government Services; Crispin Porter & Bogusky; Elemental Interactive/ListenShare; Georgia Public Broadcasting; Google; Humana; IBM; IQ Interactive; Macquarium; Odigo Marketing; Philips Electronics Design Center; Roundarch; Sapient; Schematic; Spunlogic; Storyminers; Think Interactive; Toolbox No. 9; Turner Broadcasting (New Media); User Insight; Walt Disney Imagineering; and Yahoo! (User Experience).
Q: What is the cost of attendance?
A: Costs for the current academic year can be found here. Tuition and fees for the next academic year are set each spring by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and are updated on the Graduate Admissions website as soon as possible thereafter.
Q: Do you offer any financial assistance?
A: No, however we do try to help you find assistance when we can, mostly in the form of Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs). GRAs provide a waiver of most tuition, along with a monthly stipend that varies with the student’s academic home department (Computing, LCC, or Psychology). Students are still responsible for the mandatory fees as well as a small tuition payment. The costs of attendance for GRAs can also be found here.
Q: Can you attend part-time?
A: Yes, but GRAs and international students must be registered for full-time course loads (12 hours each semester). Part-time students must be registered for a minimum of 3 semester hours.
Q: What is the length of time needed to complete the program?
A: Most students complete the program in four semesters, with an internship during the summer between the first and second years. Part-time students usually complete the program in three years.
Q: Do I have to have a background in computer science to be accepted to the program?
A: No. Our students come from a variety of different educational backgrounds.
Q: When do you admit students to the HCI program?
A: We generally admit students only in the fall semester.
Q: About how many people are accepted into the program each year?
A: We can only admit 25 to 30 students per year. The sooner you get your application materials in, the better.
Q: Can you take classes on the evenings, weekends, or over the Internet?
A: No. Most classes are taught between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., though some classes might be scheduled later. They are offered Monday through Friday, and no distance learning is available. Because the program emphasizes interdisciplinary team work, distance learning is not practical.
Q: What is the required minimum GPA required?
A: A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better.
Q: What is the GRE requirement?
A: The GRE General Test is required. A score of 80th percentile or higher on each of the three subtests is desired. No GRE Subject Test is required.
Q: What is the TOEFL requirement?
A: International students are required to take the TOEFL. Information on minimum TOEFL scores can be found in the online application. The TOEFL is not required of international applicants who have studied for at least one year at a college or university in the United States, or at a college or university in another country where the primary instructional language is English.
Q: What if my GPA or one of my test scores is below the minimum?
A: You would not be automatically disqualified from consideration. We consider the strength of the overall application, including your educational and professional background; statement of purpose; and letters of recommendation.
Q: Do you have a PhD program in HCI?
A: No, but the PhD program in Computer Science offers an HCI specialization. Each academic unit participating in the MS program also offers a related PhD program: Human-Centered Computing (College of Computing); Digital Media (School of LCC); and Psychology with specializations in Cognitive Psychology and Engineering Psychology (School of Psychology).
