Masters in HCI: Applying - How to Apply
Curriculum

Prerequisites
HCI Core Courses
HCI Project Courses
Electives
Sample Plans of Study

Applying

How to Apply
Application
Tuition
Financial Information
Related Programs
Environment
Final Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Information
How to Apply:

The Master of Human-Computer Interaction program must receive a completed application package and a $65 application fee no later than January 31.

Admission decisions will be mailed in March. Your response is due to us by May 15.

The first day of classes is the last Monday before Labor Day and a mandatory program orientation is held during the week before classes begin.

To apply for admission to the Master of Human-Computer Interaction program, please read the following instructions carefully and make certain that you have met all requirements when you submit your application.

All necessary forms are with the application. Please feel free to attach additional sheets and/or photocopy forms as necessary.

We would appreciate if you would enclose all materials – including letters of recommendation and transcripts in signed, sealed envelopes – with your application, but they may be sent separately if this is not possible.

  1. Application Form. Complete the application form included in this packet; type or print clearly. Please use black ink.
  2. Statement of Purpose. Type or print a concise statement containing the following information:
    • Your objective in pursuing a Master of Human-Computer Interaction degree, including your career goals, and your reasons for choosing to apply to Carnegie Mellon.
    • Your background in human-computer interaction or other fields relevant to your objective. Describe how your academic, industrial or commercial experience prepares you for admission to the HCI program. Please verify that your description here is consistent with your resume. You may want to outline the areas of human-computer interaction with which you have experience or exposure.
    • Any additional details you wish to give the Admissions Committee, including any projects on which you have worked.
  3. Résumé. Provide a complete up-to-date résumé. Order the relevant work experiences chronologically with the most recent first. Clearly distinguish part-time, co-op, or intern work from full-time positions.
  4. Transcripts. Submit official transcripts (photocopies are not acceptable) from all undergraduate and graduate institutions that you have attended.
  5. Letters of Recommendation (3). Request three letters of recommendation. If possible, at least one recommendation should be from an instructor and one should be from a professional supervisor. If you have little or no work experience, it is acceptable to provide three academic references. The recommenders you choose should know you relatively well and be able to discuss the quality of your work. Three forms are provided in this packet; you may photocopy these forms if you wish to provide more than three references. Recommenders may also email their letters directly to the Graduate Programs Coordinator at hciimasters@cs.cmu.edu provided that the applicant submits the required recommendation forms with the "applicant's section" completed.
  6. GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Take the GRE general test. You should arrange for the ETS to send your official scores directly to institution code #2074 (Carnegie Mellon University), department code #0402 (computer science). OFFICIAL SCORES FROM THE EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE (ETS) ARE REQUIRED. Photocopies and student score reports will only be accepted for preliminary review of your application, but no application will be considered complete until the official scores have been received. To ensure the official scores reach our office before February 1, tests must be taken no later than December. We strongly suggest that the exam be taken no later than October, since there are often delays in reporting. GRE scores more than five-years old will not be accepted.
  7. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Official scores from the ETS are required. Preference will be given to students who submit Internet Based Test scores (iBT). Minimum Total score required is 90; with a required minimum score of 23 on the speaking subsection.
  8. Prerequisite form. Please complete the prerequisite form included in this packet. Include on the form any courses which you believe to fulfill our program prerequisites in Programming, Statistics and Design. Please attach copies of syllabi and/or web pages containing course descriptions.
  9. Portfolio (OPTIONAL). If you have a portfolio or any design work you would like to submit to the Selection Committee, please include a list of URLs.
  10. Application Fee. A $65 application fee is due with your application. Applications which are not accompanied by the application fee will be considered incomplete. Please enclose a $65 check made payable to "Carnegie Mellon University" with your application.

Mail all materials, including application fee, to:

Graduate Program Coordinator - Masters
Human-Computer Interaction Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
300 S. Craig Street Room 229
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
USA

Remember that the application deadline is January 31.