HCII Academics & Admissions: Masters in HCI--FAQ

Do I have to submit GRE scores?
Everyone who applies MUST have taken the GRE General Test. If necessary, unofficial scores can be accepted at the time of application, but the official score record must be supplied prior to final admission.

Do I have to take the GRE Subject test?
Applicants are not required to take the GRE subject test.

Do I have to take the TOEFL?
The TOEFL is required of students whose native language is NOT English and whose undergraduate degree was not earned in the United States. We can not guarantee that your application will be considered without it.

How high do my GRE scores need to be?
There is no minimum GRE required, although the average GRE score (which includes analytical, verbal and quantitative) of those admitted students last year was 2008. But this is by no means a number to use for determination as each group of students varies year to year. Additionally, with ETS's inception of the new Analytical Writing Test, the practice of combining the GRE scores as a means of assessment will no longer be viable.

What are my chances of getting in?
Of the Fall 2006 applicant pool, we admitted approximately 34% of the students.

The HCII is in the School of Computer Science. However, I do not have a strong programming background. May I still apply?
Yes, you may apply without having a strong programming background. However, students are expected to demonstrate a proficiency in programming that is normally met through an introductory course in C, C++, Pascal or JAVA. Your programming proficiency will be evaluated during the prerequisite review process and you may be required to take an additional programming course before you can continue in the program.

Will I have to take a lot of programming courses?
Once you have met the programming prerequisite, you will be expected to take either Programming Usable Interfaces or Software Architectures for User Interfaces as part of your degree requirements.

Should I visit before I apply (and will that help my chances of being admitted)?
Visiting the department before you apply does not improve one's chances of admission. The Institute receives numerous requests every year from prospective applicants for tours and visits of the department. While we certainly do not discourage prospective students from visiting the campus, we do not have the department resources to arrange individualized agendas and tours to accommodate such requests nor do we offer pre-admission assessments or interviews. Students who have been admitted will be invited to visit during the Spring Open House where the opportunity to meet with faculty and current students will be provided.

May I apply for admission starting in the spring instead of the fall?
No, we only process admissions once a year. Applications are due January 31 for admission in the fall term of the same year.

If I am accepted, may I defer my enrollment?
Yes, you may defer your enrollment for one year, but you must inform the department in writing of your request.

May I work on my Masters in HCI part time?
Yes. Many students choose to work full-time while completing their program as part-time student. However, the HCII Project II course must be taken in the summer session after HCII Project I and students must be enrolled full-time during that time.

Is financial aid available?
The HCII does not provide financial aid but there are often fellowships and grants available to graduate students. It is up to the student to pursue these options on their own. Financial assistance is available in the form of tuition remission to employees of the University as a staff benefit. Students are eligible to apply for staff positions (for which they are qualified) such as Teaching Assistants (TA) or Research Assistants (RA) or any other type of staff position in the HCII or elsewhere in the university.

Where can I find information on graduate student scholarships and financial aid?
Some information on financial aid specific to the MHCI program can be found here. The HUB at Carnegie Mellon has more general information on graduate student financial assistance.

I just finished my undergraduate work. Should I apply for the Masters of HCI program first as preparation for my Ph.D. work?
The MHCI program is not intended to serve as preparation for our Ph.D. program. The MHCI program is intended to teach the skills necessary for professional practice in various HCI related careers. The Ph.D. program on the other hand is designed to prepare you to be an HCI researcher. If you intend to apply to both programs, then you must submit two separate applications.

If I am not accepted for the HCII Ph.D. program will I be automatically considered for admission to the Masters of HCI program instead?
No. Because of the different educational goals of each program, their admissions processes are separate and applications are not shared between the two programs. As noted in the previous question, the two programs are designed to address different goals.

May I apply to both the Masters and Ph.D program?
Yes, you may apply to both programs, but students usually prefer one to the other. The programs have been designed to address different goals, as stated above.

How many students are currently in the program?

See http://www.cs.cmu.edu/about/statistics/.

What kind of jobs can I get with an MHCI degree and who employs HCI graduates?
Some of our graduates have successfully obtained careers as Usability Specialists, Interface Specialists, User Interface Designers, Research Programmers, Project Directors and Usability Engineers for companies such as Ebay, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Sandia, TiVo, and many other companies.

Does the department provide Career Counseling or job placement?
We do not provide job placement. However, students are encouraged to keep their resumes and/or websites current and are provided with two opportunities to meet with prospective employers: 1) The Annual Technological Opportunity Conference, 2) The Computer-Human Interaction Conference (CHI). Additionally, the Career Center is available for counseling services and any employment announcements we receive from outside sources are posted frequently.

I don't have all the pre-requisites. May I still apply and be considered for admittance?
Yes, students may be admitted to the program before satisfying one or more prerequisites. Prerequisites may be completed at Carnegie Mellon after matriculation, but doing so may extend the length of the program.

I have been out of school for some time. May I submit reference letters from my employers instead of from instructors?
Yes, you may send us letters from your employers.

Do my chances of getting admitted increase if I submit my application early?
No, all applications are reviewed as a group once the application deadline has passed. Submitting early does not increase your chances of admittance.

Additional questions? Please email hciimasters@cs.cmu.edu.