Ph.D. in Informatics - Human-Computer Interaction Track: Doctorate of Philosophy in Informatics: Luddy Doctoral Degrees in Bloomington: Academics: Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering: Indiana University Bloomington
Academics
Doctoral Degrees
Ph.D. Informatics
Human Computer Interaction
Ph.D. in Informatics - Human-Computer Interaction Track
Advance design theory in a digital world
In the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) track, you’ll explore HCI from a design perspective, where design and research shape new technologies and interactive systems. You’ll study how people use technology in real life and help develop design theory and methods.
Your research could focus on social computing, AI ethics, usability, health tech, virtual and augmented reality, or sustainable computing. This track is ideal for students who want to better understand how to address the complex interplay between human needs and social challenges.
This track will change how you think about technology. You’ll move beyond thinking of design as just a tool for solving problems, instead building the capacity to understand socio-technical complexity and its impact on design outcomes and processes. You’ll learn to think like a design researcher and develop your own unique methodological approach through courses that cover:
Key history, literature, and research methods in HCI and design
Diverse perspectives, research techniques, and design theory
The social and cultural challenges of applying technology in different contexts
What you'll learn
Human-computer interaction design (HCI/d) research focuses on creating better futures, not just understanding the past or present. It asks questions like: What futures can we build? How does design thinking work? How can digital systems promote social justice and sustainability? How can design be more inclusive and democratic? What makes a great user experience?
HCI/d explores possibilities like large-scale collaboration, online communities, new forms of democratic participation, and health technologies. But it also tackles challenges like privacy, addiction, and unequal access. Researchers study these issues with attention to both technology and social impact.
In this track, you’ll explore these opportunities and challenges, balancing technology, human needs, and cultural context. You’ll help shape design theory, methods, and practice through research in key areas, such as:
Design theory and practice
Computer-supported cooperative work
Social computing
Ethics, values, and critical computing
Social impacts of AI/ML
Usability and evaluation methods
Design pedagogy and learning systems
Social and organizational views of technology use
Health and wellness technologies
Critical and sustainable computing
Creativity and cognition
Track faculty
Track Director
Colin Gray
Ethics and criticality, design theory, UX practice, design pedagogy, learning experience (LX) design.
Eli Blevis
Sustainable interaction design, visual thinking, photographic foundations of HCI, design theory, transdisciplinary design.
Elizabeth Kaziunas
Sociotechnical approaches to information systems, ethnographic and critical design approaches, data work/labor, social impacts of AI/ML.
Kaiwen Sun
Austin Toombs
Community maintenance, interpersonal relationships, care ethics, identity.
Affiliated faculty
Travis Brown
Senior Executive Assistant Dean of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Commercialization
James Clawson
Assistant Professor
Apu Kapadia
Professor of Computer Science
Christena Nippert-Eng
Professor of Informatics
Selma Sabanovic
Professor of Informatics
Patrick Shih
Associate Professor of Informatics
Katie Siek
Professor of Informatics
David Wild
Professor of Informatics and Computing
Justin Wood
Associate Professor of Informatics
Track guide
Required courses
All courses provided by faculty in the Human-Computer Interaction Design track, including the I609 and I709 Advanced Seminars, are open to and welcome students from other tracks and programs.
A student must successfully complete ninety (90) credit hours of graduate-level course-work. The specific track requirements are listed below.
I501: Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
I502: Human-Centered Research Methods in Informatics (3 cr.)
INFO I609 Seminar I (3 cr.)
INFO I709 Seminar II in Informatics (3 cr.)
NOTE: A student must take I609 and/or I709.
INFO I790 Informatics Research Rotation (3 cr.)
NOTE: A student must complete two rotations of I790. A third rotation will not count for course credit.
NOTE: These courses must be appropriate for a Ph.D. in Informatics.
NOTE:Typical minors include Inquiry methodology, cognitive science, sociology, intelligent and interactive systems, computing, culture, and society.
NOTE: A student must have all electives approved by the student's advisor and the Director of Informatics Graduate Studies prior to enrolling in the course.
INFO I890 Thesis Readings and Research
In addition to required courses, students should take at least 12 elective credits for the doctoral degree.
Faculty in the HCID track offer courses that provide more targeted training in specific areas. This list is illustrative and not exclusive.
INFO I541 – HCI/d Studio I: Introduction to HCI
INFO I542 – Foundations of HCI
INFO I543 – HCI/d Studio II: Advanced Research and Design Methods
INFO I544 – Experience Design
INFO I549 – Advanced Prototyping
INFO I512 – Direct Observation and Design
INFO I567 – Design Strategy
INFO I590 – Topical Courses (e.g., Introduction to Virtual Reality; Product Management; Social Computing; Sustainability in HCI and Design; Visual Design for HCI)
INFO I604 – HCI Design Theory
Qualifying exam
Written and oral examinations will be structured by the student’s committee based on their research interests. A typical exam consists of an extensive annotated bibliography with accompanying critical essay that describes the student’s interpretation of the relevant literature and how they situate their own interests and work within it. The written portion of the exam is followed by an oral exam to defend the written submissions.
Typical minors
Inquiry methodology; cognitive science; anthropology; sociology; intelligent and interactive systems; computing, culture, and society.
One School. Two Campuses. Infinite Possibilities.
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