FAQs

The HCI MS program is a full-time program, so attending all classes in-person is expected. Not being in class or working remotely may lead to a grade penalty. We only grant exceptions in emergencies – personal events do not fall in that category. You will need to ask permission from all your instructors.

The HCI MS program is a full-time program, so you would still be expected to participate in your coursework, attend all in-person classes, and successfully complete course requirements to make academic progress in the program. For example, you would need to be sure to keep up your responsibilities as an equally contributing member of your capstone team during the entire Fall quarter. You should make clear to your manager and colleagues at your workplace that you have commitments to this full-time MS program. When collaborating with other students, everyone should strive to accommodate, within reason, each other’s schedules – for example, it is not fair for you to expect all your other teammates to only meet at night or the weekend due to your work, if they cannot accommodate you. 

We leave it to the student’s discretion on whether they are capable of balancing coursework with work.

If you are a domestic student you can work:

• 20 hours/week on campus OR
• Full time working off campus
• Summer = no limit

If you are an international student you can work:

• 20 hours/week 
• Full time on breaks only
• Summer = no limit

Our suggestion is to first reach out to your instructor to discuss, in a professional manner, your concerns to see if a compromise can be reached.

If this does not work out to your satisfaction, please file a formal written appeal, following the process here: https://graddiv.ucsc.edu/current-students/academic-regulations/graduate-student-handbook/section-nine.html#15

In your written appeal, we ask that you submit a single PDF that includes:

1) student ID

2) class name, number, quarter/year, and instructor(s) that you are appealing

3) what you are appealing and rationale for the appeal(s) – please be detailed, providing evidence when appropriate

4) what you believe should be the correct outcome of the appeals

The appeal should be sent to the instructor and cc’d to our department chair, Professor Magy Seif El-Nasr. Please make it clear you are filing a written appeal of your evaluation or grade notation.

The internship is not a requirement of our degree, so you will be required to be enrolled in a course, during the term of the CPT. Please note: This course will cannot count towards your electives.

https://isss.ucsc.edu/students/current-f-1/employment/cpt.html

If you are doing part time work/internship during the quarter see above question (“Can I work during the quarter?“) in addition to the details below.

Enroll in CMPM 297G, 1-unit, P/NP grade option, you may list the Vice Chair (VC) of HCI as your faculty sponsor. Please note:

• Before the independent study is approved, you must provide the VC with a copy of the job description and proof of the accepted offer via an attachment through email
• If your internship/part-time job for whatever reason is terminated before the end of the quarter, you must notify the graduate advisor and the VC so that other means of evaluating your independent study can be determined.
• You must submit the material below on Canvas by the last day of classes (before exam week) to pass CMPM 297G – no extensions will be granted and failure to submit will result in an Incomplete:
  • Letter signed by manager (on company letterhead) summarizing the projects you worked on and your contribution
  • 1-2 paragraphs on how the work is related to HCI

You will need to fill in a form to take 297G:

• https://graddiv.ucsc.edu/current-students/summer-individual-studies/index.html (Summer)

• https://grad.soe.ucsc.edu/independentstudy (Academic quarter)

If you have problems with the form please reach out to the graduate advisor Anna Xie: zxie58@ucsc.edu

Put in the following information in the form:

Title and description of proposed work (fill in bracketed parts):

Requirement for off-campus CPT work authorization and a job offer from [COMPANY NAME] as [JOB POSITION] starting [DATE].

Evidence of preparation for individual study:

Job role & proof of accepted offer to be submitted to the sponsoring faculty beforehand

Description of the work to be submitted:

Letter signed by manager summarizing: projects they worked on & their contribution; 1-2 paragraphs on how the work is related to HCI

Either will work – a resume or CV is acceptable.

Students will have many opportunities to interact and collaborate with industry professionals through various programs including the HCI Capstone Project, and the HCI Mentor Coalition as well as various social events. 

Please refer to gradadmissions.ucsc.edu/hci

No prior HCI experience is required. We values folks who come from backgrounds such as information science, informatics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, social sciences, and the humanities.

Nonetheless, experience and interest with technology in some manner is recommended. 

No, many UX designers and researchers do not program. However, programming can be a useful skill in prototyping and can you set you apart from other UX designers. Tools that involve programming for UX include Principle and Framer.

It is best to get recommendation letters from people that know you and can speak about your specific strengths. Letters that are more concrete about their experience with you (e.g., with regards to aspects of a project) are more effective in conveying your strengths than vague letters that speak generally. 

We leave it to the students’ discretion on whether they are capable of balancing coursework with work. Domestic students have no restriction for off-campus work during the school year but international students are limited to 20hr/week. The HCI MS program is a full-time program, so you would still be expected to participate in your coursework, attend all classes in-person, and successfully complete course requirements to make academic progress in the program.

Yes – please be sure to read the instructions about portfolios carefully at gradadmissions.ucsc.edu/hci

No, see advice here on portfolios: gradadmissions.ucsc.edu/hci

Though not required, familiarity with a prototyping/wireframing tool like Figma is recommended. Figma is especially useful not only for design but for presentations, collaboration, and even resumes. There are many free tutorials online.

You will need to contact us and outline the distinctions between your previous master’s degree and the HCI MS program. For specific instructions, please contact hci@ucsc.edu

No. Unfortunately, we do not offer rolling admissions.

Yes and it is eligible for CPT and OPT.

Please review the Graduate Admissions’ website for guidance on waiving the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. Note that the waiver only applies for admission purposes. For all other university applications requiring TOEFL/IELTS scores, you will need to submit a score or score alternative.

UCSC offers a wide variety of student support services for our prospective, new, and current international students, including work authorization, travel, maintaining status, and even taxes. For more information, please visit our International Student Services & Programs webpage.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited university awarded (conferred) prior to the quarter in which admission is sought.  Applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree must also hold a post graduate diploma, Master’s Degree, or a higher degree.

Students with three-year degrees from India must also have been conferred:

• a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in the same field of study; or
• a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM); or
• a master’s degree, to be considered eligible for admission.
• Bachelor’s degrees in India that are three-year degrees are BA, BS, BBA, BCA, B Comm and BFA.

If the BSC is a 3 year degree then you must also have one of the following to be considered for admission:

• a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in the same field of study; or
• a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM); or
• a master’s degree, to be considered eligible for admission.

Please find more info here: https://www.gradadmissions.ucsc.edu/international-applicants

Please be aware that it takes approximately 10 days to receive test scores on the computer based tests and six weeks to receive the scores on the paper based tests. After you submit your application you will be able to see what materials and scores we have for you in your Status Page in the online application. If your scores aren’t there, and you’re not requesting a waiver of the language test score requirement, Please complete the Test Score Information form on your Status Page. You can access this page only after you have submitted your application and paid the application fee.