The document discusses the current UX market and the need for specialists in human-computer interaction, user experience, and usability. It then outlines the learning landscape for UX including undergraduate degrees, MOOCs, private companies, and various Masters programs in HCI, interaction design, user experience, and human-centred systems. The document provides examples of course content from several Masters programs which cover topics like ergonomics, design processes, cognitive science, evaluation methods, and experience design. It emphasizes building a balance of knowledge in interfaces, user behavior, HCI techniques, analytical skills, and specialist topics.

1. Academic excellence for business and the professions
Designing a Masters Curriculum
Dr Simone Stumpf
MSc Human-Centred Systems Course Director
@DrSimoneStumpf
Simone.Stumpf.1@city.ac.uk

2. The current UX market
• Need for specialists in HCI / UX / usability
• Agency- and client-side but also increasingly start-ups
• Some industrial and academic research
UX Consultant
Information Architect
User Researcher
Interaction DesignerUsability Analyst

3. Learning landscape
• Undergraduate Computing degrees (BSc, BA)
• MOOCs e.g. HCI on Coursera
• Private companies
• MSc or MA programmes
MSc HCI
MSc Computing Interaction Design
MA User Experience Design
MA Digital Media
MSc Human-Centred Interactive Technologies
MA Interaction Design
MSc User Experience Engineering
MSc Human-Centred Systems
MSc HCI with Ergonomics
MSc User Experience Design

4. Example Programme Content
• Ergonomics for Design
– Task analysis, posture, anthropometry, ergonomics standards
and techniques
• Design Experience 1 + 2
– Ergonomic design process and techniques, UCD
• Applied Cognitive Science
– Theory of human cognition and behaviour, experimental studies
• Design practice
– Requirements elicitation and specification, design techniques
• User-Centred Evaluation Methods
– Analytical and empirical techniques (inspection techniques,
interviews, observations)
• Options: Affective Interaction, Socio-technical systems: IT and the
future of Work, Interfaces and Interactivity

5. Example Programme Content
• Digital Interdisciplinary Practice
– Iterative/agile design process
• Digital Content Production Processes
– Digital media production deliverables
• User Factors
– Behavioural theory, analysis techniques
• Experience Design 1 + 2
– Design research including design of solution, experience design
methodologies
• Usability Engineering
– Usability requirements, analysis and design
• Options: Design Research Project, Games Design, Live Project,
Creative Research Methods, Digital Audio

6. Knowledge and skills
Interfaces/systems
technical
understanding
User cognition and behaviour
HCI/UX techniques and practice
Analytical/research skills/professional issues/soft skills
Web
Mobile
NUIs
Analysis
Design
Evaluation
Specialist
Topics
Specialist
Topics
Desktop

7. MSc Human-Centred Systems
• Practices and Theories in Interaction Design
– Cognitive theory, UCD, analysis, design, evaluation activities
• Requirements Engineering
– Requirements acquisition, modelling and analysis techniques
• Information Architecture
– Information organisation, navigation/search, design techniques, analytics
• Evaluating Interactive Systems
– Evaluation techniques (expert, user testing, etc.)
• Inclusive Design
– Accessibility, designing for diverse users
• Cognition and Technologies
– Cognitive frameworks in relation to novel interfaces
• Research, Methods and Professional Issues
– Research methodologies, legal, ethical and professional issues
• Options: Creativity in Design, Multimedia Design and Development, Data
Visualisation, Telemedicine

8. Striking the right balance
Theory – Practice
Tools – Techniques
Specialists – “All-rounders”
Developers – Designers – Researchers