Master of Science [M.S] [Human-Computer Interaction and Social Media] From Umea University

The MSc Human-Computer Interaction and Social Media programme from Umea University places high demands on independence and creativity and is characterised by collaborations with the surrounding society. At your disposal, well-equipped computer labs and a dedicated interaction design lab are available.

The Master's programme in Human-Computer Interaction and Social Media is for students who want to help influence the way interaction between people and IT develops. The programme focuses on the analysis and design of interactions between people and IT across a wide spectrum of usage situations such as the workplace, where efficiency and usability is at the centre, to situations where user experience, generated by individual or collaboratively, is the main aspect.

As a student, you will encounter research areas such as design, interaction design, user experience design and social media, via both theoretical and practical courses. Whether you choose to read one or two years you will be well prepared for working in any context in which the interaction between humans and IT is in focus. The programme provides a clear structure with four informatics courses, but also flexibility through elective courses.

The programme places high demands on students in terms of independence, initiative and creativity. The studies are characterized by a pedagogy that emphasizes theory and practice as two equivalent elements and thereby prepares you for both a professional and an academic career. For developing your practical skills there are well-equipped computer labs available as well as a dedicated interaction design lab (including experimental electronics, 3D printer and laser cutter).

Career Opportunities

After graduation, you are well prepared to work in all contexts where interaction between humans and IT is at center stage. This could consist of responsibilities related to understanding and developing usability and user experience of existing IT artifacts, evaluating implementations of these artifacts as well as participation in design and development of new artifacts.

Former students have after graduation received appointments such as:

• Interaction designers
• System developers
• Software developers
• Web developers
• Usability designers
• Researchers