Human Computer Interaction (Taught)

The MSc in Human Computer Interaction provides students with the tools, knowledge and skills to become practitioners in the areas of user experience, usability, information visualisation, human factors in computing systems, and human computer interaction research.

Compulsory modules:

Students must take the following compulsory modules:

1. Human computer interaction principles and methods
2. User-centred interaction design

And one of:

3. Object-Oriented Modelling, Design and Programming
4. Alternatively, students with no programming experience can take Programming Principles and Practice

and one or both of:

5. Information Visualisation
6. Interactive Software and Hardware

Optional modules:

The following modules are optional for Computer Science programmes. Not all combinations of modules will be available for all programmes, and some modules are subject to pre-requisites being satisfied.

Students choose two or three optional modules. In the 'Additional optional' lists below, students can only take up to two of the modules in each list.

Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered.

1. Artificial intelligence principles
2. Artificial intelligence practice
3. Critical Systems Engineering
4. Data-Intensive Systems
5. Knowledge Discovery and Datamining
6. Language and Computation
7. Machine Learning
8. Principles of Computer Communication Systems
9. Software Architecture
10. Software Engineering Practice
11. Software Engineering Principles

Additional optional modules:

Students may take up to two of the following:

1. Advanced Communication Networks and Systems
2. Computer Architecture
3. Computer Graphics
4. Computer Security
5. Concurrency and Multi-Core Architectures
6. Constraint Programming
7. Distributed Systems
8. Logic and Software Verification
9. Programming Language Design and Implementation
10. Signal Processing: Sound, Image, Video
11. Video Games

Students may take up to two of the following:

1. Database Management Systems
2. Information Security Management
3. Web Technologies

Dissertation Project:

During the second semester, students work with staff to define and agree upon a topic for the extended project, which they will work on during the final three months of the course. The project finishes in a 15,000-word dissertation. Dissertation projects may be group-based or completed individually (students are assessed individually in either case).

The dissertation typically comprises:

• a review of related work
• the extension of existing or the development of new ideas
• software implementation and testing
• analysis and evaluation.

Students are required to give a presentation of their work in addition to the written dissertation.

Each project is supervised by one or two members of staff, typically through regular meetings and reviews of software and dissertation drafts.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma instead, finishing the course at the end of the second semester of study.

Most modules are assessed through practical coursework exercises and examinations.

All students will be required to complete a Post Entry Language Assessment (PELA) on arrival at the University of St Andrews. Based on their performance in this assessment, students will be advised to attend targeted support sessions during the year to improve language and academic skills.

This assessment is required, but will not count towards the final degree classification.