The PhD in Human-Centered Design prepares students to become interdisciplinary scholars who can apply a variety of methodological approaches at the intersection of technology, human behavior, and design. Students will be able to explore the use of technologies in the context of complex problems through empirical studies and apply results to the design of innovative technologies, strategies, and practices. By working with world renowned faculty, students will be trained to advance the field of human-centered design through participation in research relevant to both academic and practitioner communities. Students will be prepared for careers in academic institutions, industry research labs, and government and civic organizations.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:

Design and conduct research studies including determining the appropriate research methodology for the context and implementing research protocols, and analyzing data.
Engage in academic research discussions, including, but not limited to, conducting literature reviews and engaging in academic writing.
Translate research findings into principles to design human-centered experiences.
Create design-based artifacts and experiences in a chosen disciplinary area.

Career Opportunities
Students will engage in research that integrates theories from various fields, including (but not limited to) social computing, human computer interaction, games and learning sciences.
Students will be prepared for careers in:

Academia (in departments such as information sciences, computing, design, learning sciences),
Industry research labs (like Google, Motorola Labs, Lucent Technologies, IBM), and
Government and civic organizations (e.g., OpenCivic, City of Chicago, Data & Society).