BA/MS in Human-Centered Computing

• A student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher at UMBC and all other institutions attended
  • This is a minimum requirement, and attainment of a 3.2 GPA or higher does not guarantee admission to the combined degree program
  • The admission decision is determined on an individual basis considering the student’s past record, expected future performance, and how well the combined program would meet the student’s educational objectives
• Completed a minimum of 60 credits
• Must have passed at least one 3xx/4xx level course within the BTA major

Students should be aware of the current requirements for admission to the department’s Master level graduate programs so that they will complete coursework meeting these same requirements, or their equivalents.

Sophomore Year

• Students who are interested in the BA/MS HCC program should discuss their interest with a department advisor

Junior Year

• Request acceptance into the program in the first semester of junior year.
• This will be the semester following the one in which 60 credits have been earned toward the BA degree
• Must have passed at least one 3xx/4xx level course within the BTA major

Complete the Application

Students should be aware of the current requirements for admission to the department’s Master level graduate programs so that they will complete coursework meeting these same requirements, or their equivalents. Applicants should have completed or have those courses underway prior to applying for the BA/MS HCC program.

• Complete the online application form
• Request recommendations from two members of the faculty
• Faculty who are providing a recommendation should send an email to the Undergraduate Program Director, Mr. Richard Sponaugle, rspona1@umbc.edu, stating how they know the applicant and why they think the applicant is a good candidate for the combined program. The Undergraduate Programs Director will review the application and make a recommendation to the IS Graduate Program Director, who makes the admission decision. Students are notified of the decision, and the Graduate School is also informed when a student is accepted. This acceptance is by the IS Department only; the student still must formally apply to and be accepted by the Graduate School in order to finish the Masters portion of the program.
• Deadlines for applications to the combined programs are December 15 and June 15
• Recommendation letters and the student’s application must be received before the deadline

Please Note:

Acceptance into the combined program neither obligates the student to complete the program beyond the BA degree, nor does it obligate the Department or Graduate School to admit the student into the graduate program, when applying formally to the Graduate School. If the Graduate School finds reason to reject a student’s application, that decision is binding, even though the student may have been accepted into the combined degree program by the IS Department.

Once admitted to the combined program, the student must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average. No more than two grades in the Cs may be received in all courses taken after admission. If the GPA falls below 3.0 or if more than two grades in the Cs are received, the student will be removed from the combined program. This does not affect the student’s eligibility for the BA degree under normal University undergraduate requirements. Any one “D” or “F” also results in removal from the combined program.

Students in the combined program must formally apply for admission to the Graduate School before the UMBC Graduate School’s application deadline during the semester in which the course work for the BA is completed. No more than 9 credits of graduate courses may be taken while the student is paying undergraduate tuition. Students should fill out the paper application form to the Graduate School. The application fee is waived for students in the combined BA/HCC MS program.

Students in the combined program must take three of the courses required for the undergraduate major as graduate courses under their graduate course numbers. These courses are:

• HCC 629 (in place of IS303 in the BTA major), and
• Two from HCC 613, HCC 729, HCC 710 or an approved HCC graduate elective (one course can count in place of an IS upper level elective, while the second can count in place of upper level elective required by the university)

Note: For BA/MS students, HCC629 serves as a prerequisite for IS403.

These courses count for both degrees; therefore, a minimum of 21 additional credits is required for the Master’s degree. For additional information about MS requirements, see the HCC MS section of this website or the Graduate School Catalog.

Course requirements for students who were admitted to the accelerated program prior to Fall 2021.

What is Human-Centered Computing?

• A field dedicated to designing and creating technology to meet the needs, behaviors, and experiences of humans.

Why Study Human-Centered Computing?

• Studying Human-Centered Computing (HCC) is essential for developing technology that prioritizes user needs and experiences. This interdisciplinary field combines insights from computer science, psychology, design, and social sciences to create intuitive and effective solutions. By focusing on user-centric design, HCC enhances usability and accessibility, leading to greater user satisfaction and engagement. Students gain valuable problem-solving skills that enable them to analyze complex issues and craft solutions that improve human interaction with technology. As demand grows for roles such as user experience designers and usability researchers, HCC opens diverse career opportunities. This field emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and societal impacts, promoting responsible innovation in emerging technologies like AI.