M.S. Interaction Design and Information Architecture

Course Descriptions:

IDIA 612-- Interaction and Interface Design
Explores electronic publication environments as fluid spaces where interactions among people, machines, and media (words, images, sounds, video, animations, simulations) must be structured for the unforeseen. The course focuses on planning, analyzing, prototyping, and integrating interaction design with interface design.

IDIA 614-- Sequential Visualization and Analysis
Teaches students to use sequential visual narratives—story boards, flowcharts, prototypes, and simulations—as analysis tools for the development of information systems. The course draws on theoretical approaches to film as well as other forms of visual storytelling including animation, illustration, and comics. Through a series of practical analytical and creative projects, students learn to apply story boards and limited multimedia prototypes both to interface design and to content development.

IDIA 618-- Dynamic Web Sites
Familiarizes students with the basic concepts and vocabulary of Web site programming, including application scripting, database management, object-oriented programming and full-lifecycle software development. It provides students with the fundamental skills required to develop and maintain a dynamic data-driven Web site. Each student will develop a complete Web site using a simple text editor to create and manipulate relational data, learn a middleware markup language to store and retrieve data and control the rules of interaction, and write HTML to format data and control display. Lab fee required. prerequisite: PBDS 660 or passing score on the Hypermedia Proficiency Exam.

IDIA 619-- Interactive Multimedia
A practical and theoretical introduction to genres, strategies and techniques for producing multimedia content for the Internet. Students examine existing multimedia content while developing creative skills in one or more standard authoring systems. Background readings provide theoretical context for development of individual projects. Lab fee required. prerequisite: PBDS 660 or passing score on the Hypermedia Proficiency Exam.

IDIA 620-- Information Culture
Surveys important developments, implications, and problems in the development of modern information technologies, emphasizing their relevance to the Internet and other current contexts. Students are expected to become conversant with the technical and intellectual roots of technological development and at the same time to understand important social issues in which that development is implicated. Beginning with the transition from orality to literacy and moving through the emergence of print, the course situates innovation in larger narratives of cultural change and historical process, continuing into the post-Cold-War expansion. Instructors will focus on various relevant themes that may include electronic democracy, the digital divide, globalization and post-nationalism, identity and security issues, and the social implications of "mass" versus "hyper" media.

IDIA 630-- Information Architecture
Teaches students to gather requirements data, model information structures, and develop a variety of documents to communicate the information architecture to other participants, including technical experts, usability experts, clients, and users. Students learn to determine a target audience, develop personas or user profiles, refine and validate requirements, create site maps, functional specifications, wireframes, etc.

IDIA 640-- Humans, Computers, and Cognition
Introduces students to concepts, theories, and methods drawn from the fields of cognitive psychology and human-computer interaction that support user-centered system design. Issues relating to problem solving, knowledge representation, structure of knowledge systems, and problems of interface design are emphasized. This course prepares students to understand and analyze research based on empirical study of human behavior and on models of learning and understanding.

IDIA 642-- Research Methods for Interaction Design
Introduces user research methods such as contextual inquiry, ethnographic field studies, card sorting, image collaging, and usability testing that provide the foundation for user-centered interaction design.

IDIA 799-- IDIA Thesis/Project
A six-credit course in which each student develops a substantial project or produces a Master's level thesis.

Elective Courses

Students may take any combination of courses from among the approved electives, of which a representative sample is listed below. Students may choose to concentrate their choices in one of the four focus areas. Other courses, in addition to those listed below, may be used as electives with the approval of the program director.

Technical Focus:

Creating Technical Documents (PBDS 606)
Writing and design of manuscripts directed to professional and lay audiences, including technical proposals, manuals, and software documentation. Emphasis on integration of text with graphics such as charts, graphs, drawings, and photographs.
Data Base Management (INSS 651)
Theories and concepts employed in data base management systems (DBMS) and the efficiencies and economies of such systems. The function of various types (hierarchical, network, relational, etc.) of DBMS are described, including their purpose, advantages, disadvantages, and applications in business. Prerequisite: INSS 610 or INSS 640.
Dynamic Web Sites (IDIA 618)
Familiarizes students with the basic concepts and vocabulary of Web site programming, including application scripting, database management, object-oriented programming, and full-lifecycle software development. It provides students with the fundamental skills required to develop and maintain a dynamic data-driven Web site. Each student will develop a complete Web site using a simple text editor to create and manipulate relational data, learn a middleware markup language to store and retrieve data and control the rules of interaction, and write HTML to format data and control display. Prerequisite: PBDS 660 or a passing score on the Hypermedia Proficiency Exam. Lab fee required.
End-User Computing (INSS 775)
Studies the technology and methods for end-user systems development using advanced software tools. Management of end-user computing is examined from Information Center strategies to the utilization of resident information systems consultants and corporate standards. Prerequisites: All required M.S. Courses except INSS 789.
Human Factors in Information Systems (INSS 777)
A study of the non-ergonomic issues in the human-system interface. Such technologies include: menu structures and styles, use of graphic-systems, icon-based menus, touch screens, audio, hypertext, etc. The impact of these technologies on human-computer interaction, information presentations, human-computer communication, and human performance is examined. Student projects examine current empirical studies in this area. Prerequisites: All required M.S. Courses except INSS 789.
Hypermedia Production (IDIA 616)
Hands-on investigation of strategies and problem solving techniques involved in the production of practical interactive publications. Students work intensively on a major electronic publishing project.
Information System Techniques (INSS 610)
Explores the fundamental theories, concepts and principles of information systems in organizations. Emphasizes understanding the role of information systems in organizations and the need for managing information resources. Examines the role of theories, concepts and principles in analyzing and solving practical problems.
Interactive Multimedia (IDIA 619)
A practical and theoretical introduction to genres, strategies, and techniques for producing multimedia content for the Internet. Students examine existing multimedia content while developing creative skills in one or more standard authoring systems. Background readings provide theoretical context for development of individual projects. Prerequisite: PBDS 660 or a passing score on the Hypermedia Proficiency Exam. Lab fee required.
Telecommunications (INSS 650)
Covers fundamentals, as well as the state-of-the-art, of using telecommunications in business. Emphasizes managing and using telecommunications to meet organizational goals. Telecommunication technology and current practices are included. Topics include distributed data processing, communications techniques, network design, management, and security and ethical issues. Deregulation, international networks, and the impact of telecommunications on the organizational environment are also discussed. Prerequisite: INSS 610 or INSS 640.
Special Topics (IDIA 750)
Intensive exploration of topics in interaction design and information architecture of mutual interest to students and faculty. Content varies according to the concurrent interests of the faculty and students.

Arts and Culture focus:

Design Strategies (PBDS 640)
Exploration through hands-on design projects of the roles of typography, photography, and illustration in graphic communication. Analysis of audience, context, goals, market, competition, and technical constraints. Brainstorming and problem solving in groups and individually. Projects will be suitable for inclusion in the student's portfolio.
History of Communication (PBDS 711)
Technological developments that moved human communication from the primitive to the sophisticated process it is today. The course will focus on the impact of each new technology on institutions and society.
Typography across Media (PBDS 646)
The application of basic principles of typographic design within a range of media contexts, from traditional print to CD-ROM and the Internet. Students will explore how the media affect their options as designers. Topics include screen resolution and legibility, typographic hierarchy, multi-page and multi-path sequencing, animation, style, and appropriateness. Lab fee required.
Special Topics (IDIA 750)
Intensive exploration of topics in interaction design and information architecture of mutual interest to students and faculty. Content varies according to the concurrent interests of the faculty and students.

Cognitive and Ethnographic focus:

Learning and Cognition (APPL 603)
A study of the major theories and models of human learning from both the traditional behaviorist perspective and the contemporary cognitive perspective and an experiential overview of how people acquire, store, and use information. This theoretical and empirical information will be applied to the understanding of human behavior in a wide variety of settings.
Ethnography of Digital Culture (IDIA 644)
Qualitative Research Methods (APPL 810)
Focuses on the predominant techniques for designing, collecting, and analyzing qualitative data. Various methods of data collection such as naturalistic observation, informal interviewing, in depth immersion (ethnography), and focus groups are studied. Covers topics relating to content analysis, coding responses, ethical issues and comparing qualitative measures.
Special Topics (IDIA 750)
Intensive exploration of topics in interaction design and information architecture of mutual interest to students and faculty. Content varies according to the concurrent interests of the faculty and students.

Management and Entrepreneurship focus:

Business Process Re-engineering (PUAD 789)
Focuses on how public administrators can use business process re-engineering to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Course examines various tools, techniques, methodologies, and technologies for bringing about change in organizational structures, policies, procedures, processes, and management systems.
Design Business Link (PBDS 705/MGMT 797)
Intense global competition has forced businesses to find ways to grow and expand their product lines. History show us that design is the most reliable instrument to do this. This course will focus on helping business people and designers form closer partnerships so that the end result is designers who understand the needs of business and business people who know how to work well with designers in order to accomplish specific business goals.
Entrepreneurial Finance (FIN 797)
Specialized topics in finance, allowing flexibility for both the changing developments in finance and the education needs of students. Topic areas may include working capital management, small business finance, corporate restructuring, fixed income, or other more in-depth areas of finance.
Information Resource Management (PUAD 626)
The role of computers in developing and managing information necessary for decision making in public organizations. Includes consideration of computer applications, specifically: the development and management of data bases; and the use of software applications to decision making in both individual and distributed computing contexts. Also considers implications of computer technology, such as privacy, control, and security. Working knowledge of spreadsheets and data base software is required. Prerequisite: successful passage of the computer competency exam or demonstrated computer competency.
Intellectual Property Issues (MGMT 797)
An intensive exploration of topics in the area of management. Topics include e-commerce, leadership, organizational theory, or best business practice.
Opportunity Analysis (MGMT 762)
Introduces the subject of opportunity analysis and entrepreneurship, and the practice of its requisite skills. Includes the analysis of markets, preliminary cost feasibility and intellectual property audit. Also involves the creation and development of preliminary strategy positioning appropriate to the market opportunity. Prerequisite: MGMT 504.
Public Information Management (PUAD 780)
Policy and organizational issues regarding information resource management. IRM Strategic Planning at the government-wide and agency levels, and the problems facing public organizations in terms of governance (oversight), financing, and politics of technology planning. Considered are: privacy and confidentiality challenges related to government information; standards setting at the government-wide and agency levels; workplace use policies; and personnel problems. Also explores planning and implementation problems related to the re-design of public organizations.
Special Topics (IDIA 750)
Intensive exploration of topics in interaction design and information architecture of mutual interest to students and faculty. Content varies according to the concurrent interests of the faculty and students.

Information Arts & Technologies