CS 640
Spring 2026
Graduate
Human-Computer Interaction
Design and evaluation of interactive systems, covering usability, accessibility, and participatory design methods.
Course overview
This course introduces the theory and practice of designing and evaluating interactive systems. Students work through the full design cycle — needfinding, prototyping, and usability evaluation — culminating in a semester-long design project conducted with a real community partner.
Topics covered
- Needfinding and participatory design methods
- Low- and high-fidelity prototyping
- Usability testing and heuristic evaluation
- Accessibility standards and inclusive design
- Introduction to human-AI interaction and trust calibration
Prerequisites
An introductory programming course. No prior design experience required — this course is explicitly designed for both CS and non-CS backgrounds.
Grading
- 35% — Semester-long team design project
- 25% — Individual usability evaluation assignment
- 20% — Weekly design critiques and reading responses
- 20% — Final presentation and written report