Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE). HCDE is an internationally recognized department in the College of Engineering at the University of Washington that focuses its education and research activities on human-computer interaction (HCI), socio-technical systems, user experience (UX) research and design, and engineering education.

We provide numerous opportunities for students to conduct research with faculty and industry partners. We offer a BS, MS, and PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering, as well as three different certificate programs (i.e., a User-Centered Design Certificate, a Global Technology & Communication Management Certificate, and a Technical Writing and Editing Certificate). We also have a program in Technical Japanese.

When our students graduate, they find employment primarily in the high-tech industry where they design user interfaces, websites, software user assistance, and other forms of user-centered communication. Graduates of our PhD program take positions at top level universities and in R&D groups in industry. As you will see by browsing our website, our award-winning faculty and students are changing the world through cutting-edge research that considers the role of communication and technology in human activity. It is an exciting time to be part of our growing department, and I hope you find our programs and activities as inspiring as I do.

Putting people first, we research, design, and engineer interactions between humans and technology.

Join us. Change the world.

Jan Spyridakis
Department Chair
Professor