PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering
Why Human Centered Design & Engineering?
In the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE), students are designing the future by building innovative technologies and systems. Putting people first, HCDE students and faculty research, design, and engineer interactions between humans and technology. HCDE students and faculty focus on understanding human needs and interests as they work together to solve engineering design problems and build engineering solutions.
HCDE is an interdisciplinary engineering department at the University of Washington in Seattle, an internationally-ranked, R1 research institution. HCDE's award winning interdisciplinary faculty have graduate degrees from fields such as computer science, industrial engineering, information studies, education, English, linguistics, public policy, technology and society studies, and urban planning. Students and faculty in HCDE also collaborate with other campus units through UW events, the design-use-build (dub) consortium, the Change consortium, etc.
PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering
The PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington provides unparalleled depth and experience for students interested in studying the conception, design, implementation, and evaluation of technologies. In addition to learning through relevant and contemporary coursework, students work closely with faculty on real-world projects and research questions through research assistantships and directed research groups, often taking a leadership role in these efforts. Students graduate with an engineering degree from HCDE.
Curriculum
Students in the PhD program in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) complete 105+ credits of coursework and research en route to earning their engineering degree. This total includes 34 core course credits, 12 credits of directed research, 30 credits of approved electives representing the department's four thematic areas, and 27 credits of dissertation research.
Careers
Graduates receive engineering degrees and are prepared to be national and international leaders in the field, securing jobs both in academia and industry.
Located in Seattle, the University of Washington has a beautiful campus in the heart of the city. HCDE is housed in the College of Engineering, and benefits from the research tradition of a leading R1 institution. Seattle has a vibrant and innovative tech community, and companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, Boeing, Intel, and IBM have a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, Seattle has a strong start-up and entrepreneurial community, with more than 500 start-ups calling Seattle home.
