Faculty and research scientists in the department of Human Centered Design & Engineering run directed research groups, which offer students a wide range of opportunities to do hands-on work, from conducting usability tests for local companies all the way to collecting data on communication issues internationally.
Students interested in participating in directed research must get permission directly from the faculty member leading the group. Undergraduate students enroll in HCDE 496, while graduate students register for HCDE 596. HCDE MS students are required to register for the PCE section of HCDE 596. For details on how to register, please visit the Variable Credit Registration Policy.
Students are encouraged to check this list frequently as Directed Research Groups are added leading up to the beginning of the quarter.
Autumn 2025
- Emerging Minds: Consciousness in Humans, Animals, AI (Marks)
- Generative AI Research Group (NetID Login) (Ghosh, Aragon)
- Technology Impacts, Community Futures: Engaging Marine Energy Engineers on Community Concerns (Hirsch, Twedt)
Summer 2025
- Explorations in Human Centered Game Design (Arpita)
- Mental health in the aviation industry (Aragon, Perkins)
- Rainier Valley Food Bank: Envisioning New Client Services (Davidson)
- Participatory Design with Children and Researchers (Yip, Kientz, Lee, Pitt, Hiniker)
Registration Process
To register for a variable credit course, students should first consult a faculty member or advisor to obtain an instructor code. HCDE MS students are required to register for the PCE sections of HCDE 596 and HCDE 599.
To register for a variable credit course, students must collect the following information:
- Course SLN (from MyPlan or the Time Schedule)
- Faculty code (from the instructor)
- Number of Credits* (from the instructor)
*One credit equates to three hours of work each week. Students should discuss the number of credits with the supervising instructor.