University of Baltimore
Yesterday I took a half-day at work and drove up to Baltimore to visit UB and ask a lot of questions about the Interaction Design and Information Architecture master’s of science program.
This program grabbed my interest because of the flexibility in the curriculum, focus of the curriculum, science-oriented approach, and opportunity to do research. I have been passively looking at programs in the area, and none of them grabbed my interest in curriculum as this one did.
There are about 5 core classes and a thesis which are required for the degree. The rest of the requirements are basically up for grabs. They do a good job on the program page of seperating possible concentration disciplines including technical, cultural, cognitive, and managerial. These are just suggestions, and with approval, the curriculum could be shaped however I wanted.
The program has several grants including one from the National Science Foundation to explore interactive and instructional educational media. The thesis is suggested to be research-based and many of the courses in the suggested curriculum include hands-on usability testing (they have a nice lab on-site) and research methods.
Some people have stigmas about school names, departments, and degree names. I have a B.A. in Multimedia, but I am certainly more skilled in Computer Science. UB is part of the University System of Maryland but isnt as prestiged as University of Maryland at College Park. The actual department awarding the MS in IDIA is a communication/art department. But none of this matters to me.
One of the major reasons why I am not interested in the UMCP Information Systems program (Masters of Information Management) is because it is business-oriented, not science-oriented. The curriculum is tight and unflexible and many students participate in the program for the piece of paper and name, not the academic freedoms other programs provide. UMCP has a leg up in HCI because of its well known HCI-Lab. But since UB s in the USMD, inter-collegiate courses can be taken, and there is an opportunity for participation in the HCIL.
So the program looks pretty interesting and I will probably apply to it. The deadline for fall is August 1st, so I could possibly go back to school as soon as this fall. I would probably only take one class until I get Maryland residency.
seele :: Jun.15.2005 :: Academics, General, HCI, Life :: 2 Comments »
Watch that - as far as I know, if you enter as a student without residency, you *never* get residency. Check with Brian - I think he did it, but I TX, it wasn’t possible.
If i dont get residency in january ill have to quit. I have enough evidence to prove I moved to maryland to work, not to go to school.