[IxDA Discuss] Cognitive Science degree a good option?

[Erika Orrick]

Rizwan,

If you just want to do Interaction Design, I wouldn't go all the way through
the Cog Sci program.  I would, however, recommend you fit in the HCI 1 and
HCI Lab class at UT Dallas while you are there.  As a disclaimer, I do teach
these courses, but since my day job is a user experience designer in the
"real world" I teach them to be very practical.

The Lab class is very focused on real world techniques such as Heuristic
Evals, Task Analyses, CI, Card Sorting, Usability Testing, etc and how to
produce documentation for clients and others in the workplace.  I show
various types of wireframes and prototypes and the strengths and weaknesses
of each as a communication tool.  We talk about how to fit user-centered
design into the workplace, including a small section on ROI.   And we get
off on lots of tangents.

The HCI 1 class is more theoretical, focusing at the begining on some
psychology and human factors theory, but mainly as an introduction to
interaction design and usability principles (you know, why do cognitive
science people get so freaked out over the color blue? because the human eye
really isn't equipped to view it, and here's why, yadda, yadda)  I have a
lot of current software engineers and web folk in my current class this
semester.

I completely agree with Christopher that you want to study design.  I think
these 6 hours will get you enough exposure to the rest of everything else
people might expect you to know without having to completely rework your
degree plan.  I think the next class up in the sequence is the Lab class in
the spring on Monday evenings.  Feel free to email directly if you have
questions.  I get paid next to nothing, I teach because I love doing it, so
you won't hurt my feelings if you decide not to do it :)

Erika

On 9/16/06, Rizwan Javaid <mindseye at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
> material.]
>
> Hi Everybody,     I have been a Web designer for almost 6 years now and I
> want to move into the Interaction design field. I am currently at University
> of Texas at Dallas and working towards a BA in Arts and Technology. I would
> like to get some opinions as to wether I should also get a BA in Cognitive
> science since they do not offer an Interaction design degree or just get my
> BA in ATEC and then find another university that does offer a more focused
> degree.  What  do you think?Thanks,Rizwan
>
>
>
>
>
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