Program Notes
- No GRE required.
- Merit scholarships are available, with no additional application required.
- Current BU students & alumni: learn about the Double Terrier scholarship.
- International students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
You already know how to think. This program teaches you how to design.
UX and UI design shape how billions of people experience technology every day. The digital products that feel intuitive, the apps that make sense, the healthcare tools that reduce patient frustration — someone designed those experiences deliberately. This program teaches you how to do the same.
Our rigorous curriculum covers the entire end-to-end design ecosystem, moving seamlessly from user research and conceptual ideation to functional prototyping, implementation, and product leadership.
What makes BU’s MS in Human Centered Design different
- A communications foundation. Product managers and stakeholders don’t just buy good design — they buy the strategy behind it. Storytelling, persuasion, and the ability to explain your design decisions are built into the curriculum here, not bolted on. That’s what studying HCD within a communications college gets you.
- End-to-end training. You won’t just learn one isolated slice of the pipeline. You’ll master user research, collaborative ideation, high-fidelity prototyping, and product leadership.
- AI-aware from the start. Generative and assistive AI tools are permanently changing how designers work. This program takes a thoughtful, human-centered approach to deploying AI effectively, ethically, and with a clear understanding of its impact on users.
- Open to any background. You don’t need a design degree to apply. The program is built for career-changers, humanities and social science graduates, engineers, and anyone else with curiosity about how people interact with technology.
- Nine months. Full curriculum, real projects, a completed portfolio. Graduate in just two semesters.
Curriculum + what you’ll learn
Delivered over two full-time semesters, the 32-credit curriculum ensures you reach design and research competency before moving directly into an intensive, client-facing capstone.
Core Sequence (7 courses/24 credits)
- Human Centered Design I (4 credits) — Learn to set product vision, apply user research, and use design thinking to create empathetic, inclusive experiences. This is where the foundations go in.
- Research Methods in User Experience Design (4 credits) — Master quantitative and qualitative research methods and learn when and how to use each throughout the design process.
- Ideation & Design Thinking (2 credits) — Generate and evaluate creative solutions to complex problems through structured brainstorming, design sprints, and collaborative workshops.
- User Interface Design & Prototyping (2 credits) — Build intuitive, accessible digital interfaces. Learn visual hierarchy, interaction patterns, and usability principles, then bring it all to life with prototyping tools.
- UX Writing & Information Architecture (4 credits) — Shape how users navigate and understand products through structure and language. Study content strategy, microcopy, taxonomy, and information architecture.
- Human Centered Design II (Capstone) (4 credits) — Lead a client- or research-driven project applying the full design process in a real-world context. This is the centerpiece of your portfolio.
- Product Management & Leadership OR Leadership Communication (4 credits) — Choose the track that fits your goals. Product Management covers roadmap planning, backlog management, and stakeholder alignment. Leadership communication focuses on storytelling, negotiation, and leading cross-disciplinary teams.
Electives (choose 2 courses/ 8 credits)
Tailor your expertise with specialized graduate courses such as:
- Data Visualization
- Design Strategy & Software
- Design & Interactive Experiences
- Media Theory, Law & Policy
- Interactive Marketing Strategy
- Design & Art Direction
- Brand Experience Marketing
Career outcomes: what can you do with a master’s in human-centered design?
Human-centered design skills are in massive demand across tech, healthcare, education, financial services, government, and emerging AI sectors. Our graduates don’t just push pixels—they conduct research, architect digital strategies, and lead cross-functional product teams.
Graduates are prepared for roles such as:
- Product Designer
- UX/UI Designer
- UX Researcher
- Product Manager
- Design Researcher
- Information Architect
- Content/UX Writer
- Customer Experience (CX) Strategist
- Human-Centered AI Specialist
- Usability Analyst
- Service Designer
The program is nine months – short enough to get you into the field quickly, rigorous enough that employers notice.
Learn from Industry-Connected Faculty
BU’s HCD faculty are researchers and practitioners working across UX, product design, media science, strategy, and communication. You’ll learn from people who do this work, not just study it.
Program at a Glance
- Degree: Master of Science (MS)
- STEM-Designated: Yes (International graduates are eligible for the 36-month OPT extension)
- Credits: 32 | Courses: 9
- Duration: 9 months (2 semesters, full-time)
- Format: On-campus (Boston, MA)
- Entry Term: Fall
- GRE: Not required
Ready to apply?
We welcome curious applicants from all undergraduate majors. Our foundational coursework is structured to ensure that career-switchers build rapid technical competency right alongside experienced creatives. The GRE is not required.
Learn more about application requirements, deadlines, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions about the MS in Human Centered Design
What is human-centered design?
Human-centered design is an approach to solving problems that begins with understanding the needs, behaviors, and experiences of the people you’re designing for. It combines research, strategy, design, testing, and iteration to create products, services, and experiences that are useful, accessible, and effective.
Do I really not need a design background to apply?
Correct. We actively seek diverse cohorts. Whether your background is in the humanities, social sciences, business, engineering, or fine arts, our curriculum is structured to bring you up to professional design competency within your first semester.
How long is the program?
Two semesters – nine months. Nine courses, 32 credits, and a completed portfolio.
Is this program STEM-designated?
Yes. International graduates are eligible for the 36-month OPT extension to work in the US after graduation.
What is the difference between this degree and a UX bootcamp?
This is a comprehensive master’s degree from a world-class research university, not a trade bootcamp. While bootcamps often focus entirely on surface-level design tools (like Figma software mechanics), BU’s MS teaches you deep user research methodologies, strategic product management, and executive communication. You graduate with an institutional credential that commands immediate respect from corporate recruiters, not just a certificate of completion.
Is this program offered online?
No. The MS in Human-Centered Design is an intensive, immersive, on-campus program located at our Boston, MA campus, utilizing our physical creation spaces and collaborative design labs.
Also worth exploring
Learn more about our other graduate programs in communication and media, including:
- MS in Media Science: Focuses on data-driven research into how media messages influence audience psychology. It is an excellent fit for students drawn strictly to the research and analytics side of media rather than digital product design.
- MA in Emerging Media Studies: Built for students who want to conduct deep social science research into how emerging technologies alter human behavioral patterns, rather than building the practical design interfaces themselves.
Ready for What’s Next?
If you’re ready to master the tools, command the research, and navigate the future of design with absolute confidence, we want to hear from you.
As you pull your application materials together, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our graduate admissions team with any questions. True design thinkers always ask the best questions.