Program notes
- No GRE required
- Merit scholarships are available, with no additional application needed
- 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.
You’ll learn the full design process, from understanding users and generating ideas to prototyping solutions, testing experiences, and leading product development.
What makes BU’s MS in Human Centered Design different
- A communication foundation. Good design isn’t enough–you also need to explain the strategy behind it. Storytelling, persuasion, and the ability to communicate your design decisions are built into the curriculum here, not bolted on. That’s what studying human-centered design within a college of communication gets you.
- End-to-end training. You won’t just learn one isolated slice of the design process. You’ll develop skills in user research, collaborative ideation, prototyping, and product leadership.
- AI-aware from the start. Generative and assistive AI tools are 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 curious about how people interact with technology.
- Nine months. Two semesters. Real projects and a completed portfolio.
Curriculum + what you’ll learn
Over two full-time semesters, you’ll build expertise across UX research, interface design, prototyping, information architecture, and product leadership—then bring it all together in 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 you’ll build your foundation.
- Research Methods in User Experience Design (4 credits): Develop expertise in 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 that applies the full design process to a real challenge. 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 demand across technology, healthcare, education, financial services, government, and emerging AI sectors. Our graduates do more than design interfaces—they conduct research, shape digital strategy, 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
Nine months—short enough to move into the field quickly, comprehensive enough to build serious expertise.
Learn from industry-connected faculty
BU’s human-centered design faculty are researchers and practitioners with expertise across UX, product design, media science, strategy, and communication. You’ll learn from people who do this work, not just study it. That interdisciplinary mix matters: great products require more than good design. They require an understanding of people, behavior, strategy, and how to communicate ideas across teams.
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?
If you’re curious about how people interact with technology and motivated to design better experiences, we want to hear from you. Our foundational coursework helps students build strong design and research skills while learning alongside classmates with a wide range of creative, technical, academic, and professional experience. 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?
No design background is required. We welcome applicants from the humanities, social sciences, business, engineering, fine arts, and beyond. The curriculum is designed to help students from varied backgrounds build strong design and research skills from the ground up.
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 U.S. after graduation.
What is the difference between this degree and a UX bootcamp?
A UX bootcamp typically focuses on building practical design skills over a short period of time. BU’s MS in Human Centered Design goes deeper, combining user research, interface design, information architecture, product strategy, leadership, and communication within a comprehensive graduate degree.
You’ll learn not just how to use design tools, but how to understand users, make research-informed decisions, communicate your strategy, and lead products from idea to implementation.
Is this program offered online?
No. The MS in Human Centered Design is an intensive, on-campus program in Boston, giving students access to collaborative learning, hands-on project work, and BU’s design and research resources.
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 audiences and communication effectiveness. It’s an excellent fit for students drawn to research, analytics, and media strategy rather than digital product design.
- MA in Emerging Media Studies: Explores how emerging technologies shape human behavior, communities, institutions, and society. It’s a strong fit for students interested in social science research and the broader impacts of technology rather than designing digital products and interfaces.
Start designing what comes next
If you’re curious about how people interact with technology—and ready to design better experiences, communicate your ideas, and lead with empathy—we want to hear from you.
As you prepare your application, our graduate admissions team is here to answer your questions and help you determine whether the MS in Human Centered Design is the right next step.