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Future Students

Future Students

We build possibility.

In the department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE), students and faculty advance systems and technologies for people and communities to create accessible, sustainable, and prosperous futures. We thrive at the critical junction of research, education, and community to cultivate equity, access, and opportunity.

HCDE is an interdisciplinary engineering department at the University of Washington in Seattle, an internationally-ranked, R1 research institution. Our students and faculty collaborate across other University units and with industry partners.

Academic Programs

The department of Human Centered Design & Engineering offers four academic programs:

Faculty and Research

Our department has a world-renowned reputation for excellence in interdisciplinary research. Our success is grounded in our faculty, who come from fields as diverse as computer science, linguistics, public policy and English. From experimental studies of communication design variables to cultural studies of technology, their award-winning research breaks new ground and has broadened the knowledge base of our field.

Students

Students come to HCDE from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, enriching each cohort with a unique body of knowledge and skills. The HCDE student body is diverse; about one-third of our students are underrepresented minorities and about one-third are international. Slightly more than half of our students are female. The HCDE Student Associations organize events for students to get involved in their community, learn outside the classroom, and make lasting connections.

Careers

HCDE graduates find jobs as User Experience (UX) designers and researchers, usability evaluators, web and information developers, interaction designers, systems analysts, and more. Students often work with area companies on real-world research and projects during their coursework. More »

Location

Located in one of the world's leading science and technology regions, the University of Washington in Seattle gives students access to local tech giants such as Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Boeing, Intel, and other prominent companies with offices in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, Seattle has strong start-up, non-profit and entrepreneurial communities.