Reach Your Full Potential In the UX Field
Bentley's Human Factors in Information Design (HFID) graduate program is an accelerator for successful careers in user experience (UX) research and design, as well as customer experience.
Students master UX research methods, including ethnography, field research, interviews, survey design, and formative and summative usability testing. Graduates with these in-demand HFID skills are sought after by top organizations across a variety of industries, from cutting-edge tech startups to the Fortune 500.
HFID Info Session
Thursday, February 2
Graduate Salaries
According to data from our MSHFID graduates from 2019 to 2020, the median starting salary you can expect with this degree is $107,000.
Rankings & Recognition
The MSHFID program at Bentley is named the top academic program by UX Magazine. Bentley's Master's programs are constantly evaluated and ranked highly, citing the strength of the curriculum and emphasis on helping students with career planning.
HFID in the News
Listen to a WBUR public radio interview with Professor Bill Gribbons from the Bentley HFID program on how students are working with the Massachusetts Trial Court to improve the user experience.
Personalize Your Experience
Program Overview
6
Years Average Professional Experience
95%
Domestic Placement Rate
31
Average age of students in this program
61%
Part-Time Students Enrolled
A Customizable Curriculum
The Masters in Human Factors is a 10-course program including three core human factors courses, five electives, and two business electives.
Human Factors Core: Up to Four Courses*
- HF 700 Foundations in Human Factors
- HF 710 Managing a User-Centered Design Team
- HF 725 UX Leadership and Management
- HF 750 Testing and Assessment Programs
- HF 715 Innovation Bootcamp
Human Factors Electives: Five Courses**
- HF 720 Localization and the Global Market
- HF 730 Visualizing Information
- HF 740 Information Architecture
- HF 751 Measuring the User Experience
- HF 760 Intelligent User Interfaces
General Electives: Two Courses**
- CS 602 Data-Driven Development with Python
- CS 607 Cybersecurity
- IPM 652 Managing with Analytics
- MG 632 Leading Effective Work Teams
- ST 625 Quantitative Analysis for Business
* Students have the option to take either HF 710 or HF 725 as part of their three core course requirements. Students may take both, and count one as an HF elective. Online students in California will be required to also take HF 715.
**This is a sample of courses you can select from, with more available in our program guide.
Meet Our Faculty
Here is a glimpse of some of our distinguished faculty you will meet during the course of your program duration here at Bentley. Our professors serve as advisors, mentors and collaborate with students on new and exciting projects.
Jon Ericson holds a Ph.D. from Brown Univeristy. Ericson uses virtual reality (VR), motion tracking, and eye tracking technologies to study human-computer interaction and experience design. As a designer and consultant, his work has earned a mention in Forbes, driven investments, received industry awards and nominations including a Webby nomination for Best User Interface and a rare 10/10 from Computer Music. As a researcher, Jon's work has been supported by Bentley University, Brown University's Brain Science Program, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the NASA RI Space Grant. His current research interests include healthcare communication, data visualization, environmental design, sustainability, and creative interfaces.
Relying on her multidisciplinary background, Dr. Ziat's approach to science is holistic; her goals are to better understand perception and human interaction with the natural and artificial environment. For the last eighteen years, she have been studying haptic perception by combining engineering, cognitive psychology, human-computer interaction (HCI), and neuroscience to understand all aspects of human touch. From the moment fingers contact a surface to the time information reaches the brain, her research focusses on making sense of sensations that lead to a stable perception of the world. Dr. Ziat holds an Electronic Engineering degree and a Master and Ph.D. in Cognitive Science.
Our Thought Leadership Network
Frequently Asked Questions about the MS HFID Program
Cutting Edge Centers & Labs
The Bentley MS HFID program gives students access to three comprehensive learning centers and facilities that offer hands on experience with real-world client work, utilizing state-of-the-art technology.
Admission Details and Requirements
A key point of distinction for our program is the professionally experienced, talented and intellectually capable students who join our ranks each year looking to push their career to the next level. Consequently, we expect students to enter with the appropriate preparation to make an immediate contribution.
This preparation is demonstrated through a combination of GRE score (ideally 157 or higher on each section), educational background (completed bachelor's degree with preferably a 3.3 GPA or higher in a social science, design, or engineering field), and professional experience (at least three years in a user experience or technology-related role).
Any exceptions require program director approval, and all candidates are strongly advised to schedule a consultation with the Admission team before applying. Prospective students new to the UX field who lack sufficient preparation should consider our non-credit boot camp and certificate options to develop relevant experience.
Talk to the Program Director
Contact Dr. Gribbons today to schedule a time during which you will discuss your background, career goals, and alignment with Bentley's top-ranked UX graduate program.