Hi Kaiting,
First of all, thank you for creating this website. It was really helpful when I applied to HCI graduate schools last year!
I received B.S in CS in my home country, and my goal is to get work experience in the USA as a UX designer. I applied to HCI and CS programs, I have received an admit from UMich MSI, Indiana HCI/d and several others.
I ended up making my decision to M.S in Computer Science at Brown University, because I wanted to gain knowledge about state-of-the-art technology (such as AI and self-driving cars) and apply them to UX. Also, I got advice saying that companies would prefer CS background.
However, as I deferred to Fall 2021 due to COVID and got more time before I enroll, I came to reconsider my decision.
I got worried about my portfolio since I would not work on in-depth UX projects in CS program, and I found out that job descriptions of UX designers mention HCI or design majors, not CS.
I think I would have 1-year experience in UX Design (defining user needs, producing wireframes, but not working on final UI), and one or two side-projects as a UX designer, before I apply to UX internships next Fall. I’m worried about not getting an internship chance, and eventually not getting a UX designer job after I graduate from master’s program.
Considering my background, I want to ask you for advice on whether it would be better to choose the HCI program than the CS program.
Also, I am wondering if IT companies would hire CS master graduate as UX designer (with much fewer UX-courses taken and fewer UX projects)
Thanks in advance! 