IMSE Graduate Program Coordinator

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Design and Engineering That Focus On the User

3 students working around a table in RUCLearn how to research, identify, document, and translate user requirements and needs, generate creative ideas, and implement and evaluate products and services in a scientific way with the master’s degree in human-centered design and engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Our interdisciplinary program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Department of Behavioral Sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters. This unique combination of expertise sets our program apart and provides you with a comprehensive understanding of design and engineering from multiple perspectives.

Classes for the 31-credit degree are offered in person, online, or hybrid. We schedule classes in the late afternoon and evening so they’re convenient for part-time students who work.

Where the MS in Human-Centered Design and Engineering Will Take You

If you’ve spent any time at all online, you know that many websites provide a poor user experience. The same is true of lots of other products and services. There’s a growing realization, though, that ignoring human needs in designing products and services commonly leads to failure. Thus, jobs related to human-centered design and engineering are on the rise.

The job titles vary: user experience designer, user interface designer, interaction designer, usability analyst, and product designer, among others. You’ll be ready for all of them with your master’s degree from UM-Dearborn.

Career and Salary Outlook

The information in this table is meant to give you an idea of career opportunities with this degree. All information is pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is meant to be averages across the United States in 2022. Please note that these figures reflect overall averages and may not represent entry-level salaries.

$100,140 Median Salary

Materials Engineers

Employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,500 openings for materials engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$124,200 Median Salary

Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers

Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 25 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 153,900 openings for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$96,310 Median Salary

Mechanical Engineers

Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 19,200 openings for mechanical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$96,350 Median Salary

Industrial Engineers

Employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 22,800 openings for industrial engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$75,910 Median Salary

Industrial Designers

Employment of industrial designers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 2,200 openings for industrial designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Program Details

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Tuition

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Application Deadline

This program operates on a rolling admission basis. It is advised to submit all documents by the advisory deadline to ensure consideration for your preferred term and to facilitate pre-term planning. Advisory deadlines differ for domestic and international students.

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Graduate Scholarships

Learn about scholarship opportunities for new and continuing graduate students.

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UM-Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science graduate student Nathan Chun talks about how the HCDE learning experience prepares students for future careers.

How to Get Involved

Students working in the library

You can get experience as a graduate student instructor or research assistant. You also can join the Society of Women Engineers, Alpha Pi Mu, the Institute of Industrial Engineers, other organizations aimed at students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, or general student organizations devoted to a wide range of interests and topics. And be sure to attend seminars and workshops sponsored by the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Next Steps

Become a part of the UM-Dearborn community and put your dreams to work for you.

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