Technology

Master of Science in Human-Centered Computing

The Master of Science in Human-Centered Computing is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in human-computer interaction, user experience design, accessibility, and interactive systems. The programme combines computing theory with human-centred design, usability engineering, and research application.

Core areas include human-computer interaction, user experience design, usability engineering, accessibility, interactive systems, cognitive science, interface design, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, projects, and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as MSc in Human Centered Computing through the School of Computing and Information Technology. JKUAT is a public university offering the programme over two to four academic years through full-time, evening, and weekend modes of study.

Students develop competencies in user-centred design, usability evaluation, interface prototyping, accessibility analysis, and interactive system development. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practical projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates to design computing systems that centre on human needs.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 252,500/year (KES 505,000 total) for MSc in Human Centered Computing. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in computer science, information technology, or related fields from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as UX researchers, interaction designers, usability engineers, accessibility specialists, HCI consultants, and lecturers in human-centred computing across technology companies, design agencies, research institutions, government, and universities.

Skills Required

Human-Computer Interaction Design
User Experience Research and Design
Usability Engineering and Evaluation
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Interactive Systems Development
Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Interface Design and Prototyping
User-Centred Design Methods
Research Methods in Human-Centred Computing
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Human-Computer Interaction Design
User Experience Research and Design
Usability Engineering and Evaluation
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Interactive Systems Development
Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Interface Design and Prototyping
User-Centred Design Methods
Research Methods in Human-Centred Computing
Thesis Research

Certifications

ACM SIGCHI Membership
CSK Professional Certification

Specializations

Human-Computer Interaction

Focuses on HCI, covering interaction, design, evaluation, interfaces, and managing HCI research and practice.

User Experience Design

Examines UX design, covering research, design, prototyping, testing, and managing UX design.

Usability Engineering

Covers usability engineering, covering evaluation, testing, metrics, standards, and managing usability.

Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Focuses on accessibility, covering disability, assistive, standards, inclusive, and managing accessibility.

Interactive Systems

Examines interactive systems, covering design, development, multimodal, tangible, and managing interactive systems.

Cognitive Computing

Covers cognitive science, covering cognition, perception, attention, memory, and managing cognitive aspects of computing.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 252,500
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Evening, Weekend
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Human-Computer Interaction Design
User Experience Research and Design
Usability Engineering and Evaluation
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Interactive Systems Development
Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Interface Design and Prototyping
User-Centred Design Methods
Research Methods in Human-Centred Computing
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines interaction, design, evaluation, interfaces, history, and managing HCI foundations.
User Experience Research and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research, design, prototyping, testing, personas, and managing UX design.
Research Methods in Human-Centred Computing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, HCI research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Usability Engineering and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines evaluation, testing, metrics, standards, heuristics, and managing usability.
Cognitive Science and Human Factors
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers cognition, perception, attention, memory, mental models, and managing cognitive aspects of computing.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines disability, assistive, standards, inclusive, universal, and managing accessibility.
Interface Design and Prototyping
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers visual, interaction, information, prototyping, tools, and managing interface design.
Interactive Systems and Multimodal Interfaces
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines design, development, multimodal, tangible, gesture, and managing interactive systems.
User-Centred Design Methods and Process
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers methods, process, research, evaluation, design thinking, and managing UCD.
Mobile and Context-Aware Computing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines mobile, context, sensors, location, adaptation, and managing mobile interaction.
AI and Human-Centred Computing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers AI, HCI, explainable, ethics, trust, and managing human-AI interaction.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a human-centred computing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and HCI knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Human-Computer Interaction
Focuses on HCI, covering interaction, design, evaluation, interfaces, and managing HCI research and practice.
User Experience Design
Examines UX design, covering research, design, prototyping, testing, and managing UX design.
Usability Engineering
Covers usability engineering, covering evaluation, testing, metrics, standards, and managing usability.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Focuses on accessibility, covering disability, assistive, standards, inclusive, and managing accessibility.
Interactive Systems
Examines interactive systems, covering design, development, multimodal, tangible, and managing interactive systems.
Cognitive Computing
Covers cognitive science, covering cognition, perception, attention, memory, and managing cognitive aspects of computing.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Human-Centered Computing programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, design studios, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover HCI, UX design, usability, accessibility, and interactive systems. HCI sessions examine interaction, design, evaluation, interfaces, and managing HCI research. UX design sessions cover research, design, prototyping, testing, and managing UX design. Usability sessions cover evaluation, testing, metrics, standards, and managing usability. Accessibility sessions cover disability, assistive, standards, inclusive, and managing accessibility. Interactive systems sessions cover design, development, multimodal, tangible, and managing interactive systems. Cognitive science sessions cover cognition, perception, attention, memory, and managing cognitive aspects. Interface design sessions cover visual, interaction, information, prototyping, and managing interface design. User-centred design sessions cover methods, process, research, evaluation, and managing UCD. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with usability testing, prototyping tools, and interface development. Design studios provide hands-on experience with UX design projects, user research, and design thinking. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in HCI. Guest lectures from experienced UX designers, researchers, and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a human-centred computing topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for UX and HCI professionals with Kenya's growing technology and startup ecosystem.
JKUAT offers flexible study modes including full-time, evening, and weekend for working professionals.
Programme combines computing with human-centred design, providing versatile career opportunities.
Graduates are eligible for ACM SIGCHI membership, enhancing international career prospects.

Against it

Only one university (JKUAT, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
Programme fees at KES 252,500/year may be significant for some students.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires computer science or IT background, limiting access for non-related graduates.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses

Public253k to 253k

253k at JKUAT253k at JKUAT

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

JKUAT 252,500/yr (kenyaeducationguide.com). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT may offer scholarships for eligible students. ACM SIGCHI may offer grants for HCI research. Some technology companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Scholarship
ACM SIGCHI Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
JKUAT Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
ACM SIGCHI Grant
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
ACM SIGCHI provides grants for HCI research and conference travel.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: JKUAT requires Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in computer science, IT, or related fields, or Lower Second with relevant experience. Contact the university for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, design projects, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination60% of the mark
Written examinations covering HCI, UX design, usability, accessibility, and interactive systems.
Practical and Design Project Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through design projects, usability testing, prototyping, and demonstrating HCI skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a human-centred computing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and HCI knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Human Centered Computing through the School of Computing and Information Technology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in human-centred computing. Graduates are eligible for ACM SIGCHI membership and CSK professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Human Centered Computing through the School of Computing and Information Technology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in human-centred computing. Graduates are eligible for ACM SIGCHI membership and CSK professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

UX Researcher
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts UX research, overseeing studies, analysis, insights, and managing UX research.
Interaction Designer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Designs interactions, overseeing design, prototyping, testing, and managing interaction design.
Usability Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Engineers usability, overseeing evaluation, testing, metrics, and managing usability.
Accessibility Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides accessibility expertise, overseeing assessment, standards, implementation, and managing accessibility.
HCI Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides HCI consulting, overseeing advisory, evaluation, strategy, and managing HCI consulting.
Human-Centred Computing Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches human-centred computing at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

UserTesting
Software
UserTesting platform for usability testing, covering testing, recording, analysis, and managing usability testing.
Figma
SoftwarePrimary
Figma for interface design, covering prototyping, design, collaboration, and managing interface design.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for research analysis, covering data, statistics, analysis, and managing HCI research data.
Adobe XD
Software
Adobe XD for UX design, covering prototyping, design, testing, and managing UX design.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Human-centred computing is just about making pretty interfaces.
Human-centred computing covers comprehensive interaction, usability, accessibility, cognition, and research beyond just making pretty interfaces.
This programme is only for designers.
Human-centred computing skills are valuable for developers, researchers, product managers, and consultants beyond just designers.
UX design is just about aesthetics.
UX design covers comprehensive research, usability, accessibility, interaction, and evaluation beyond just aesthetics.
Usability testing is just about finding bugs.
Usability testing covers comprehensive evaluation, metrics, user performance, satisfaction, and standards beyond just finding bugs.
Accessibility is just about disability compliance.
Accessibility covers comprehensive inclusive design, assistive technology, standards, and universal design beyond just compliance.
This programme has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Human-centred computing graduates are in high demand as Kenya's tech industry grows, with opportunities in UX, design, research, and consulting.