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.
program highlights
A Global Alumni Network
Over the past 20 years, our alumni network has grown from Bentley to Silicon Valley and beyond, including hundreds of distinguished graduates. They actively recruit, offer internships, and mentor current students, creating a vibrant community of UX professionals at top companies like Tesla, Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Fidelity.
Top Ranked Program
Our top-ranked HFID program, recognized for its strong curriculum and focus on career planning, equips students with the skills they need to succeed.
Unlock Your Earning Potential
With a high average starting salary, this degree offers a significant financial advantage and a strong return on your investment.
Top Employers Hiring Our Graduates
| Amazon.com | Deloitte | Lowes | |
| Colgate-Palmolive | Level2 | Liberty Mutual Insurance | Tesla |
| Salesforce | YouTube | Sony |
Curriculum
The Masters in Human Factors is a customizable, 10-course program including three core human factors courses, five electives, and two business electives.
- HF 700 Foundations in Human Factors
- HF 710 Managing a User-Centered Design Team
or - HF 725 UX Leadership and Management
- HF 750 Testing and Assessment Programs
- HF 720 Internationalization and World-Ready Product Design
- HF 730 Visualizing Information
- HF 735 Design Ethics
- HF 740 Information Architecture
- HF 751 Measuring the User Experience
- HF 760 Intelligent User Interfaces
- HF 764 Immersive and Conversation Interface Design
- HF 766 Multi-Modal Interface Design
- HF 770 Prototyping and Interaction Design
- HF 775 Design Innovation
- HF 780 Field Methods and Human Computer Interaction
- HF 785 Ethnography for Experience Design
- HF 795 Research Methods for Human Factors
- 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.
**This is a sample of courses you can select from, with more available in our program guide.
inside the program
Bentley Alumni Shape Success Through Networking and Mentorship
HFID alumni leverage their industry leadership by actively engaging in our social network, recruiting new talent, providing internships, and mentoring students, creating a robust resource for professional growth and opportunity.
Bentley Students Tackle Isolation with Techn
A group of Bentley University graduate students developed an app called FRND during a hackathon to help hospitalized teens connect with one another, addressing the challenges of isolation exacerbated by the pandemic and enhancing patient engagement at Boston Children’s Hospital.
From 'Engineer of Everything' to Haptic Innovator
Mounia Ziat, an associate professor of Experience Design, leverages her diverse background in engineering, art, and cognitive science to pioneer haptic technology that enhances human-computer interaction, driven by a commitment to improve lives through innovation.
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, and mentors and collaborate with students on new and exciting projects.
Jon Ericson holds a Ph.D. from Brown University. 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, and 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 health care 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 has 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 focuses on making sense of sensations that lead to a stable perception of the world. Dr. Ziat holds an Electronic Engineering degree and a Master's and Ph.D. in Cognitive Science.
Our Thought Leadership Network
Frequently Asked Questions about the HFID Program
Cutting Edge Centers & Labs
The Bentley 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.
User Experience Center (UXC)
The UXC is the core research hub of the HFID program, offering hands-on experience. Its UX professionals consult for global corporate and nonprofit clients. Graduate Research Assistants receive support and gain valuable experience, often leading to recruitment opportunities. Since 1999, the UXC has collaborated with over 200 clients, including Fidelity, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and SAP.
Dr. Ziat's Haptics Lab
Dr. Ziat, with degrees in Electronic Engineering and Cognitive Science, leads a lab focused on human-machine interaction and perception. With 18 years of haptics experience, the lab combines engineering, cognitive psychology, HCI, and neuroscience to explore how touch influences perception. The goal is to develop design principles for haptic technology.
Dr. Ericson's Virtual & Augmented Reality Lab
Dr. Ericson leads a lab that leverages immersive technologies to tackle design challenges in healthcare, sustainability, education, and architecture. The lab features advanced 3D graphics, VR/AR hardware, game development tools, and biometric assessment tools. Current projects involve collaborations with major healthcare organizations and various departments at Bentley
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 careers to the next level. Consequently, we expect students to enter with the appropriate preparation to make an immediate contribution.
Candidates applying to Human Factors Information Design and choosing to apply without a standardized test should demonstrate relevant professional experience in a Tech or User Experience Design industry, exceptional academic credentials, and are required to complete an admission interview with the Program Director to better understand their experience in preparation for graduate school. Our admission committee will take into consideration all aspects of the application to evaluate your preparation for this program but the McCallum School of Business encourages candidates to submit a score as it could have a strong impact in strengthening an application for HFID.
Candidates considering applying with test scores should demonstrate preparation 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).
Candidates are encouraged to discuss their options and are strongly advised to schedule a consultation with the Program Director 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.
program director
Talk to the Program Director
Contact Professor Estes today to schedule a time during which you will discuss your background, career goals, and alignment with Bentley's top-ranked UX graduate program.