Master of Arts (MA) in
Interaction Design and Interactive Art

Why Study
Interaction Design & Interactive Art ?

The Master of Arts in Interaction Design and Interactive Art is a two-year innovative interdisciplinary STEM program (CIP 09.0702) that focuses on creating interactive applications and objects as part of a designed user experience.

Our hands-on design program emphasizes both the creative and technical aspects of current and emerging technologies and how they can be used to deliver compelling content.

Integrating interactive art, computer science, psychology, user experience, and user Interface design (UX/UI), as well as human-centered design (HCD), the program incorporates design thinking strategies and strategic innovation to shape the future of human-centered experience.

420+

12 - 15

Student per cohort

Graduates since 1996

Interdisciplinary Program

The MA IxDIA at Cal State East Bay is unlike any other graduate program in design. Whether you're pivoting careers, deepening your practice, or stepping into higher education for the first time, this is a space built for you. We bring together UX/UI design, human-centered design (HCD), interactive art, computer science, and psychology into a single, cohesive experience — because the most meaningful design work happens at the intersection of disciplines. You'll learn by doing, in small classes with direct faculty access, and with tools most programs only dream of: a dedicated studio with 24-hour access, a maker space with a 60-watt laser cutter and 3D printers, a woodshop, and a full bronze foundry. This isn't just a degree — it's the launchpad for the designer you're becoming.

SMALL COHORTS. REAL MENTORSHIP. PORTFOLIO-READY OUTCOMES

With cohorts of just 12–15 students, you get what most programs can't offer: direct access to faculty, meaningful design critique, and the space to develop your own creative voice. Whether you're transitioning from another career or deepening your design practice, our interdisciplinary faculty — working across UX/UI, HCD, and interactive art — invest in you as a whole designer, not just a student.

DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ALWAYS DESIGNED FOR

THE SMARTEST CAREER MOVE SHOULDN'T COST YOU EVERYTHING

At IXDIA, diversity isn't a checkbox — it's our methodology. We believe the best human-centered design comes from designers who bring diverse lived experiences to the table. Our community actively centers first-generation students, career changers, and underrepresented voices in STEM and design, because the field of UX/UI and interactive art is better when it reflects the full range of human experience. You belong here — and your perspective will shape what you build.

Interaction design is one of the highest-ROI career moves you can make, and at Cal State East Bay, it doesn't have to come with a mountain of debt. We offer one of the most affordable accredited MA programs in design, with low in-state and international tuition that makes a graduate-level education in UX, HCD, and interactive art accessible to first-generation students, working professionals, and career changers who can't afford to pause their lives for an expensive degree.

I recently started a new role as a Product Designer with a startup in the Bay Area! It's been an incredible journey so far, and I’m really excited about the work I'm doing. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program. Thank you for all your support and guidance during my time in the master's program. Your mentorship truly helped shape my path, and I’m grateful for everything I learned.

Kushal Sheshadri

★★★★★