Applications for FALL 2026 open NOW | Apply Early
Your MA in UX/UI, Interaction Design & Interactive Art
The MA IxDIA is where creative thinkers, career changers, and emerging technologists come to do work that matters. If you've been asking how design can be more human, more equitable, and more impactful — this program was built for that question. You'll work hands-on in studio and fabrication spaces, explore emerging methods and contemporary theory, and connect with a faculty who are invested in your growth — not just your grade. Research grants, mentorship, and a tight-knit cohort mean you're never navigating this alone.
What makes this program different is how it connects disciplines that are usually siloed. UX/UI design, interactive art, computer science, psychology, and human-centered design (HCD) don't live in separate boxes here — they inform each other the way they do in the real world. You'll develop the creative instincts of an artist, the research rigor of a designer, and the technical fluency to build what you imagine. The result isn't just a well-designed experience — it's a perspective on design that stays with you for life.
What to expect
IXDIA students don't wait until after graduation to do meaningful work — they're doing it from day one. Projects from our program have won national and international awards, and our graduates have gone on to careers in UX/UI design, product design, creative technology, research, and interactive art. This is a two-year, cohort-based STEM program (CIP 09.0702) where you grow alongside the same group of people from start to finish — building not just skills, but a real professional network.
Most coursework is scheduled in the late afternoon, making this program accessible to working professionals and career changers who can't step away from their lives entirely.
In Year 1, you'll build your foundation — developing your voice in interaction design, sharpening your creative practice, and learning to collaborate across disciplines. In Year 2, you and your cohort take on real-world challenges together, producing professional-quality interactive projects that are ready to show the world.
A standout experience during my time at CSUEB the FAA design challenge. The challenge was to create a design concept to help air traffic managers monitor and control air traffic. Over four months, Professor Pollock dedicated his time and expertise to helping me and my cohort navigate this complex task. Our collective effort was successful, as we were selected as one of the five finalists in the nation, presenting our innovative solution in Washington D.C. - F. Agusta
Curriculum
1.1
Foundations & Core Principles
Year 1 Semester 1 FALL (10 Units)
MM 601 - Seminar in Interactive Art & Design
MM 621 - Screen-Based Interaction
MM 640 - Forum
MM 632, 665, 666, or 667 (as offered) Restricted Elective
You'll find your footing here — learning to think like a designer, make like an artist, and collaborate like a professional.
Our program is cohort based and each cohort starts in the Fall Semester for the 2-year program.
More details here
1.2
Systems & Physical Prototyping
Year 1 Semester 2 SPRING (10 Units)
MM 602 - Project and Story Development
MM 622 - Physical Prototyping
MM 640 - Forum
MM 632, 665, 666, or 667 (as offered) Restricted Elective
You'll get your hands on real tools and real problems — bridging the gap between concept and creation.
2.1
Advanced Research & Development
Year 2 Semester 1 FALL (8 Units)
MM 682 - Individual Multimedia Research and Practice
MM 680 - Interactive Content Development
Speculative Design
MM 640 - Forum
MM 694 - Project Documentation
This is where you go deep — developing your own research voice and pushing ideas further than you thought possible.
2.2
Capstone & Exhibition
Year 2 Semester 2 SPRING (6 Units)
MM 693 - Interaction Design Capstone Project
MM 640 - Forum
MM 694 - Project Documentation
This is your moment — launching work you're proud of and stepping into the world as a designer with a portfolio to prove it.
