About

HCC @ UF

Founded in 2016, The Human‑Centered Computing (HCC) Ph.D. program in UF’s Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Department trains researchers at the intersection of technology, people, and design. We design, build, and study interactive systems that address real problems from a human‑centered perspective. 

Our curriculum emphasizes design, development, and application. Students draw on foundations in psychology, social science, design, cognitive and perceptual science, and the science of learning and memory. We are a growing, vibrant community with 12 faculty and 40+ doctoral students. The University of Florida has ranked No. 7 among public universities in the country, marking the eighth consecutive year UF has placed among the nation’s top 10 public institutions, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings. Our students benefit from UF’s scale, resources, and culture of impact. Our work centers on understanding people, developing new technology, and designing engaging experiences across varied users, domains, and contexts.

Selected Alumni Placements: 

Graduates move into tenure-track faculty roles and industry positions. For example, our PhD graduates have landed in amazing places in industry such as Meta, Apple, Honda R&D Americas, T-Mobile, the City of Orlando, Flexion Inc., Katabasis, and entrepreneurial ventures. Our graduates who chose the academic path are faculty at institutions such as Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California–San Diego, Purdue University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Utah, North Carolina State University, Clemson University, Howard University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of South Florida, Washington and Lee University, Hamilton College, California State Polytechnic University–Pomona, James Madison University, Morgan State University, Lincoln University, and University of Costa Rica.