HCDS Graduates: Where are they now?
Victoria Chui (MI, Class of 2023)
Victoria chose the HCDS concentration to pursue her interest in statistics and coding. She appreciated that it did not require a strong programming or mathematical background as everything she needed to know was taught in the first year, after which she could tailor her experience to be as technical or as theoretical as she wanted. Victoria is now pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Information.
Tiffany Lee (MI, Class of 2023)
Tiffany did a double concentration in UXD and HCDS. She valued the close-knit cohort, interactive discussions and practical assignments examining real-world ethical dilemmas. She credits the iSchool with not only equipping her with design and coding skills, but encouraging her and her peers to transform the information ecosystem into a more humane and inclusive space. She is now a UX designer at Rainforest Connection.
Academic Concentration Requirements
MI students enrolled in 2025 and later
- Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, 0.5 FCE must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.
- Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- Thesis (2.0 FCEs)
- 3.0 required FCEs:
- Research Methods course (0.5 FCE) or equivalent course approved by HCDS Concentration Coordinator and MI Director
- Reading course (0.5 FCE)
- 2.0 elective FCEs
- Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, 0.5 FCE must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.
- Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- Co-op (1.0 FCE), plus the Co-op Independent Modules (0.0 FCE)
- 3.0 required FCEs:
- 4.0 elective FCEs
- Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, 0.5 FCE must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.
Year 1 required courses
INF1340H Programming for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF1344H Introduction to Statistics for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2190H Introduction to Data Analytics 0.5 Credits
INF2178H Experimental Design for Data Science 0.5 Credits
Year 2 required courses
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INF2210H Human Values in Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF1343H Data Modeling and Database Design 0.5 Credits
Some courses on this list may not be offered in a given year—please check posted course schedules for availability. Courses in other degree programs outside of the iSchool may also be suitable electives for HCDS Students. The HCDS Coordinator can advise students about taking courses outside of the iSchool.
INF2203H Storytelling with Data 0.5 Credits
INF2207H Practical Elements of Responsible AI Development 0.5 Credits
INF2209H Human-Centred Topic Models 0.5 Credits
INF2223H Challenges and Opportunities of Open Data 0.5 Credits
INF2179H Machine Learning with Applications in Python 0.5 Credits
INF2163H Data Analysis of Social Networks 0.5 Credits
INF2167H R for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2205H Designing Sustainable and Resilient Machine Learning Systems with MLOps 0.5 Credits
INF3104H Data Science Foundations 0.5 Credits
INF3103H Methods for Algorithmic FATE (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, Ethics) Research 0.5 Credits
INF3200H Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Cutting-Edge Themes 0.5 Credits
INF2212H Managing Complexities in Modern Data-Driven Environments 0.5 Credits
INF2213H Generative AI and its Application to Music 0.5 Credits
INF2214H Streaming Data Analytics 0.5 Credits
INF2215H Data-driven Policymaking 0.5 Credits
MI students enrolled in 2024 and later
- Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, 0.5 FCE must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.
- Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- Thesis (2.0 FCEs)
- 2.5 required FCEs:
- Research Methods course (0.5 FCE)
- Reading course (0.5 FCE)
- 2.5 elective FCEs
- Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, 0.5 FCE must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.
- Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- Co-op (1.0 FCE), plus the Co-op Independent Modules (0.0 FCE)
- 2.5 required FCEs:
- 4.5 elective FCEs
- Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, 0.5 FCE must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.
Year 1 required courses
In Year 1, students are recommended to complete the following mandatory HCDS courses, as well as 2.0 FCEs in elective courses.
INF1340H Programming for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF1344H Introduction to Statistics for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2190H Introduction to Data Analytics 0.5 Credits
INF2178H Experimental Design for Data Science 0.5 Credits
Year 2 required courses
In Year 2, students are recommended to complete 3.5 FCEs in elective courses. We understand that part-time and CDP students may be in a higher year of study when they enrol in year 2 required courses.
INF2210H Human Values in Data Science 0.5 Credits
2nd year MI students in their last term
MI students enrolled in 2023 and earlier
Year 1 required courses
While it is not obligatory to complete all Year 1 required courses in Year 1, it is recommended because these courses provide foundational knowledge and are often pre-requisites to Year 2 courses. For students considering the Co-op option, all Year 1 required courses should be completed in Year 1.
INF1005H Information Workshops I (2025-2026) 0.25 Credits
INF1006H Information Workshops II (2025-2026) 0.25 Credits
INF1340H Programming for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF1344H Introduction to Statistics for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2178H Experimental Design for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2190H Introduction to Data Analytics 0.5 Credits
Year 2 required courses
INF2210H Human Values in Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2207H Practical Elements of Responsible AI Development 0.5 Credits
INF2209H Human-Centred Topic Models 0.5 Credits
INF2179H Machine Learning with Applications in Python 0.5 Credits
INF2163H Data Analysis of Social Networks 0.5 Credits
INF2167H R for Data Science 0.5 Credits
INF2203H Storytelling with Data 0.5 Credits
Work Integrated Learning for HCDS Students
The Faculty of Information offers a variety of work-integrated learning including the MI Co-op option and practicum courses. The Careers Services team helps students find suitable placements.
