Master program in Informatics: People-Oriented Computing
Dr. Chat Wacharamanotham
19 September 2024
University of Zurich Department of Informatics 29.08.2024
Contents
― About IfI/Professors
― General Information
― Structure of MSc Programs: Compulsory Module, Master’s Project, Core Elective, Thesis
― MSc People-Oriented Computing
― Hints
― Questions/Whom to contact
― Library
― Welcome event for new Master’s students with major Informatics
University of Zurich Department of Informatics 29.08.2024 2
IfI: The Department of Informatics
― Founded in 1970 (IfI = Institut für Informatik)
― Part of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics
― Focus on human-centered informatics
― 18 Professors, 130 PhD students and Post-Docs
― 500 Bachelorʼs students
― 600 Masterʼs students
― Campus Oerlikon
You!
University of Zurich Department of Informatics 29.08.2024 3
IfI Professors
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General Information Online
Deanʼs Office: [Link]
➢ Study Regulations, Admission, Enrollment, Changing Programs, Course Booking, Important Dates, Petitions/Appeals, …
IfI: [Link]
➢ Specific to Informatics: Fact Sheets (legally binding!),
Topics/Professors, Tutors/TAs, also these slides for
later reference
Please read the regulations and fact sheets!
The presentations held at the Facultyʼs Master Welcome Day
are available from:
[Link]
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Structure of the MSc Programs
All programs comprise…
― a compulsory module
― a Masterʼs Project (group work!)
― modules from core/elective areas
― a Masterʼs Thesis at the end
More on these components on the next slides…
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Compulsory Module
The compulsory module is specific to your study program.
Compulsory course: Fundamentals of People-Oriented Computing
Aimed at equipping the 1st year MSc students with knowledge and skills to work with people and scholarly literature.
• Learn about concepts from cognitive psychology and how they are applied in situations, e.g., interviewing, meeting, and planning
• Find and assess the credibility of research papers
• Identifying research contributions, research methods, and their strengths and weaknesses
• Constructively critique research papers
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Master’s Project
The Master’s Project…
― is a group project (= at least 2 students)
― is an intensive and demanding project worth 15 ECTS credits
― best time: During semester break
― max. 12 months to complete
― must be supervised by an IfI professor
➢ Check the fact sheet!
IfI organizes a Masterʼs Project Market each semester
➢ Some open projects are presented and you can find peers
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Elective Areas
Core elective area
Specific to your Major study program (IS, SOSY, POC, AI, or DS).
INF elective area
All modules offered by IfI on the Masterʼs level (definition in the
Study Regulations, p. 31)
WWF elective area
All modules offered by WWF on the Masterʼs level (definition in the
Study Regulations, p. 31)
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Core Elective Area: People-Oriented Computing
In the People-Oriented Computing area, the compulsory
module and core elective modules…
Offer a broad and diverse selection of topics relevant to the
relationship between humans and computing
Address the impact that Informatics has on individuals,
organizations, and society
Example courses:
• Artificial Intelligence for Language Accessibility
• Computer Graphics
• CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work)
• Human Aspects of Software Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Interactive Visual Data Analysis
• Web and mobile accessibility
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Master’s Thesis
The Master’s Thesis…
― must be written in your Major area
― is a full-time endeavor worth 30 ECTS credits (i.e., no significant side jobs or other study activities possible)
― max. 6 months to complete
― can only be started once the Masterʼs Project has been
successfully completed
― must be supervised by an IfI professor
➢ Check the fact sheet!
➢ Find topics on the IfI website (check the individual group pages)
or contact the groups directly.
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Further Modules
Seminar Independent Study
― one seminar is mandatory ― Optional module
― recommended from 2nd semester
➢ Check the fact sheet!
― check the Course Catalogue early and
register for the seminar within the
seminar’s application deadline
➢ Note: this deadline is shorter than the
regular module booking deadline!
External Modules
― ETH: [Link]
― Mobility within Switzerland: [Link]
― International exchange: [Link]
― Partner universities: [Link]
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People-Oriented Computing
Questions about the People-Oriented Computing major?
It is possible to change the Major under certain conditions: [Link]
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Minor
Available Minor programs are listed in the Course Catalogue:
[Link]
➢ Master of Science UZH in Informatics (RVO22) > Minor 30
Note: Modules in the Minor area Informatics (INF) are offered
only in the Fall semester. There are no modules in the Minor area
Informatics in the Spring semester. Take this into account when
planning your next few semesters.
You can change your Minor under certain conditions:
[Link]
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Hints (1/3)
― Focus on the compulsory modules in your Major and Minor programs
― Make a study plan
➢ Check course schedule of previous years for planning. Courses often stay in the same slot. Suggested order:
3rd semester:
1st semester: 2nd semester: Remaining 4th semester:
Compulsory module and Course work, course work,
Master’s Thesis
course work Master’s Project finish Master’s
Project
― Read the fact sheets well before starting the respective module or thesis
― All legally binding information regarding modules, incl. exam dates, are in the UZH Course Catalogue.
Most modules additionally have a website or OLAT course, but the Course Catalogue is binding
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Hints (2/3)
― Check the study websites of the Faculty and the Department:
― [Link]
― [Link]
― Note that booking/cancellation deadlines may vary between faculties.
― Working at IfI: Some modules/courses seek Tutors or Teaching Assistants.
➢ Check out [Link] and the individual group pages.
― Mentoring, social events, representatives: Informatics student association ICU: [Link]
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Hints (3/3)
― Consider the policies on plagiarism and scientific integrity. You find the fact sheet on plagiarism on this website:
― [Link]
― The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences issued a Code of conduct for scientific integrity:
[Link]
― UZH provides a number of advice and support services for topics such as Gender Equality and Diversity, Disability, or Psychological
Counseling:
― [Link]
― Practise passive and active English without tools (in exams, no translation tools are permitted)
― UZH offers English courses: [Link]
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Questions/Whom to Contact
If you have questions, please follow these steps:
1. Read the Study Regulations: [Link]
2. Read the IfI’s study information and fact sheets: [Link]
3. Check information in the Course Catalogue: [Link]
4. Send e-mail to the respective person:
For questions about For questions specific to a course: Contact the instructor.
– Masterʼs Project
– Independent Studies For everything else, contact the Deanʼs Office:
– Masterʼs Thesis [Link] (Study Affairs)
– Informatics studies in general
Contact the IfIʼs Study Coordinator, And of course you can ask your fellow students, for example by joining the
Daniela Bärtschi: studies@[Link] student association ICU: [Link]
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Did you know?
The Informatics Library is part of the UB Sciences
on the Irchel campus!
Books can be delivered to Oerlikon free of charge:
Simply select “UB Psychology” as pick-up location in swisscovery.
[Link]
or [Link]
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Department of Informatics
IfI Master Welcome Event
for incoming MSc Informatics students
Monday, 23 September 2024, 12:15 in BIN 2.A.01
No registration necessary
University of Zurich Department of Informatics 29.08.2024
