USchool (minor)

Course list 1:

Course list 2

Course list 3

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ECTS

This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2

Choose max 12 ECTS from course list 3 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 2.

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ECTS

This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 6 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 5 ECTS from course list 2 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 3.

Compulsory 7 ECTS

And one of the following:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2:

Select min. 6 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 5 ECTS from course list 1 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. Choose the remaining credits from course lists 2 or 3.

(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)

Basic information of the minor

Name: USchool

Code: ARTS3060 SCI3072

Extent: 20–25 ECTS

Curriculum: 2022–2024

Level: Masters

Language of learning: English

Theme: Art and design knowledge building ICT and digitalisation

Teacher in charge: Marko Nieminen, SCI Virpi Roto, ARTS Otto Lappi, University of Helsinki, Cognitive Science

Administrative contact: Meri Arnala, ARTS Anu Kuusela, SCI

Organising department: -

Target group: ARTS students SCI students

Prerequisites: Please see Application procedure and Quotas and restrictions.

Quotas and restrictions: Five students from each partner school are selected for the Usability School each year.

Application process: Students apply for the minor via eAge. Application period is in spring. Application instructions for Aalto University students Please attach all the required application documents when you fill in the eAge application form. For more information contact: Anu Kuusela [email protected] (SCI students), Meri Arnala [email protected] or Virpi Roto [email protected] (ARTS students). The teachers in charge of the minor select the students. The criteria used to assess the applications are: academic performance and an interest in and possible familiarity with the topic area and any earlier relevant studies. A copy of such records must be attached to the application.

Code: ARTS3060; SCI3072

Target group: Master's students in CCIS and Information Networks master's programmes at the School of Science, master's students in Collaborative and Industrial Design or New Media at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and master's students in Cognitive Science at the University of Helsinki.

Content and structure of the minor

USchool is a joint minor organised by Aalto University School of Science (SCI) and School of Art, Design and Architecture (ARTS) and University of Helsinki. The minor provides students with specialist skills in User-centred design, Usability, User experience, and User interface design (thus the U in USchool).

The minor consists of studies from three disciplines: Computer Science, Design, and Cognitive Science. The USchool studies familiarise the student with working and collaborating in an interdisciplinary product design environment. The artistic and technical design competence learned at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is supplemented by information technology and cognitive science studies at the partner schools. For SCI students the minor is 20-25 ECTS, and for ARTS students 18-30 ECTS. 

Since USchool minor is multidisciplinary, the minor studies must include at least 5 ECTS of courses from all course lists that are foreign for the student. The USchool courses (USchool Intro; User Experience Design as Career) do not count to the 5 ECTS. For example, a Computer Science student must include courses from Design and Cognitive science. Students coming from outside the three disciplines must include courses from all three course lists. 

USchool homepage http://uschool.aalto.fi

USchool Courses

Uschool Intro (Compulsory)

 University of Helsinki, Cognitive sciences:

Course list 1:

Aalto SCI:

Course list 2

Aalto ARTS:

Course list 3

Uschool Study Paths

ARTS students:

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ECTS

This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2

Choose max 12 ECTS from course list 3 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 2.

SCI students:

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ECTS

This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 6 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 5 ECTS from course list 2 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 3.

Students from University of Helsinki:

Compulsory 7 ECTS

And one of the following:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2:

Select min. 6 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 5 ECTS from course list 1 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. Choose the remaining credits from course lists 2 or 3.

(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)

Basic information of the minor

Code: ARTS3060; SCI3072
Extent: 20-25 ECTS
Language: English
Teachers in charge: Professor Marko Nieminen, Aalto School of Science; Professor Virpi Roto, Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture;  University Lecturer Otto Lappi, University of Helsinki, Cognitive Science
Target group: Master's students in CCIS and Information Networks master´s programmes at the School of Science, master's students in Collaborative and Industrial Design or New Media at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and master's students in Cognitive Science at the University of Helsinki.

Application procedure: Students apply for the minor via eAge.
Application period is in Spring: Application instructions for Aalto University students
Please attach all the required application documents when you fill in the eAge application form.
For more information: Anu Kuusela [email protected] (SCI students)
Meri Arnala [email protected] or Virpi Roto [email protected] (ARTS students) 
The teachers in charge of the minor select the students. The criteria used to assess the applications are: academic performance and an interest in and possible familiarity with the topic area and any earlier relevant studies. A copy of such records must be attached to the application.
Quotas and restrictions: Five students from each partner school are selected for the Usability School each year.
Prerequisites: Please see Application procedure and Quotas and restrictions.
Name of the minor in other languages: Käytettävyyskoulu, användbarhetsskola

Content and structure of the minor

USchool is a joint minor organised by Aalto University School of Science (SCI) and School of Art, Design and Architecture (ARTS) and University of Helsinki. The minor provides students with specialist skills in User-centred design, Usability, User experience, and User interface design (thus the U in USchool).

The minor consists of studies from three disciplines: Computer Science, Design, and Cognitive Science. The USchool studies familiarise the student with working and collaborating in an interdisciplinary product design environment. The artistic and technical design competence learned at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is supplemented by information technology and cognitive science studies at the partner schools. For Aalto students the minor is between 20-25 ECTS.

USchool homepage http://uschool.aalto.fi

Uschool Courses

University of Helsinki, Cognitive sciences:

Course list 1:

Aalto SCI:

Course list 2

Aalto ARTS:

Course list 3

Uschool Study Paths

ARTS students:

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ECTS
This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2

Choose max 8 ECTS from course list 3 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 2.

SCI students:

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ECTS
This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 8 ECTS from course list 2 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 3.

Students from the University of Helsinki

Compulsory 7 ECTS

And one of the following:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 8 ECTS from course list 1 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 2 or 3.

(Check the minimum scope of the minor studies in your own program.)

Basic information of the minor

Code: ARTS3060; SCI3072
Extent: ARTS 20 ECTS; SCI 20-25 ECTS
Language: English
Teachers in charge: Professor Marko Nieminen, Aalto School of Science; Professor Virpi Roto, Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture;  University Lecturer Otto Lappi, University of Helsinki, Cognitive Science
Target group: Master's students in CCIS and Information Networks master´s programmes at the School of Science, master's students in Collaborative and Industrial Design or New Media at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and master's students in Cognitive Science at the University of Helsinki.
Application procedure: Students apply for the minor via eAge.
The application time is once a year in the spring. Instructions for applying will be found in Into: Instructions for applying
Please attach all the required application documents when you fill in the eAge application form.
For more information: Anu Kuusela [email protected] (SCI students)
Meri Arnala [email protected] or Virpi Roto [email protected] (ARTS students) 
The teachers in charge of the minor select the students. The criteria used to assess the applications are: academic performance and an interest in and possible familiarity with the topic area and any earlier relevant studies. A copy of such records must be attached to the application.
Quotas and restrictions: Five students from each partner school are selected for the Usability School each year.
Prerequisites: Please see Application procedure and Quotas and restrictions.
Name of the minor in other languages: Käytettävyyskoulu, användbarhetsskola

Content and structure of the minor

USchool is a joint minor organised by Aalto University School of Science (SCI) and School of Art, Design and Architecture (ARTS) and University of Helsinki. The minor provides students with specialist skills in User-centred design, Usability, User experience, and User interface design (thus the U in USchool).

The minor consists of studies from three disciplines: Computer Science, Design, and Cognitive Science. The USchool studies familiarise the student with working and collaborating in an interdisciplinary product design environment. The artistic and technical design competence learned at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is supplemented by information technology and cognitive science studies at the partner schools. For Aalto students the minor is between 20-25 ECTS.

USchool homepage http://uschool.aalto.fi

Uschool Courses

Helsingin yliopisto, cognitive sciences:

Course list 1:

Aalto SCI:

Course list 2

Aalto ARTS:

Course list 3

Uschool Study Paths

ARTS students:

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ETCS

This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2

Choose max 8 ECTS from course list 3 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 2.

SCI students:

Compulsory 2 ECTS or 7 ETCS

This course is compulsory to all Uschool students:

One of these courses is compulsory for Uschool students under the condition that he/she has not studied either one as part of his/her major. If the course is part of his/her major, it cannot be part of the minor, and therefore is not compulsory in Uschool. This means that a student, who has studied one of the courses below as part of the major, will only have 2 ECTS compulsory studies.

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 1:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 8 ECTS from course list 2 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 1 or 3.

Students from the University of Helsinki

Compulsory 7 ECTS

And one of the following:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 2:

Select min. 5 ECTS from course list 3:

Choose max 8 ECTS from course list 1 ONLY if they are NOT a part of your major:

If the courses above are a part of your major, you may not study them as part of your minor. In this case, you must choose the remaining credits from course lists 2 or 3. 

Basic information of the minor

Code: ARTS3060; SCI3072
Extent: ARTS 20 ECTS; SCI 20-25 ECTS
Language: English
Teachers in charge: Professor Marko Nieminen, Aalto School of Science; Research Fellow Virpi Roto, Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture;  University Lecturer Otto Lappi, University of Helsinki, Cognitive Science
Target group: Master's students in CCIS and Information Networks master´s programmes at the School of Science, master's students in Collaboration and Industrial Design or New Media at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and master's students in Cognitive Science at the University of Helsinki.
Application procedure: Students apply for the minor by means of a free-form application. The application period for the Usability School is in May.
The application should be submitted by 31 May to: 
Aila Laakso [email protected] (ARTS students)
Anu Kuusela [email protected] (SCI students)
The teachers in charge of the minor select the students. The criteria used to assess the applications are: academic performance and an interest in and possible familiarity with the topic area and any earlier relevant studies. A copy of such records must be attached to the free-form application.
Quotas and restrictions: Five students from each partner school are selected for the Usability School each year.
Prerequisites: Please see Application procedure and Quotas and restrictions.
Name of the minor in other languages: Käytettävyyskoulu, användbarhetsskola

Content and structure of the minor

Usability School/USchool is a joint minor organised by the Aalto University School of Science and School of Art and Design at Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, providing the students with specialist skills in user-centred design.

The minor consists of studies in interface, usability and user-centred product development. The Usability School studies familiarise the student with working and collaborating in an interdisciplinary product design environment. The artistic and technical design competence learned at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is supplemented by information technology and cognitive science studies at the partner schools.

USchool homepage http://uschool.aalto.fi

Structure of the minor