<p>You also don’t get a second degree with HCI. It’s a dual major, not degree. So for example, my diploma was “Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing with an additional major in HCI”.</p>
<p>CS is focused on the actual construction of software, whereas HCI is focused on improving software and hardware at the intersection where people use it. Classes consist of crash courses in web design, UI deign, communication design, etc. </p>
<p>The analogy I like to use is that CS will teach you how to build a toaster, and HCI will teach you how to make the toaster easier to use. Even if the toaster works amazingly, if no one can figure out how to use half of its features, it’s practically useless.</p>