Exactly where these courses and concentrations will thrive depends on a variety of factors. For example, some departments welcome HCI with open arms while others work to ensure that it will never be more than an elective that some students can choose. Industry can certainly have an impact. Hiring graduates with experience in HCI makes it clear that this is an important topic from an industrial perspective. Industry can also influence academia through funding, internships, and collaborative projects.
Students also have some influence.
If HCI courses fill to capacity, someone is bound to recognize that this topic is worth further thought. Finally, organizations that make curriculum recommendations or define areas of national interest can also make a difference by highlighting the importance of HCI research and education and by directing funding to these programs. However, none of these factors can make a significant difference without support from within the university. If the fact that HCI is not part of the traditional definition of computer science, psychology, or whatever other discipline the department emphasizes, causes it to be seen as less rigorous or less important, HCI will not expand beyond being an elective. If the department does not appreciate the importance of interdisciplinary studies, HCI will always be an outcast.