Program Overview

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User Experience Design, Capstone Certificate

The University of WisconsinMadison User Experience Design Capstone certificate teaches students how to develop as UX professionals. The UX capstone combines expertise from two highly ranked UWMadison academic departments: the Department of Computer Sciences and its HCI Lab, and the UWMadison Information School.

Program Overview

The UX Capstone certificate accommodates both existing computing professionals whose expanding job responsibilities require a deeper understanding of user experience design, and students new to the technology workforce seeking introductory skills in user experience design. Online courses are taught by experienced and engaged instructors from UWMadisons computer sciences and Information School programs, combining knowledge and networks from both the computing and information fields. Students are part of a cohort of learners who complete project-based activities and learn to work effectively as part of a virtual team. Students must successfully complete each course in succession to earn the certificate. The certificate takes one calendar year (fall, spring, summer) to complete.

Admissions

All applicants must:

• Have completed a bachelors degree (any subject area is relevant)
• Have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in the last 60 credits of that degree; Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required
• Not be enrolled in another University of Wisconsin undergraduate or graduate program while completing our User Experience Design (UX) certificate program
• Non-native English speakers submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 92 (Internet version) or better
• No prior computer programming experience required, however general experience with web, mobile, and other interactive technologies is useful and prior experience with web content management systems or HTML/CSS is helpful.

Applications are accepted for a cohort starting each fall term. The certificate accepts applications on a rolling admissions process beginning each January until the next fall's cohort is full.

Application Steps

A complete application includes:

1. An online application for admission as a University Special student, selecting UNCS Capstone Certificate and the program: User Experience Design.
2. In the application's academic plan statement field, provide your statement of interest, answering the questions: Why are you interested in the UWMadison UX program? What do you aim to get out of the program?
3. Official transcripts of previous college work.

Enrollment

Admitted students receive a formal letter of admission to UWMadison along with general enrollment information.

Requirements

The course list includes:

• User Experience Design Core:
  • L I S/COMP SCI 611: User Experience Design 1 (3 credits)
  • L I S/COMP SCI 612: User Experience Design 2 (3 credits)
  • L I S/COMP SCI 613: User Experience Design 3 (3 credits)
• User Experience Design Capstone:
  • L I S/COMP SCI 614: User Experience Design Capstone (1 credit) Total Credits: 10

Minimum Requirements for Capstone Certificate Completion

• Students must earn a minimum grade of C in each course used to meet Capstone Certificate requirements.
• Courses in which a student elects the pass/fail or audit option will not count toward completion of Capstone Certificate requirements.
• All of the Capstone Certificate credits must be earned "in residence" (which includes on campus and distance-delivered courses) at UW-Madison.
• All of the Capstone Certificate credits must be earned while enrolled in the Capstone Certificate program.

Policies

Students in the User Experience Design capstone certificate program are not graduate students and thus are not eligible for teaching assistantships, project assistantships, or research assistantships. Also, students in this capstone certificate program cannot enroll in other graduate programs nor take courses outside the prescribed curriculum.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students have knowledge of, and ability to apply, data collection and analysis methodologies for user experience research.
2. Students have knowledge of, and ability to apply, design principles and user behavior theories to digital environments.
3. Students can create, critique and revise design prototypes based on testing data and feedback.
4. Students can effectively plan, manage and communicate a user experience design project.