Program Overview

This 100% online Graduate Certificate in User Experience Design equips students with the skills to create human-centered digital solutions. Through research, prototyping, and refinement, the program explores user needs, pain points, and iterative improvements. Graduates are prepared for careers as UX designers, experience designers, and design consultants, championing user needs in the digital design field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This 100% online Graduate Certificate in User Experience Design is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to create delightful human-centered solutions in the field of digital design. Through a combination of research, prototyping, development, and refinement, the program deep-dives into users' needs, identifying pain points and developing iterative improvements. This interdisciplinary program intersects with user interface design and visual design, enabling graduates to champion the needs of users by understanding the "why, what, and how" of product or service use.

Outline:

The Graduate Certificate in User Experience Design comprises four 10-week teaching terms, each consisting of one course. Students have the option to choose one elective subject to align with their professional or personal interests. The core courses include:

User Experience Practice and Principles:

This course introduces the role of user experience (UX) design in connecting organizations to customers and users. Students learn to evaluate and manage key elements of a UX design project, including stakeholder relationships, ethics, technology considerations, project briefs, and client objectives.

User Experience Research:

This course focuses on the role of research in UX design. Students learn to evaluate and implement research tools and activities to effectively identify and interpret user needs, shape findings, and develop insights.

User Experience Design & Prototyping:

This course equips students with the tools, processes, and approaches to create meaningful digital interactions between a service and a user. They explore inclusive design practices, digital and analogue tools, and different modalities such as voice, touch, sight, sound, and gesture.

Option Subject:

Students choose ONE of the following two-subject combinations for their elective:

• User Interface Design and Business Analyst Fundamentals:
This combination provides knowledge and skills for creating buildable business solutions while optimizing usability and user experience. The UI Design subject covers fundamentals, atomic design, Figma, screen design, accessibility, and testing. The Business Analyst Fundamentals subject teaches business analysis skills, change and project management, and optimization techniques.
• User Interface Design and Product Management Fundamentals:
This combination explores the role of a product manager in taking a digital or physical product to market and improving its performance. The UI Design subject covers the same fundamentals as in the previous combination. The Product Management Fundamentals subject teaches how to manage successful products, create value, and deliver continuous improvement.

Assessment:

The program utilizes various assessment methods throughout the teaching period, including:

• Essays:
Students write essays to demonstrate their understanding of UX principles, research methodologies, and design concepts.
• Reports:
Students prepare reports based on research findings, design solutions, and project evaluations.
• Presentations:
Students deliver presentations to showcase their work, discuss project outcomes, and demonstrate their communication and presentation skills.
• Case Studies:
Students analyze real-world UX design case studies to learn from industry best practices and identify potential pitfalls.
• Quizzes:
Quizzes are used to assess students' knowledge of key concepts and theories in UX design.
• Research Projects:
Students conduct independent research projects to demonstrate their ability to apply research methods to UX design problems.

Teaching:

The program's teaching methods are designed to engage and support students in their learning journey:

• Online Resources:
Students have access to online course materials, resources, and discussion boards via the university's learning platform, Canvas.
• Electronic Assignment Submission:
Assignments and projects can be submitted electronically through the learning platform.
• Collaboration Tools:
Students can collaborate with their peers and instructors through online discussion boards and other collaborative tools.
• Industry Connections:
The program is designed in partnership with leading industry experts, providing opportunities for guest lectures and real-world insights.
• Expert Faculty:
The program is taught by experienced faculty who are actively engaged in UX design research and industry practices.

Careers:

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in User Experience Design are well-positioned for various career opportunities, including:

• Junior-to-Mid UX Designer:
Entry-level to mid-level positions responsible for designing and implementing user-centered digital experiences.
• Experience Designer:
Focus on creating seamless and engaging user experiences across multiple touchpoints and devices.
• Design Consultant:
Provide UX expertise and guidance to organizations, helping them enhance the usability and user satisfaction of their products and services.