Program Overview

Graduate Certificate in User Centered Design

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in User Centered Design (UCD) is a five-course, evening program offered in person through the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington. Designed for working professionals, the program provides graduate-level training in user experience (UX) research and design.

Program Details

• Duration: 9 months
• Location: In-person
• Times: Evenings
• Total Cost: $14,250 (estimated)
• Next Start Date: Late September 2026
• Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

Program Overview

Through hands-on coursework and real-world applications, students explore how usability studies, interaction design, and emerging design practices influence digital products and systems. The curriculum emphasizes keeping user needs at the center of every stage of the design process.

Courses

The five-course, 15-credit certificate includes four required courses and one elective course.

• User-Centered Design (HCDE 518, 4 cr): Explores the user-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective, emphasizing how user research and prototype assessment can be integrated into different phases of the design process.
• Usability Studies (HCDE 517, 4 cr): Discusses the human-computer interface (HCI) as the communicative aspect of a computer system, analyzing usability issues in HCI design and introducing evaluative methods of usability testing.
• UX Speaker Series (HCDE 521, 1 cr): Industry experts present on current issues and research in User Experience (UX) research and design.
• Emerging Issues in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE 525, 2 cr): Topics of current interest in human centered design and engineering
• Electives (4 cr): Students select one elective from the following:
  • Visual Communication (HCDE 508)
  • Information Visualization (HCDE 511)
  • Accessibility and Inclusive Design (HCDE 515)
  • Interaction Design & Prototyping (HCDE 536)
  • User-Centered Web Design (HCDE 537)

Application Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year, accredited institution and have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in a related field.

Tuition & Fees

Graduate credits from the UCD Certificate can be applied to the Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering degree.

Certificate Stackability

Students can choose to take the certificate independently or combine it with another eligible certificate to create a Master of Engineering in Multidisciplinary Engineering degree.

Certificate Instructors

Courses are taught by HCDE faculty and expert instructors from the UX industry, bringing both academic and professional perspectives into the classroom.

Graduate Testimonials

"The program truthfully exceeded my expectations and was extremely useful in understanding a user-centered approach to design. I feel as if I am walking away from the certificate program with a full understanding of the methodologies that user experience designers use on a daily basis and can confidently apply all I have learned in real-world projects.” — Mindy Schwartz (UCD '23)

"I appreciated the client projects that gave me the opportunity to apply my skills across the full user-centered design process—opportunities that can be hard to come by. The professors challenged me to think deeply while also creating a supportive space to learn and ask questions. Through this program, I found my first real mentors. The instructors are truly invested in your growth, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of this experience.” — Alice Lee (UCD '23)
UX Researcher & Ops Coordinator

Additional Information

For more details about the program, including admissions, curriculum, tuition and fees, and FAQs, please refer to the University of Washington's Human Centered Design & Engineering department website.