Program Overview

Overview of the Online Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication – User Experience

The Online Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication with a concentration in User Experience (UX) at Arizona State University is designed to establish students' abilities in a fast-growing field. This program allows students to develop interdisciplinary knowledge about UX design and development while building a foundation in communication and learning applied skills.

Program Details

• The program consists of 40 classes, each lasting 7.5 weeks, and requires a total of 120 credit hours.
• The next start date for the program is 01/12/2026.

Degree Questions and Answers

The program is designed for individuals who enjoy using technology and are interested in helping people design and create communication products. UX centers on a mix of creativity and problem-solving, and professionals spend time with end-users testing products and imagining solutions.

Why UX Designers are in Demand

UX will continue to grow more relevant as technology advances. People have increasingly close relationships with technology in their home and work lives, meaning there will be an increased need for professionals with UX knowledge as the use of digital tools, services, and platforms expands.

Ideal Candidates for the Program

This technical communication degree may be a great fit for individuals who enjoy using technology and are interested in helping people design and create communication products. The field of technical communication and UX doesn't necessarily require a high level of technical skill or computer science knowledge, making it open to individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Comparison to Other UX Degree Concentrations

While all of ASU Online's UX degree concentrations include a curriculum focused on the interaction between individuals and systems, how they frame UX differs. This UX concentration focuses on the communication side of UX through gathering user information, analyzing data, designing communication products, and communicating research findings to stakeholders.

Technical Communication and UX Courses

The program emphasizes technical communication while incorporating relevant context from fields such as human systems engineering and graphic information technology. The result is a well-rounded curriculum that provides a foundation in UX concepts and their execution.

Course Examples

• TWC 122: Introduction to Social Media
• TWC 150: Introduction to Technical Communication
• TWC 201: Writing for Digital Media
• TWC 214: Storytelling with Data
• TWC 260: Accessibility and Inclusion in Communication and User Experience
• TWC 305: Research in Technical Communication
• TWC 311: Principles of Visual Communication
• TWC 314: Data Visualization Tools and Techniques

Career Opportunities

After completing this UX degree concentration, students will be prepared for a variety of roles related to user experience, such as UX research, user-centered design, interaction design, usability analysis, and more. Potential career examples include:

• Computer Software Quality Engineer
• Corporate Web Developer
• Document Management Specialist
• Human Factors Engineer
• IT Project Manager
• SEO Specialist
• Technical Writer
• Web Designer
• Web Developer

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to ASU, students must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and have completed at least 14 of the following courses:

• Four years of math
• Four years of English (non-ESL/ELL courses)
• Three years of lab sciences (one year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences, or physics)
• Two years of social sciences (including one year of American history)
• Two years of the same second language
• One year of fine arts or career and technical education

Applicants must meet at least one of the following:

• Top 25% in their high school graduating class
• 3.00 GPA in competency courses (4.00 = A)
• ACT score of 22 for Arizona residents (24 nonresidents) or SAT Reasoning score of 1120 for Arizona residents (1180 nonresidents)

Tuition Calculator

Students can use the tuition calculator to estimate their full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Most students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Accreditation and Rankings

ASU is a global university recognized for its commitment to innovation, research, and high-quality academic programs. The university is repeatedly awarded peer-reviewed honors from U.S. News & World Report and other respected organizations, including being ranked #1 in the U.S. for innovation for 11 consecutive years.