After graduating from high school, many aspiring UX designers earn a bachelor’s degree, and they have several options for their undergraduate major. Computer science or software engineering can give them a solid technical backbone upon which to build their career, while interactive design or digital media will focus more on the aesthetic front-end.
Common admissions requirements for undergraduate programs will vary from school to school, but may include a combination of the following: a competitive GPA (3.0 or greater), SAT or ACT scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
Maryville University offers a BFA in interactive design at their St. Louis campus providing students with an in-demand skill set for today’s altering digital landscape. Students learn skills in 3D modeling, animation, video, HTML5, and AfterEffects.
The curriculum includes classes covering digital media; typography; motion graphics; interactive applications; visual thinking; digital illustration; publication design; graphic design; and web design. The program consists of 132 credits, 90 of which are major-focused.
For admission to the program, students must submit a high school diploma, a high school grade point average of at least 2.5, a completed admission application, an official copy of a high school transcript or GED, and official transcripts from each college or university previously attended, among others.
Graduates will be prepared for employment in all advertising, marketing, and design-related industries. The degree also prepares them for careers in specialized areas such as gaming, information design, eLearning, and filmmaking.
Arizona State University has a BS in a software engineering program that can be completed online. Students are expected to complete hands-on software engineering projects every semester until graduation. This project-based program will help students acquire proficiency in modeling and coding while also practicing creative problem-solving.
The curriculum includes classes in the principles of programming; computer systems fundamentals; object-oriented programming & data structures; computer organization and assembly language programming; introduction to programming languages; design and analysis of data structures and algorithms; and software enterprise. The program consists of 120 credits.
Graduates of the program will be able to pursue professional paths in systems and database administration, application development, web and software deployment, and more. The program will help students build skills in database management, programming fundamentals, computer and operating system management, and physics and mechanics.
Upon completion, graduates will be ready to take roles such as computer programmer, computer science professor, computer software quality engineer, software developer, software engineer, and information technology manager (IT Manager).
The digital environment of UX design is a fast-changing space. While traditional academic degree programs can adapt slowly to the industry’s changing needs, short courses and certificate programs can be more nimble in addressing present and emerging trends. Whether you’re looking for a targeted boot camp in UX design or looking to fill in the gaps from a bachelor’s degree, these programs can be a useful hack to help you get ahead.
For those who want to jump-start their UX skills, the Pratt Institute has an advanced certificate in user experience (UX) that teaches students about designing and evaluating digital interfaces such as websites, mobile or tablet applications, and software products. This certificate can be taken as a stand-alone program or within the School of Information’s MS in library and information science program, MS in museums and digital culture program, or MS in data analytics and visualization program.
Applicants to the program must have a master’s degree in the humanities, arts, social sciences, or science from an accredited university, submit an online application form, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, a current résume, and two letters of recommendation.
Made up of 12 credits, the program includes courses such as information architecture & interaction design; usability theory & practice; human information interaction; and practical ethnography for user experience.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) offers an online short course in human-computer interaction for user experience design. This online program is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Students explore the intersection of UX and human-computer interaction, including cutting-edge technologies such as eye-tracking, gaze following, and advances in speech and vision tools.
The course is divided into six modules that cover the essence of interaction design; natural interaction; collaborative computer interaction; intelligent user interfaces and prototyping; multimedia, speech, and vision in computer interaction; and the future directions of user interaction. Taught by MIT CSAIL faculty, and culminating in a verified certificate from MIT xPRO, the six-week program requires eight to ten hours of study per week.
UC Berkeley Extension has a professional program in UX design that has no official prerequisites (though a bachelor’s degree is preferred) and can be a useful addition to an undergraduate degree in a more technical field like software engineering. The program allows students to build a professional portfolio while also upskilling in UX design.
The curriculum includes six required courses: visual design principles; diagramming and prototyping for UX; essentials of UX design; user research for UX; information architecture and content strategy; and user interface design. Students also need to choose an elective in a subject like Photoshop, Illustrator, quantitative metrics, or web design with HTML5 and CSS3. The program consists of 14 credits and can be completed in two terms or more.
The faculty of the program includes working designers who have real-world experience. Students learn about the essential, user-centered design techniques and principles, including wireframing, user research, prototyping, affinity mapping, persona building, and more. Graduates can change their careers or expand their expertise as web developers, graphic designers, or content strategists.
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts offers an online specialization program in user interface and user experience design, hosted by Coursera and taught by CalArts faculty. Students learn how to research, design, and deploy visually-driven websites and apps.
The specialization consists of four courses: visual elements of user interface design; UX design fundamentals; web design (strategy and information architecture); and web design (wireframes to prototypes). Graduates of the program receive a specialization certificate. The four-month program takes approximately five hours per week of study.
Perhaps the only concrete step to becoming a UX designer is working as one. That might seem paradoxical, but work experience is some of the best education anyone can get, and even entry-level jobs can rapidly accelerate one’s skill set. Professional experience helps a UX designer to get a mentor, build their portfolio, and grow their professional network. Early work experience can be a critical step in finding one’s niche in UX design and determining the next steps.
A master’s degree is not necessary for someone working in UX design, but it can appeal to those who want to pursue advanced research, entrepreneurial endeavors, or leadership roles.
Entry requirements for graduate schools will vary from program to program, but often include some mix of the following: a bachelor’s degree, a competitive undergraduate GPA (3.0 or better), work experience, GMAT/GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
Rutgers University’s master of business and science (MBS) program with an emphasis on UX design helps students develop the skills and knowledge needed for designing and developing easily learned, engaging, usable, and accessible interactions and interfaces.
The flexible core curriculum of this online program covers a series of business courses: accounting and finance for science and technology; ethics in science and technology management; and market assessment and analysis for business and science.
The UX core classes include an introduction to UX design and visual design for UX. Electives go over subjects such as contextual inquiry, usability evaluation, and information architecture for UX design. The program consists of 43 credits.
Graduates can take up positions such as user researcher, information architect, usability analyst, interaction designer, UX designer, and visual designer.
The University of Washington has a master of human-computer interaction and design (MHCI+D) program at its Seattle campus that can be completed in 11 months or more. It takes a multidisciplinary approach that balances the need for creative design with the power of analytical engineering.
The core curriculum includes studios in immersion, ideation, prototyping, interactive systems, UI software + technology, and research. Electives cover topics like data visualization, experimental research methods, usability studies, value-sensitive design, and interactive information visualization. The program consists of a minimum of 46 credits.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the United States, or it’s equivalent from a foreign institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0, a personal statement, a current resume, three letters of recommendation, transcripts from every college or university attended, and English-language proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English.
Thomas Jefferson University’s master of science in user experience and interaction design is an on-campus program designed to help working professionals and recent college graduates advance their careers in UX design. Graduates of this program will be provided with the knowledge and skills necessary for evolving the standards of interaction and communication.
Students take classes such as the essentials of interactive design; research & design process methods; digital experience design; information architecture; design business and entrepreneurship; prototyping interactive interfaces; and cognitive psychology for design. Electives go over topics such as 3D modeling, virtual reality design, interactive narratives, and database management. The program consists of between 31 and 37 credits.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0, official undergraduate and graduate transcripts, a statement of purpose, two letters of reference, a current resume, and official TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students.
At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities such as interaction design, user research, user experience design, usability analysis, web & multimedia design, and user interface design, among others.
Any professional field that revolves around the use of technology is going to be subject to constant change. And that means that a UX designer’s education is never really over, as they’ll need to adapt their skills and knowledge base to account for emerging trends and technological developments. Professional societies fill that need, providing continuing education, career resources, conferences, networking events, and a general interaction platform for both early-career and veteran professionals.
UX design has two main professional societies: the User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) and the Interaction Design Association (IXDA). The UXPA offers short courses for continuing education, sends out a curated news bulletin on UX news, hosts conferences, and publishes quantitative research about the industry at large. Meanwhile, the IxDA has seen explosive growth since its founding in 2003 and now constitutes a network of over 120,000 individuals. The IxDA also maintains partnerships with industry heavyweights like Amazon, Facebook, and Google.
The best way to learn about UX design is to find out what UX designers are talking about. Academic journals and professional societies provide a way to listen to the conversation driving the industry. If you want to eavesdrop, check out some of the resources below.
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