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EARN YOUR UX DESIGN CREDENTIAL

Develop the skills to create intuitive and accessible digital experiences.

Credential Information

The UX Design Credential provides learners with the essential skills and knowledge needed to conduct user centered research, create intuitive designs, and build accessible, effective digital experiences. This credential combines user experience (UX) research methodologies with practical design and prototyping techniques, equipping you to meet the needs of diverse user groups and contribute to the creation of inclusive, user-friendly digital products.

Through four comprehensive courses, you will master both the strategic and practical aspects of UX. The program begins with understanding how to gather and interpret user data, followed by designing user interfaces that are intuitive and inclusive. The focus is on building prototypes and evaluating design solutions through usability testing, ensuring that your designs are effective, efficient, and satisfying for users.

Accelerated Online Format

Complete the four course program in just 8 months from the comfort of your home and without having to leave your full-time job.

Option to Continue Your Education

Decide to complete a full Master of Professional Studies in UX Design? Your courses and credits will apply to your future degree.

100% Online and Flexible

Earn your degree 100% online and study when it works for you. No set class times—just the flexibility to fit learning into your busy schedule.

Real-World Industry
Practitioners as Faculty

Learn from passionate leaders who have built successful careers in UX Design across industries. Benefit from invaluable experience-based teaching models and mentorship, fostering essential skills for your career development.

Focus on Networking
& Business Skills

Learn project management, budgeting, and strategic planning, and gain hands-on experience with project management software. Develop leadership and teamwork skills to succeed in the professional workspace. 

Course Sequence

UX Design is integral to everything in the digital world, from websites to products and apps. This program equips you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a meaningful impact on real-world UX projects. Your courses will focus on critical analytic, problem-solving, and design skills, preparing you for the UX field. Through a balanced approach that emphasizes both theoretical and practical research and development, you’ll finish the credential with a thorough understanding of UX Design.

The UX Design credential consists of four comprehensive courses:

Session
Course
Credits
Orientation
Virtual Orientation
To ensure your success in the program, students will meet virtually for a 1-day orientation where they will meet administrative staff, learn more about student services and success initiatives, and engage in community building with their cohort. In addition, students will complete an asynchronous orientation course in Canvas as a means to introduce them to the navigation of MICA’s administrative tools as well as inform them of academic services available through MICA. The content and assignments in the orientation course are designed to be an introduction to the program as well as a resource throughout the students’ time at MICA.
0
Session 1
Foundations of UX Research
Core Skills: Essentials of user research methods (interviews, screeners, competitive analysis), persona development, Otter.ai, Lookback (or other user testing/research tools)
Your first course will embolden you in your UX pursuits. Through the study of various UX methods and techniques, you will be able to define and develop problem statements while learning the systematic approach to data collection and interpretation. By the end of your Foundations course, you will possess a broadened inventory of UX knowledge ranging from research methods to archetypal descriptions while building a knowledge base that you will build upon in future courses.
3
Session 1
Foundations of UX Design
Core Skills: User journeys, prototypes, usability testing, Figma

Core Skills: 

This course will focus on the application of many skills and knowledge learned in Foundations of UX Research. Topics discussed will include information architecture, interaction design, inclusivity, visual design, and usability. You will gain practical experience through the exploration of screen and page layout, organization, navigation, labeling, search, and other core concepts and techniques as you design a prototype for further development in the next course.
3
Session 1
Prototyping
Core Skills: Storyboarding, design essentials, wireframing, high-fidelity prototyping, advanced Figma
Core Skills: Exploring types of visualizations, contextualizing data visualization in the past and present
Building on the ideas you learned in Foundations of UX Design, you will continue to deepen your understanding of the value and importance of prototyping within the design process. By focusing on digital experiences, you will learn how prototypes aid in the exploration, testing, and communication of design ideas. You will gain practical experience while building & testing prototypes and will be adequately prepared to present and study your prototypes through a more human-centered design lens.
4
Session 1
Utility & Usability: Human-Centered Design
Core Skills: Screener development, heuristic evaluation, laws of UX, usability testing checklists
Core Skills: Exploring types of visualizations, contextualizing data visualization in the past and present

This course provides an overview of how human-centered design can increase and improve the accessibility and inclusivity of UX. You will study the nature of human-machine interactions that involve multiple modes of feedback and explore the application of human factors in the design and evaluation of user interfaces. Perception, cognition, social factors, and cognitive bias will be studied as you learn how to solve design problems using principles of user satisfaction, heuristic evaluations, and usability testing

4
Total Credit Hours
30

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