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Certificate

User Experience (UX) Design

Professional Certificate

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About the User Experience (UX) Design Program

In an era marked by the rapid growth of mobile devices and sophisticated web technologies, the demand for qualified User Experience (UX) Designers has reached unprecedented levels. Companies are increasingly recognizing that effective user experience is vital not only for functionality but also for creating engaging interactions that drive customer satisfaction. 

 

Comprehensive 7-Course Certificate Program

The 7-Course UX Certificate Program is expertly designed to prepare you for this dynamic field, offering a comprehensive understanding of UX principles, software, and analytical techniques that will set you apart in a competitive job market.

User Experience Design is more than just making a product visually appealing; it is a science rooted in rigorous research and the psychology of human-computer interaction. Throughout the program, you will delve into critical concepts such as human factors, user analysis, and usability testing, equipping you with the tools necessary to create effective and user-centered designs. Each course builds upon the last, starting with the foundational Principles of User Experience, where you will learn about user journeys, content requirements, and wireframes, ultimately leading to hands-on projects that reinforce your learning.

Industry Professionals Guide You Every Step of the Way

One of the standout features of this program is the personalized feedback and critiques provided by industry professionals who bring real-world insights into the classroom. This guidance, combined with practical assignments, ensures that you not only learn theoretical concepts but also how to apply them effectively. You will have the opportunity to create a robust portfolio that showcases your skills through case studies and interactive prototypes, making you ready to step into roles as Junior UX Designers or to enhance your current design career.

Engage in Hands-On Projects That Prepare You for Real Challenges

Upon completion of the UX Certificate Program, you will have a comprehensive understanding of user experience principles and practices, a polished portfolio, and the confidence to pursue various career paths in this evolving field. With a focus on practical application, industry expertise, and career preparation, this program positions you for success in the fast-growing UX design sector.

Program Outcomes

  • Mastery of human factors and user interface design principles.
  • Proficiency in applied theories of human-computer interaction.
  • Ability to conduct user analysis and research, including field methods and usability testing
  • Skills to create responsive web designs using HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap.
  • Development of a comprehensive UX portfolio that highlights your projects and skills.
  • Expertise in crafting a personal branding statement, resume, and business card design.
  • Experience conducting informational interviews with UX professionals for career insights.
  • Capability to document progress through detailed case studies, including personas and user journeys.
  • Knowledge of responsive design best practices and how to redesign non-responsive websites.

This Program is Designed for Aspiring: 

  • UX/UI Designers
  • UX Researchers
  • Interaction Designers
  • UX Strategists
  • Product Designers
  • Research Assistants
  • Content Designers
  • And, Designers who want to expand their skills with UX training
Online
9-21 Months
Varies by student and courses taken per quarter.
$5,400
Estimate does not include textbook or material fees. Cost varies based on elective selection.

Program Benefits

  • Start in any term throughout the year.
  • Participate in a flexible, online format, allowing you to complete all coursework asynchronously while providing opportunities for live interactions.
  • Learn from industry leaders with years of UX design experience, who will continually provide guidance and feedback.
  • Gain cutting-edge skills with courses that focus on UX fundamentals, emergent technologies, and AI, designed to keep you ahead of the curve.
  • Focus on practical applications and industry-relevant skills.
  • Gain a certificate from one of the world’s top-rated universities.

Application Requirements

  • Courses may be taken on an individual basis or you can apply for the UX Design Certification Program.
  • In order to establish candidacy in the Certification program, you must complete the application and pay a $95 fee. 
  • A Certificate is awarded upon the successful completion of 4 required, Core Courses, 2 UX Design Elective Options, and a final Portfolio Course.
  • All courses must be completed within 5 years of enrollment.

Students interested in the Certificate Program should meet the following requirements:

  • Basic knowledge of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
    • Suggestion: You can complete the UC San Diego Coursera course Human-Centered Design: an Introduction. Students may audit this course and view all videos and lectures for free on Coursera.
  • Basic knowledge of HTML and CSS 
    • Suggestion: Complete the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies course CSE-41207 Introduction to HTML and CSS. This course counts toward an elective for the UX Certificate Program.

How to Apply

This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There will be a $0.00 fee to apply to this program. Students will be required to pay a $95.00 fee upon acceptance to start their certificate program.

Get More Information

For detailed information, please contact our Arts, Humanities, Languages & Digital Arts department.

User Experience (UX) Design
Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
Download Course List

Information Session

Required Courses

All 16 units are required.

Final Required Course

All required courses and 2 elective courses must be completed before taking this course.

Electives

Minimum of 6 units required. Subject to change. Enrolled certificate students MUST follow matrix as listed in their MyExtension account.

Certificate Guidelines

This program can be completed in 9-21 months (taking 1-2 courses per quarter). Tuition is $595-795 per course. All required courses are offered online, but some electives may not be available online. Please refer to the UX Design Program Course Listing Matrix for more information.

About Online Courses

  • Online courses in this certificate are led by live instructors, but students may view lectures according to their own schedules. There are no set lecture dates or times; however, students will be required to meet weekly assignment deadlines, participate in critiques, and contribute to discussion topics.
  • Students should expect to spend four to six hours per week per course.
  • Software is not provided but instructors provide sources for free or discounted software where possible.
  • To preview our e-learning system, visit our Canvas platform.

Required Software, Hardware, and other Program Materials

  • Mac or Windows OS laptop or desktop - Students may work on either operating system.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud subscription - Students must setup their Adobe CC account once they are enrolled in the program. With proof of enrollment, students are eligible for a discounted subscription rate.
  • Prototyping software (Figma, OmniGraffle, Axure, Adobe XD)
  • HTML Editor software (BBEdit, Sublime Text)
  • Web Hosting provider subscription
  • LinkedIn Learning subscription (for select courses).

Please note: Materials and software requirements vary by course. Before taking an online course, refer to the course description for exact software requirements. Student discounts may apply to certain subscriptions/software. Please visit their respective website for more details.

Related Documents

FAQs

The employment outlook for UX Designers over the next decade is very good. In 2015, CNN Money named User Experience Designers among the top 15 Best Jobs in America, with median pay of $89,300 and projected job growth of 18% in the next decade.
No, we do not currently offer job placement assistance or internships. 
Most courses combine theory with hands-on exercises. Our courses are taught by professionals who work in the field they teach, and will bring real-life projects and examples to your course.
Yes! This program is designed for you to take it online in the convenience of your own home or office. We are currently using Canvas as our online Learning Management System for all our online courses in this program. While students do not get access to their respective courses until the first day of the course, we encourage students who are new to Canvas to click on the following link to Canvas and Take the free tour of Canvas.
Yes. Our programs are designed to be working-student friendly and most of our students are working professionals. The courses vary between two and three units, which amount to approximately 18-20 hours of class time for a two unit course and 27-30 hours of class time for a three unit course.
You officially have five years to complete all requirements for the certificate, although students can usually complete the entire program in 15-21 months by taking 1-2 courses per quarter.      

All required courses cost $795 each. The estimated cost of the entire certificate program, not including certificate fee, enrollment fees, and textbooks/materials is $5,400. 

Your mileage may vary depending on what electives you choose. How students pace their coursework may affect the program cost since many courses require software subscriptions, which are charged by month.

Students pay as they go when they register for classes, not in one lump sum.

UC San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies - like all other UC San Diego schools, colleges, and departments - is accredited by WASC through the University. All courses and certificate programs offered by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies have been developed and are administered in accordance with Extension policy and the regulations of the Academic Senate of the University of California. 
When you have paid your certificate fee and successfully completed all program requirements, you will need to request an audit by Student Services. To request an audit:
  • In your My Extension account, click on “My Courses.”
  • On the right side of the page under “My Certificates,” click on the name of the certificate.
  • On the right side of the page under “Tools,” click on “Request Certificate Audit.”
  • Complete and submit the form that appears.
Once you have formally submitted your audit request, your certificate will be mailed to the address we have on file for you within ten business days.
  • UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies offers continuing education loans through UC Approved Lenders. Each institution offers low competitive interest rates and flexible payment options. You are also encouraged to contact your personal financial institution about possible lending solutions. Direct links to UC Approved Lenders can be found on our website’s Financial Resources page.
  • The Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a comprehensive range of employment and training services in partnership with state and local agencies/organizations. More information is available on their website at edd.ca.gov.
  • Career Centers Located throughout San Diego County offer their communities comprehensive employment and training services benefiting both business and job seekers. More information is available on their website at workforce.org.
  • Please click here for information about Veteran’s Benefits.
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds are limited to degree programs only, and cannot be used for courses or certificate fees at UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies.
Yes, the program is open to non-California residents, including non-US residents. The tuition is the same for all students. If you have questions about how enrolling in courses may or may not affect your visa status, please contact our International Department at ipinfo@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-6784.

Students must complete the first four required courses, as well as 6 units of electives, prior to enrolling in the capstone UX Portfolio course. All required courses must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously.

The UX Portfolio course may only be taken after the student has completed all required courses and electives. Please view individual course pages on our website for specific prerequisites.

Students may enroll concurrently in more than one course, however we recommend participating in the required certificate courses in the order listed on our certificate matrix above. 

Certificate students should begin the program with Principles of User Experience (UX).

STEP 1: If you have a My Extension student account, skip to Step 2. If you do not have a My Extension account, go to myextension.ucsd.edu, click "Create an account" on the right side of the page, and follow the instructions to create an account. Once you have a My Extension account, continue to Step 2.

STEP 2:  Click on the "Apply Now" button on the certificate page. Complete the required fields on the application. Then click the "Save" button. Once you have saved the application, the "Submit" button will appear. Click on the "Submit" button to submit your application for review and consideration. Once submitted, your application cannot be changed. You can track the progress of your application at My Extension. 
Current application or certificate enrollment fees, if any, are listed under the “Apply Now” button on the certificate page on our website.
Yes, you may enroll in the program at any time. However, it is recommended that you enroll as soon as possible. The program curriculum may be updated at any time; if certificate requirements change, you must adhere to the curriculum at the time of your enrollment into the certificate. Enrolling in the certificate also gives you access to quarterly, personalized enrollment reminders from the program manager.
Yes, you may take any course in this program without registering for the certificate, provided you have fulfilled any and all prerequisites for the course.
We recommend enrolling as soon as possible. Many of our core certificate courses may fill up before the course start date. Each quarter we also offer an early enrollment discount of $25 on select courses if you enroll by the discount deadline.
Students are advised to be enrolled no later than the day before the start date of the course.
 
Enrollment in a class may be blocked in the following situations:

◦The class is closed (see FAQ on when enrollment closes).
◦The class is at capacity. If the class is at capacity you will only be able to join the waitlist.  
◦The class is cancelled due to low enrollments.
◦The class has prerequisites that you have not completed yet.

For these reasons we recommend that you enroll early.
You may take a course for one of three options: Letter Grade, Pass/No Pass, or Not for Credit. If you are taking a course towards a certificate you must complete your courses for credit (i.e. Pass/No Pass or Letter Grade) and receive a C-/Pass or higher grade. Grades below a C-, No Pass, and Not for Credit will not count towards certificate requirements.
The refund deadline for courses in this program is typically 3 days after the start of the course. This allows you to enroll in a course and participate in the first class meeting to determine if the course is a good fit. Then, if needed, either you may either transfer your enrollment to a different course or submit a drop request by emailing Student Services at unex-reg@ucsd.edu. The exact refund deadline for each section is listed in the section notes on the course page in our website, and you can also find it in My Extension by clicking on “My Courses” and then the name of the course.
Students are expected to attend all class meetings, participate in class, and complete all homework assignments. Attendance is factored as a part of students’ final grades, and varies by instructor. Typically students can miss one class meeting without it impacting their final grade as long as they still complete their homework. Students who miss a class meeting should always reach out to their instructor regarding late work and homework.
If you have enrolled at least three days before the course begins, you will have access starting on the first day of class. You should receive an email from Student Services with instructions for how to login to the course. If you have enrolled on or after the start date of the course, you will have access to the course within one business day.
 

You will have access to the online Canvas course on the official start date of the class/exam/info session.  Access will be available at 12:01am Pacific Time.

Enrollment to online classes can take up to 24 hours to process and sync up to our online platform, Canvas. For example, if a class started on Tuesday and that is the day a student enrolled, they will likely not have full access to the class until 24 hours later on Wednesday.

Each student has their own learning style so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in-class. For online courses, students should plan to spend approximately 8-10 hours per week viewing lectures and completing coursework.
The online courses are asynchronous: they have a start and end date but all the lessons are uploaded on Canvas, our online learning management system, so you can learn at your own pace. However, please be aware that you may have weekly assignments, quizzes, or tests that are due on specific dates.
The program courses are taught by seasoned professionals and overseen by an advisory board of leaders in the field. You can view the advisor list under the “Advisors” section on this certificate page. You can find information about a course instructor, including a biography and credentials, on the course page.
Each instructor has his/her own preferred method of communication and response policy, which will be detailed on the course syllabus. However, most instructors utilize email or the discussion board and will respond within 24-48 hours.
Three unit courses run for approximately 9 weeks; four unit courses run for approximately 10 weeks. For exact course dates of upcoming sections, visit the webpage of the course you are interested in taking on our website.
Our live, elective courses are held at our University City Center location. For directions please visit: https://extension.ucsd.edu/maps 
Parking is free at our University City Center (UCC) location. Prior to your first class please register your car with this link.
Materials and software requirements vary by course. For details, check the course page.
Students can transfer in up to two courses that match the content of our required courses. Please email unex-digital@ucsd.edu for more information about the transferability of previously completed courses.
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies is not a degree granting institution, however many UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses can be transferred to other colleges or universities.

The transferability of credit is determined solely by the receiving institution. Students should discuss how your individual courses will transfer with the Office of the Registrar at the receiving institution prior to enrolling.

Quarter to Semester Unit Conversion

If the receiving institution operates on a semester system, credits will be converted to semester hours during their evaluation. As a general rule, quarter credits are converted to semester credits by dividing the number of quarter credits by 1.5. For example, if the student completed a course worth 4 quarter credits at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, the course would be worth 4 ÷ 1.5 = 2.66 semester credits.

If you are interested in taking courses at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, you will need to obtain written approval from your school principal or counselor. The approval must be signed and printed on school letterhead, and must be included with your registration. If you are homeschooled, your approval needs to be signed by your contact in your local school district.

The letter should verify that you, the student, have the maturity and academic readiness to attend a post-baccalaureate level or college-level course.

Approvals can be emailed to unex-reg@ucsd.edu.

We are unable to accept letters signed by your parent, even if your parent is your teacher and/or school administrator. If you have taken community college courses, an official transcript from that college verifying coursework will be accepted in lieu of a letter from your high school or district. College transcripts must reflect a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

**Please note that some courses may address adult themes or use nude models.

For questions regarding our classes and certificates, please contact us at unex-digital@ucsd.edu or 858-534-5760.

Advisory Board

Reid Carr

CEO
Red Door Interactive

Jessica Hilt, B.A.

Manager of Applications Development
UC San Diego

Ben Katz, B.A.

CEO
JSX and ISPolitical

Scott Klemmer

Assoc. Professor, Co-Director
UC San Diego Design Lab

Lindsay Matheson

UX Research and Strategy Lead
Raken

Jesse Mellon

Creative Manager
NST Public Relations

Brian Murken, B.S.

Developer, CEO
Murken Media

Donna Sandsmark

Supervisor
NetSuite Consulting

Kristian Secor, Ed. D

Web Developer, Instructor
UC San Diego Extension

Jeremy Wiles

User Experience Architect, Campus Web Office
UC San Diego

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