User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Certificate of Achievement

The User Interface/User Experience  (UI/UX) Certificate of Achievement prepares students to design and build user interfaces for websites and interactive media that are focused on the needs of users, creating a balance between form and function. Students will explore concepts of user interface design such as human-computer interaction, usability, user experience, and user research. 

This certificate prepares students for careers as entry-level UI/UX designers. Students will explore foundational knowledge of industry-standard tools used by UI/UX designers and implement creative problem solving approaches in order to create interfaces that are attractive, functional, and accessible.

The certificate program is expected to have an enrollment of 10 to 20 annually with about 5 to 10 annual completers. The program expects annual growth in enrollment and completion. 

Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Certificate of Achievement in Career Technical Education.  The User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students to take advantage of rich new employment opportunities in emerging fields such as UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience) and Web Design. Students will gain foundational concepts of user interface design: human-computer interaction, usability, user experience, and user research. The certificate is designed to prepare students to work in the fast growing UI/UX field, whether they enter the workforce directly or seek a degree at Cabrillo or at a transfer institution. 

The need for workers in the diverse field of web design has been advocated for by local businesses in digital media program advisory boards and supported by current, regional labor market research (TOP 0614.30).  The User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Certificate of Achievement is aligned with Cabrillo’s mission, master plan, and statewide community college work in Guided Pathways. Approval of this program will benefit regional employers, fulfill the workforce needs of the local community, augment college enrollment, and support non-traditional and underserved minority students in a viable career and academic path. This program would give our students the knowledge and skills they need to move onwards to a two year degree, a four-year institution, or excel in the workforce.

Based on the regional labor market information, there is a large labor market gap in the Bay region with 1,332 annual openings for the Web Design occupational cluster and 39 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 1,293 students. In the SC-Monterey Sub-Region, there is also a gap with 230 annual openings and 20 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 210 students.

Based on all available data, there appears to be an “undersupply” of Web Design workers compared to the demand for this cluster of occupations in the Bay region and in the SC-Monterey sub-region (Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz counties). There is a projected annual gap of about 1,293 students in the Bay region and 210 students in the SC-Monterey Sub-Region.

The goal is for students to be gainfully employed or transfer to a university. Working with employers to identify earning potential is promising, with potential for a starting salary of $39,000-$44,000/yr in jobs such as digital interface designer, UI/UX researcher, designer or engineer, web development, and/or frontend or backend engineer. It is critical to give community college students educational and professional experience that is necessary to be successful when they enter the workforce or transfer to earn a degree or certificate in other web design and development professions.

There are 16 required units in the digital media department. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
DM1	Introduction to Digital Media	4	S1
DM4	Digital Graphics	4	S2
DM20	Introduction to Website Design and Development	4	S1
DM22	Intro to UI/UX Design	4	S2

N/A

The User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Certificate of Achievement is a program that has been on offered as a skills certificate, and regional colleges are aware the Cabrillo College Digital Media department offers this certificate. Other colleges in our service area do not offer a similar program.  We have modeled our program after other successful programs such as Foothill College, located in our regional service area, and Santa Barbara City College, outside of our regional service area.  We plan to provide a comprehensive curriculum for our students and continue to develop strong workforce professionals in the area of web design and web development.  The sequencing of courses is designed to prepare students to join the workforce at entry level positions or transfer to a university to continue their education. Furthermore, program content and program mapping have been chosen based on industry needs as expressed by our advisory committee.