User Experience Design

The Certificate in UX Design prepares students for entry-level positions in the field and/or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in a similardiscipline. Students learn foundation skills in strategic thinking, planning, iterative prototyping, and acquiring proficiency with the range oftechnology platforms used in interactive design. Students plan, develop, test and market web and app design solutions with an emphasis on visualflow, functionality and code using optimum parameters, accessibility standards and user experience guidelines. In completing the program,students will have design projects that can help them transition to doing internship, freelance or contract positions. Students are encouraged toapply to bachelor’s degree programs within the area. In either a work or school scenario the aspiring designers will gain professional skills foradvancement within a design discipline. Students completing the degree have demonstrated skills in the design and development of digitalproducts including: websites, smartphone and tablet apps, and other digital interface products. Upon completion of the program, students areprepared for employment in app design and development and may be prepared for employment as a: Front-end Web Developer or Designer,Multimedia Artist, App Developer, UX/UI Designer, Graphic Designer, Interactive Media Designer, Digital and Social Marketer, and Visual Designer.Program Learning Outcomes: Apply basic design principles to UX designs; synthesize advanced multidisciplinary knowledge into a portfolio of work;identify, describe and analyze current design trends in the online market.

The certificate in UX Design is in the Fine and Applied Arts program review. With a focus on software and web design the coursework provides students with the opportunity to create a mature portfolio of work demonstrating advanced knowledge in the field. The certificate will serve student need by enabling higher prospects of employment both locally and finding work remotely. 

In the previous program reviews for the Fine and Applied Arts division, the development and establishment of the UX Certificate fits within thestated goals. With the advent of the new Video Production room, we now have new computers in the Digital Art Lab and dedicated space forstudents to utilize multimedia including new Macintosh computer stations and iPads. Jackie Buttice was hired in 2024 for her expertise as a digital artist and web developer. With this new certificate she will be able to grow theprogram and share her knowledge of the topic from her real world experience as a professional in the field. 

With multiple local high school pathway programs in graphic design and digital art, our estimation is that approximately 60 students will be inpursuit of a Certificate of Achievement in User Experience Design in its first year with about 8-10 completers in the first year and a half. Currentlywe have roughly 50 majors and 15 completers per year and thus with those two variables combined that is why we have these results.In an era dominated by apps and websites, we anticipate an increase in student enrollment during the second year and afterward once theprograms gets fully underway. 

The Certificate in UX Design prepares students for entry-level positions in the field and/or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in a similardiscipline. Students learn foundation skills in strategic thinking, planning, iterative prototyping, and acquiring proficiency with the range oftechnology platforms used in interactive design. Students plan, develop, test and market web and app design solutions with an emphasis on visualflow, functionality and code using optimum parameters, accessibility standards and user experience guidelines. In completing the program,students will have design projects that can help them transition to doing internship, freelance or contract positions. Students are encouraged toapply to bachelor’s degree programs within the area. In either a work or school scenario the aspiring designers will gain professional skills foradvancement within a design discipline. Students completing the degree have demonstrated skills in the design and development of digitalproducts including: websites, smartphone and tablet apps, and other digital interface products. Upon completion of the program, students areprepared for employment in app design and development and may be prepared for employment as a: Front-end Web Developer or Designer,Multimedia Artist, App Developer, UX/UI Designer, Graphic Designer, Interactive Media Designer, Digital and Social Marketer, and Visual Designer.Classes for Certificate: 2 electives and UX1, UX2, Digital PortfolioProgram Learning OutcomesApply basic design principles to UX designsSynthesize advanced multidisciplinary knowledge into a portfolio of workIdentify, describe and analyze current design trends in the online market 

Required Courses: (15 units) Course #Course TitleUnits CGRA P110Introduction to Digital Art3 CGRA P111Digital Graphic Design3 CGRA P150User Experience Design 13 CGRA P151 User Experience Design 23 CGRA P152Digital Portfolio3 

Item 3. Program Requirements

Course #Course TitleLocal GELocal GECalGETCSequence (semester option)CGRA P150User Experience Design 13 Year 1, FallCGRA P110Introduction to Digital Art3 Year 1, FallCGRA P151User Experience Design 23 Year 1 SpringCGRA P111Digital Graphic Design3 Year 1 SpringCGRA P152Digital Portfolio3 Year 2 Total units15 Semester 1CGRAP150 User Experience Design 3.0 unitsCGRA P110 Introduction to Digital Art 3.0 unitsSemester 2CGRA P111 Digital Graphic Design 3.0 unitsCGRAP151 User Experience Design 2 3.0 unitsSemester 3CGRAP153 Digital Portfolio 3.0 units (this could be taken in the second semester but I recommend more time to amass the work