Certificate in Applied Experience Design and Research
The field of User Experience (UX) Design and Research is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for UX designers will grow substantially over the next ten years. The starting pay for this kind of position currently ranges from $59,000 – $96,000, so it provides an excellent career path for students. UX designers work side by side with product and service developers to create the products, services, and experiences that are the hallmark of today’s modern companies. By earning this certificate, a student validates their participation in this curriculum, making it easy for hiring managers to understand the kind of classes they focused on during their undergraduate studies.
While the classes required for this certificate are part of the larger ATEC degree plan, the requirement to complete only four courses to earn the certificate means this can be a viable parallel effort for students earning any degree to also gain recognition in this field of study.
UX positions are often filled by persons with degrees in:
- Arts, Humanities, and Technology
- Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
- Product Management
- Marketing
- Cognitive Sciences (particularly human-computer interaction)
- Software Engineering
- Data Sciences
- Public and Nonprofit Management
Certificate Curriculum and Completion
A student will earn the certificate if they complete four courses:
- ATCM 3340: Design II
- ATCM 3336: Design Research Methods
- ATCM 3337: Interaction Design I
- ATCM 4364: Topics in Design – Applied Experience Design
NOTE: ATCM 4364 is a topics course that can cover many design topics. The certificate is complete only if the student enrolls in and completes ATCM 4364 when it is designated “Applied Experience Design.”
To gain certification, the student must maintain at least a 3.0 grade in all four classes (not an average, they must earn at least a B in each class).
If the student completes this certificate, it will be noted on the official transcript.
Recommended Order
It is highly recommended that students take ATCM 3340 prior to taking the other classes. This is not a requirement, but a strong recommendation. It is also recommended that students not take ATCM 4364 until they have completed the other three classes. This class requires instructor approval and students may not be allowed to take ATCM 4364 until they complete the other three classes, based on professor preference.
Both ATCM 3340 and ACTM 3337 have a prerequisite of ATCM 2340 – Design I. This prerequisite may be waived with instructor approval for enrollment in these classes. This is to accommodate students from other schools who are not ATEC majors.