User-Centered Design Certificate

Overview
The HCDE User-Centered Design (UCD) Certificate Program is an evening graduate-level program for students who want to explore a wide range of issues in usability and user-centered design. Participants complete four courses to earn the Certificate. These three courses are required of all students:

  • HCDE 517 - Usability Testing
  • HCDE 518 - User-Centered Design
  • HCDE 521- Seminar: Current Issues in HCDE

In addition, students complete a fourth course from the following selection:

 

  • HCDE 537: User-Centered Web Design
  • HCDE 511 - Visual Media
  • HCDE 516 - Research Methods.

Application Deadlines

  • Autumn 2009: Applications are due August 14th, 2009 (Extended until Friday, August 21st)

How to Apply
Applications are accepted to start each quarter: autumn, winter, and spring. HCDE offers the UCD certificate program in conjunction with UW Extension, who manages the application process. Please visit their site to apply for admission.

Additionally, we encourage UCD students to apply for Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) status concurrently with the certificate program. This allows students to receive transferable graduate credits while completing the certificate. Students can transfer up to 12 UCD credits into our MS program with GNM status.

Courses

HCDE 517, Usability Testing: Introduction to usability testing as part of a user-centered product-development process. The hands-on step-by-step discussion of test design is augmented by a discussion of current theory and strategy.

Winter Quarter
Both courses must be taken.
HCDE 518, User-Centered Design: This course will explore the user-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective, emphasizing how user research and prototype assessment can be integrated into different phases of the design process. Students will learn to think like a user-centered designer and to carry out activities that are key to user-centered design.

HCDE 521, Seminar: Current Issues in Technical Communication: This course consists of presentations on current issues in technical communication. These presentations are also streamed over the web.

Spring Quarter
Choose one of the following:

HCDE 511, Visual Media in Technical Communication: Use of visuals in print and electronic media. Topics include vision, attention and perception, semiotics, depiction, information graphics, icons, typography, and principles of page and screen design.

HCDE 516, Research Theory and Application in Technical Communication: Introduction to research methods in technical communication. Students examine the relationship between theory and research, hypothesis testing, experimental designs, modes of observation, sampling, validity, and data analysis and interpretation.

Summer Quarter

HCDE 537, User-Centered Web Design: Theory and practice of the user-centered web development process. Principles and processes for documenting and implementing various development stages, including requirements analysis, user needs analysis, information architecture, prototyping, mockups, and production.

Tuition and Fees
Per Credit: $508 (one 4 credit class = $2032)
Registration Fee: $35
Certificate Program Fee: $50

(Variable): Quarterly student technology fee is $23 for a four-credit course and $29 for a five-credit course.

For more information on tuition and fees, please visit UWEO's UCD Certificate page.

More Information
For application instructions, deadlines, acceptance notification dates and tuition payment deadlines, please see the UW Extension How to Apply page.