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In today’s world, effective usability separates engaging experiences from frustrating ones. It measures how readable and accessible an interface is. How easily a user can perform a specific action. How engaging a digital experience is. Going further, this difference means less website traffic, lower sales and fewer customer recommendations.
Websites, software, hardware, products and systems increasingly incorporate intuitive, friendly and easy-to-navigate features and functions. As our world is increasingly virtual, this discipline grows at an exponential rate. Employers are constantly on the lookout for new hires with the necessary skills to improve user experience. Mizzou's online Graduate Certificate in User Experience (UX) and Usability program takes a scientific and analytical approach to human-centered design.
To round out your existing skill set, you’ll understand how to develop products, tools, interfaces and websites that support the user’s journey. At the same time, you learn to evaluate these aspects in order to improve interactivity, engagement, accessibility and overall satisfaction.
The School of Information Science and Learning Technologies (SISLT) is a proud member of iSchools, an international coalition of leading information schools.
Quick facts
Official name
Graduate Certificate in User Experience and UsabilityCampus
Program type
Graduate certificateAcademic home
College of Education & Human Development | School of Information Science and Learning TechnologiesDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
12Estimated cost
$6,741.60*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
With the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting 25% greater demand for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers through 2032, set yourself apart from other professionals — or switch fields — with Mizzou’s online Graduate Certificate in User Experience and Usability.
Workplaces prioritizing learning and performance, including health care, education, museums and workplace training programs, particularly seek UX/UI professionals to develop interfaces that hold user attention and help them retain information.
Consider upskilling with this certificate program if you’re involved in:
- App and web development.
- Archives and museums.
- Computer science and information technology.
- Content strategy and journalism.
- Library science.
- Visual design.
About the online Graduate Certificate in User Experience and Usability
Not all users have identical experiences. Certain factors regularly prevent them from achieving certain goals. These include small fonts, illogical layouts, difficult directions, unresponsive features, minimal color contrasts and a slow load time. As a result, users may click off a website, not complete a desired action or be unable to participate fully.
Mizzou’s online Graduate Certificate in User Experience and Usability program trains you to identify and avoid these pitfalls ahead of time. You'll benefit from the research conducted by the Information Experience Laboratory. The program explores user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) best practices and data-gathering methods for gauging user response.
Through this program, you will:
- Acquire an understanding of human-centered design.
- Learn to prototype and assess user experiences.
- Observe user behavior and identify patterns through data collection.
- Understand how to develop systems and products appropriate for a variety of users.
- Grow your knowledge of UX/UI tools and methodologies.
- Delve into the user journey to create a more organized pathway toward specific objectives.
Program structure
The online Graduate Certificate in User Experience and Usability requires 12 credit hours, including fully online coursework and an internship with the Information Experience Laboratory, which students can is also entirely online. During the program, students compile a Competency Portfolio reflecting their mastery of user-friendly environments and understanding of prototyping tools and data-based assessments.
Courses are semester-based. Students who study part time and take one course each semester complete the program in just over one year.
Students interested in exploring user experience and usability further may transfer their credits to pursue:
- A Master of Science in Learning Technologies and Design with an emphasis in Online Education or Technology in Schools.
- An Educational Specialist in Learning Technologies and Design with an emphasis in Online Education or Technology in Schools
Coursework covers
The online Graduate Certificate in User Experience and Usability program introduces you to:
- Data collection and analysis to evaluate systems.
- Interactive design concepts, usability engineering and prototyping principles.
- Usability testing and research to develop human-centered design strategies.
Review all requirements for the online graduate certificate in user experience and usability.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
1+ yearsTypical course load
1 class per semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.