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User Experience Design (UXD) – Master’s

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User Experience Design

Move beyond applying design methods. Learn to elevate insights across disciplines and lead strategically across the digital product lifecycle.

At a Glance

30

Total Credits

$900*

Cost Per Credit
*Tuition and fee rates subject to change

1 year+

Time to Complete

Create the career of your dreams

The online master of arts in user experience design prepares you to create digital products that are useful, usable, and desirable. Blending integrated perspectives across human-centered, product, and graphic design brings both science and art to every stage of the digital product lifecycle. More than training in current software tools, it develops the holistic perspective needed to design across the full digital product lifecycle.

  • 4-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
  • Academic Records/Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement)
  • Proof of English proficiency for non-native speakers of English

Patrick Finley
Assistant Professor
Graphic Design

Subinay Malhotra
Assistant Professor
Industrial Design

Aaron Yang
Assistant Professor
Graphic Design

Fall Semester

  • Required: UXD 5100: User Experience Design 1: Fundamentals – 3 credits
  • Required: UXD 5110: User Experience Design 2: Process and Iteration – 3 credits
  • Required: ARTGR 5890: Design and Ethics – 3 credits
  • Required: INDD 5300: Design Thinking – 3 credits
  • Elective: 3 credits

Spring Semester

  • Required: User Experience Design 3: Applied – 3 credits
  • Required: ARTGR/HCI 5500X/User Experience: Methodologies – 3 credits
  • Required: User Experience Design: Creative Component – 3 credits
  • Elective: 3 credits
  • Elective: 3 credits

Melissa Stenstrom
Graduate Student Recruiter
College of Design
515-294-3366
choose_design@iastate.edu

Subinay Malhotra

People think user experience is about making apps, but it’s about making entire ecosystems of customer experience that support business strategy.

Subinay Malhotra, assistant professor of industrial design

Boost Your Earning Power

  • $98,540

    Median wage

  • 14,500

    projected openings each year

  • 2X

    the average employment rate

Career Path Opportunities

As society relies more and more on technology for everything from buying groceries to customizing a sweet pair of sneakers, the need to think about – and hire – UXD professionals also rises. Web and digital interface designers have been named a “Bright Outlook Occupation” by the Bureau of Labor Statistics due to the anticipated rapid growth in the industry.

Job titles might include:

  • Product design
  • Information architect
  • UX/Interface Designer
  • UX Researcher
  • UI/Experience designers

Industries:

  • Technology
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Insurance
  • E-commerce
  • Retail
  • Travel

A flexible online experience, designed intentionally for you.

With Iowa State’s online programs, your career never has to wait. Gain the same high-quality education and industry-focused knowledge as on campus programs, guided by expert professors preparing you for your next.

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Take the next step

Anything is possible at Iowa State University with innovative academic programs, hands-on research opportunities, and globally recognized scholars to support you every step of the way.