Master of Arts in User Experience/User Interface Design

Overview

The Master of Arts in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design will prepare you for a meaningful career in the burgeoning fields of UX/UI. This unique offering combines the four-course User Experience Design Graduate Certificate and the four-course User Interface Design Graduate Certificate, providing a holistic perspective.

Embark on an engaging exploration where aesthetics, functionality, and human-centered values converge. Our program equips you to develop ethical, creative design solutions that address real-world challenges. Guided by principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and designing for the social good, you’ll gain expertise in:

  • UX research
  • Interaction design
  • UX and microcopy writing
  • UI design principles
  • Design thinking and problem-solving approaches
  • UI motion design

The accelerated dual-focus program allows you the flexibility to acquire proficiency with the tools and approaches of the closely related fields of UX and UI research and design, opening a broad range of lucrative career opportunities.

Courses

UX Design Graduate Certificate Courses
UI Design Graduate Certificate Courses

Integrated Courses
WRT/ART 509: UX/UI Portfolio
Enables students to develop the visual and technical skills to create a professional and attractive electronic portfolio. The final product will combine their undergraduate and graduate graphic, interaction, or experience design work for review by potential employers or clients. The class will teach students how to objectively review and revise existing works and the protocol or design principles needed for portfolio creation. Instructors will work individually with students and help them choose pieces that best represent their strengths as a designer.

ART 510: UI Visual Principles for Non-Designers*
Introduces students with little or no background or formal design training to the fundamentals of the field. This course aids students in developing a unique approach to the design process and helps them understand the steps necessary to complete projects from the initial brief to the final piece. Students will learn to apply design thinking and visual skills to meaningful communications and user interface experiences while understanding the importance of the audience and context in every decision-making.

*Alternative courses for ART 510 are PSC 502 (Diversity and Inclusion in Public Administration and Policy), SCM 610 (Social Media for Strategic Communication), SCM 611 (Social Media Branding), SCM 612 (Modes of Creative Content Creation).

Admissions

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • College transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • Personal Statement
    • Description of interest in the program
    • Relevant academic and/or work experience

Summer 2025 Dates

4/1Application Deadline
5/6Classes Begin

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Career Opportunities

Advance your career with URI Online.

A Master of Arts in UX/UI Design opens doors to exciting career opportunities at the intersection of technology, design, and user experience. With a strong emphasis on user research, prototyping, and visual design, this degree equips you with the skillsets to thrive in industries such as technology, e-commerce, healthcare, and beyond.

A female web designer shows her coworker an outline of an app she is designing.

UX/UI Designer

Create intuitive and visually appealing interfaces for websites, mobile apps, and software products, focusing on enhancing user satisfaction and usability through thoughtful design.

A team of UI/UX web designers are working together to develop mobile responsive websites, specifically working on its visual design.

Visual Designer

Craft visually compelling layouts, graphics, and icons that enhance the aesthetic appeal and brand identity of digital products, incorporating principles of color theory, typography, and visual hierarchy.

An accessibility specialist presents to a group in an office.

Accessibility Specialist

Advocate for inclusive design practices and ensure that digital interfaces are accessible to users with disabilities, adhering to web accessibility standards and conducting accessibility audits to identify and address barriers.


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