The Graduate Certificate in User Centered Design (UCD) is a five-course, evening program offered in person through the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington. Designed for working professionals, the program provides graduate-level training in user experience (UX) research and design.
Through hands-on coursework and real-world applications, students explore how usability studies, interaction design, and emerging design practices influence digital products and systems. The curriculum emphasizes keeping user needs at the center of every stage of the design process.
Admissions
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year, accredited institution and have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in a related field. Review application materials and submission instructions »
Curriculum
The five-course, 15-credit certificate includes required courses in usability studies and user-centered design theory. Students also choose electives from topics such as visual communication, information visualization, accessibility and inclusive design, interaction design and prototyping, and user-centered web design. Learn more about UCD courses »
Tuition & Fees
Graduate credits from the UCD Certificate can be applied to the Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering degree. View current tuition rates »
Certificate Instructors
Courses are taught by HCDE faculty and expert instructors from the UX industry, bringing both academic and professional perspectives into the classroom. View profiles of HCDE faculty and Affiliate and Adjunct faculty.
"The program truthfully exceeded my expectations and was extremely useful in understanding a user-centered approach to design. I feel as if I am walking away from the certificate program with a full understanding of the methodologies that user experience designers use on a daily basis and can confidently apply all I have learned in real-world projects.”
"I appreciated the client projects that gave me the opportunity to apply my skills across the full user-centered design process—opportunities that can be hard to come by. The professors challenged me to think deeply while also creating a supportive space to learn and ask questions. Through this program, I found my first real mentors. The instructors are truly invested in your growth, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of this experience.”