User Experience
Master of Science
Online
Course Delivery
30
Total Credits
$867
Credit Hour
2 Years
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
The Department of Information and Media offers a fully online, asynchronous masters-level program in User Experience (UX) to accelerate career prospects of early and mid-career professionals for leadership roles. UX focuses on humans interacting with technologies, as well as business goals, during the design process to create user-centered and socially responsive interactive technologies, applications, and information systems. The program enables students to earn a masters from one of the world’s leading programs without the expense and overall challenges associated with leaving their home or job. The 30-credit program emphasizes a “user-first” perspective, meaning it integrates knowledge of human-computer interaction with industry-relevant methods and social responsibility to prepare students for real-world experiences in the workplace, including technical and/or management careers in user-first experience design and human-centered research.
Program Outcomes
This premier online graduate user experience program combines user-first theoretical and practical knowledge of experience design that will help students build their skills and expertise to become champions of change, drivers of innovation, and creators of sustainable user experiences and engagements. With a Master of Science in User Experience from MSU, graduates will be prepared to:
- Become a UX leader, driving the technology behind product design and marketing
- Qualify for UX job roles such as designer, researcher, or project manager
- Design more usable and accessible websites, software, and products for diverse audiences
- Collect, analyze, and interpret user experience data to inform decision making
- Advance dynamic IT developments in the 21st century global workplace
Career Outlook
The User Experience program will position students for rewarding, well-paying careers in human-computer interaction, user experience design, and human-centered research. Graduates will have job titles that reflect the major UX areas:
- UX Design: UX designer, experience designer, interaction designer, or information architect
- UX Strategist: UX strategist, UX architect, UX product manager, or UX analyst
- Visual Design: Visual information designer, user interface (UI) designer, UI artist, or digital designer
- Research and Usability: UX researcher or usability researcher/specialist/analyst
- Content: Content strategist or UX copywriter
A Top-Ranked Education
- 31st among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- A Top 100 Global University — Times Higher Education and U.S. News & World Report
Jeff Siarto
Interim Program Director of UX, MS
Jeff is a UI/UX designer, author, and technologist with over 15 years of experience building web and software user interfaces. Since 2013 he’s been working with NASA and other organizations to help make remote sensing and Earth Science data more usable and actionable for scientists, engineers, and the general public.
Course Information
UX 800 - User Research and Design, 3 credits
UX 802 - Current Topics in UX, 3 credits
UX 805 - Quantitative Analysis and Insights in UX, 3 credits
UX 810 - Social Science for Design, 3 credits
UX 815 - Programming Fundamentals for UX, 3 credits
UX 820 - Usability Evaluation, 3 credits
UX 825 - Visual Design Fundamentals, 3 credits
UX 830 - Design for Interactivity, 3 credits
UX 835 - Accessibility and Design, 3 credits
UX 840 - UX and Society, 3 credits
UX 898 - User Experience Capstone/Practicum, 3 credits
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree from a recognized, accredited educational institution (Minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA). No GRE required.
- Previous work experience preferred (Résumé/CV, portfolio is optional)
- TOEFL/IELTS scores if English is not your native language
- A written personal statement detailing your professional interests and goals
- Letter of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- Complete a departmental and university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send all official transcripts to Michigan State University.
Key Dates
Fall Semester
Application Deadline
May 1st
Spring Semester
Application Deadline
December 10th
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$867
$1,703.50
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
Program Overview
The Department of Information and Media offers a fully online, asynchronous masters-level program in User Experience (UX) to accelerate career prospects of early and mid-career professionals for leadership roles. UX focuses on humans interacting with technologies, as well as business goals, during the design process to create user-centered and socially responsive interactive technologies, applications, and information systems. The program enables students to earn a masters from one of the world’s leading programs without the expense and overall challenges associated with leaving their home or job. The 30-credit program emphasizes a “user-first” perspective, meaning it integrates knowledge of human-computer interaction with industry-relevant methods and social responsibility to prepare students for real-world experiences in the workplace, including technical and/or management careers in user-first experience design and human-centered research.
Program Outcomes
This premier online graduate user experience program combines user-first theoretical and practical knowledge of experience design that will help students build their skills and expertise to become champions of change, drivers of innovation, and creators of sustainable user experiences and engagements. With a Master of Science in User Experience from MSU, graduates will be prepared to:
- Become a UX leader, driving the technology behind product design and marketing
- Qualify for UX job roles such as designer, researcher, or project manager
- Design more usable and accessible websites, software, and products for diverse audiences
- Collect, analyze, and interpret user experience data to inform decision making
- Advance dynamic IT developments in the 21st century global workplace
Career Outlook
The User Experience program will position students for rewarding, well-paying careers in human-computer interaction, user experience design, and human-centered research. Graduates will have job titles that reflect the major UX areas:
- UX Design: UX designer, experience designer, interaction designer, or information architect
- UX Strategist: UX strategist, UX architect, UX product manager, or UX analyst
- Visual Design: Visual information designer, user interface (UI) designer, UI artist, or digital designer
- Research and Usability: UX researcher or usability researcher/specialist/analyst
- Content: Content strategist or UX copywriter
A Top-Ranked Education
- 31st among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2022
- A Top 100 Global University — Times Higher Education and U.S. News & World Report
Jeff Siarto
Interim Program Director of UX, MS
Jeff is a UI/UX designer, author, and technologist with over 15 years of experience building web and software user interfaces. Since 2013 he’s been working with NASA and other organizations to help make remote sensing and Earth Science data more usable and actionable for scientists, engineers, and the general public.
Course Information
UX 800 - User Research and Design, 3 credits
UX 802 - Current Topics in UX, 3 credits
UX 805 - Quantitative Analysis and Insights in UX, 3 credits
UX 810 - Social Science for Design, 3 credits
UX 815 - Programming Fundamentals for UX, 3 credits
UX 820 - Usability Evaluation, 3 credits
UX 825 - Visual Design Fundamentals, 3 credits
UX 830 - Design for Interactivity, 3 credits
UX 835 - Accessibility and Design, 3 credits
UX 840 - UX and Society, 3 credits
UX 898 - User Experience Capstone/Practicum, 3 credits
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree from a recognized, accredited educational institution (Minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA). No GRE required.
- Previous work experience preferred (Résumé/CV, portfolio is optional)
- TOEFL/IELTS scores if English is not your native language
- A written personal statement detailing your professional interests and goals
- Letter of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- Complete a departmental and university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send all official transcripts to Michigan State University.
Key Dates
Fall Semester
Application Deadline
May 1st
Spring Semester
Application Deadline
December 10th
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$867
$1,703.50
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
The MSU Value Promise
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.
MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.