College of Communication and Information
School of Visual Communication Design
School of Emerging Media and Technology
www.kent.edu/vcd

PROGRAM IS PENDING APPROVAL FROM HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION. AFTER THAT FINAL APPROVAL, PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS MAY APPLY FOR ADMISSION.

About This Program

Design the future with a Bachelor of Science in User Experience Design at Kent State University. Blend creativity and technology to craft intuitive digital experiences, all while gaining hands-on experience and industry insights that prepare you for an exciting career in UX. Read more...

Contact Information

• Daniel Alenquer | vcd@kent.edu |
  330-672-7856
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In Person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

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Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

PROGRAM IS PENDING APPROVAL FROM HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION. AFTER THAT FINAL APPROVAL, PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS MAY APPLY FOR ADMISSION.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Minimum 1 credit hour of VCD 40192 is required. Students may apply a maximum 4 credit hours of VCD 40192 toward their degree.

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Design with the user in mind, empathize with their needs and values while demonstrating an understanding of human cognitive, limitations and perceptual and physical capabilities, and how they affect design decisions.
2. Apply design skills relative to the use of digital technologies, including (but not limited to) code, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images.
3. Communicate, collaborate and practice effectively, ethically and legally in fields closely associated with technology, user experience design and visual communication design.
4. Use different models, frameworks and approaches for user experience design processes and deliverables to deconstruct, analyze and identify problems in customer experiences.
5. Present user experience design strategies — interaction design concepts through pathways, flows, journeys, maps, presentations, reports, rapid prototyping, animated scenarios, product demonstrations — to clients and stakeholders.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in User Experience Design prepares students to create products, systems and services that prioritize people and positive impact through a human-centered approach. Students develop technical understanding and design skills that are in high demand. The coursework emphasizes UX/UI processes, user research, sketching, wireframing, prototyping, scenario building and front-end development. Students design user interfaces, interactive experiences, application and tool design, motion sequences, video, screen displays and interactive experiences that merge the digital and physical environments. Students learn to define design problems, research solutions, conceptualize interactive products and experiences, prototype those ideas and evaluate their concepts through user testing to create a revised and vetted experience.

This major focuses on user experience design in the context of a broad liberal arts program, giving students the flexibility to choose 20 percent of their coursework (with guidance). This provides the opportunity for students to take a variety of courses to complement their design degree. Through a core of diverse theory- and practice-based courses, students learn basic concepts that apply across the range of college programs and develop a sense of professional expectations and build toward interdisciplinary thinking and application.

Students in the major learn at the intersections of communication, information and technology. The degree program is for students who wish to use the degree on its own, or to augment their education and skills by pairing it with a graduate degree program with another field of study. For students looking to work as a graphic designer or illustrator, the B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design is the recommended program.

There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education or the coordinator of the college's International Study Programs.

Students may apply early to the M.S. in User Experience and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.