College of Sciences and Humanities
School of Information
www.kent.edu/iSchool

About This Program

Are you passionate about creating digital products that are both user-friendly and successful for businesses? In the M.S. degree in User Experience, you'll engage in all phases of the interdisciplinary design process, from learning and understanding to imagining, evaluating and informing. Enroll today to become a skilled professional who can make a real difference in the digital world. Read more...

Contact Information

• Meghan Harper | iSchool@kent.edu | 330-672-2782

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* 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.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale¹
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

Applicants who do not meet the minimum 2.750 GPA requirement must submit a statement that addresses the circumstances that contributed to the GPA and preparation for success in graduate study. Applicants should include recent professional achievements that indicate an ability to perform at a higher academic level to be considered for conditional admission to the program.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: April 15
• Spring Semester
  • Application deadline: November 15
• Summer Term
  • Application deadline: March 15

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Programs Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students may apply the course as a major elective if the course is not already fulfilling the fundamentals elective.

²

Maximum 6 credit hours, combined, may count toward the degree: UX 60691, UX 60693, UX 60792, UX 61095, UX 61096 and UX 66199.

Graduation Requirements

• Evidence of preparation for professional advancement as approved by faculty advisor.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Articulate the values of a user experience professional in the context of agile, multidisciplinary design teams.
2. Design and conduct research to understand user needs.
3. Apply interaction design fundamentals to address user needs.
4. Test and assess design ideas, prototypes and existing systems by employing data collection and analysis methods.
5. Communicate research findings and contribute design solutions in collaborative teams comprising designers, developers and stakeholders.
6. Create and evaluate digital systems that meet user needs in the context of stakeholder priorities.
7. Demonstrate professional competencies aligned with career goals.

Dual Degree with M.B.A. in Business Administration

Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.S. degree in User Experience and the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.

The fully online dual degree prepares students for responsible leadership positions in an integrated business and user experience curriculum. Graduates are prepared for roles in the design, development and delivery of products and services that meet the expectations and needs of users, customers, investors and other stakeholder communities.

Full Description

The Master of Science degree in User Experience prepares students for careers in discovery research, information architecture, interaction design, prototyping, usability testing and user experience strategy and assessment. As essential members of multidisciplinary design teams, user experience professionals engage in a variety of activities to produce usable products that delight users and help organizations meet the needs of their clients, patrons, users and stakeholders. User experience analysis addresses the structural, informational, psychological and emotional dimensions that make interactive communication and information technologies useful and successful.

Kent State's program provides a broad introduction to all phases of the multidisciplinary design process, with the opportunity to build deeper knowledge and skills in a focus area. The program includes electives from aligned master's programs in related disciplines.