User Experience Design Capstone Certificate

Program Overview

The UW-Madison User Experience Design online capstone certificate (“UX”) offers comprehensive training in introductory to intermediate user experience skills for designing and evaluating innovative digital user experiences in digital applications and media. The program can be completed entirely online within one year, accommodating your education, work, and life commitments. It consists of three 15-week courses and one short, four-week capstone class, with each course building on the previous, reinforcing your skills. By completing the UX certificate, you’ll acquire the essential skills and credentials to advance as a UX professional. This includes learning digital design theories, techniques, and tools, assessing user satisfaction with digital media, practicing various prototyping methods, collecting and analyzing user data, and enhancing the usability, accessibility, and overall user experience of digital spaces over time.

Admissions requirements

All applicants must:

Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Submit evidence of English language proficiency, if applicable. The required proficiency scores are: TOEFL IBT 92, PBT 580; or IELTS 7.0.

Ideal applicants will:

Have general experience with web, mobile and other interactive technologies. Prior computer programming experience is not required.

Application materials required:

Online application
Statement of interest
Transcripts

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International Applicants

International students are welcome to apply and enroll in our certificate program. However, due to its part-time and online nature, they aren’t currently eligible for educational visas. International students can complete the UX certificate in their location and apply to our campus-based UW-Madison master’s programs within the same year. Credits from the UX certificate will be accepted toward a campus-based master’s degree in iSchool or Computer Science if admitted. For assistance, contact us at userexperience@ischool.wisc.edu to plan your educational journey.

At-a-glance

Format

online

Program type

capstone certificate

Commitment

1 year

Credit

10 graduate level credits

Tuition

Resident & nonresident:
$1200 per credit

*Additional fee may apply

Application deadline

Aug 15th, 2025

For complete application details visit UW Madisons Guide.

Offered by

College of letter and Sciences

Certificate awarded

Capstone Certificate in User Experience Design

Learn about our programs

For a comprehensive description of UX Program review the Student Handbook: Handbook

Sample Curriculum

Fall (3 credits)

User Experience Design I –

Introduction to User Experience

Spring (3 credits)

User Experience Design II –

Intermediate User Experience

Curriculum

Summer (4 credits)

User Experience III – Advanced User Experience

User Experience Capstone

Program highlights

Our accelerated online program offers global accessibility, enabling you to finish in one year.
Benefit from UW–Madison’s renowned Computer Science and Information School, bridging computing and information expertise.
Gain essential UX skills encompassing data analysis, digital design, and usability enhancement for comprehensive career readiness.

How you will learn

Fully online, giving you the flexibility to choose when to complete most of your weekly coursework, making it convenient to balance work, family, and education.
Complete one mandatory course per semester, during which you’ll design, prototype, test, and refine based on feedback. In completing the program you will develop two UX projects, adding significant assets to your professional portfolio.
Class materials may be accessed at any time, allowing flexibility to combine work, family, and education. Students also plan synchronous meetings with peers and instructors; these elements are recorded for later viewing.

How to apply

Apply to the UX Capstone Program:

Due to the hand-on approach and project based courses, enrollment in the UX Capstone Certificate Program is limited each year.

Application Deadline: August 15, 2025

Scholarships available!

Online Application System

You must complete an online application through the following university application system:http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/advising/apply.htm

Need help? Email us at userexperience@ischool.wisc.edu.

Application Checklist:

To apply to the program, you must complete the following two steps:

Fill out the online application (see above).
- Select fall term (there are no spring or summer admissions)
- Choose Capstone Certificate—User Experience Design for your Special Student Type
- Please provide your statement of interest in the academic plans statement field
Have official or unofficial transcripts sent to:

UX Certificate Program
4217 HC White Hall
600 N. Park Street
Madison, WI 53706
c/o Certificate Coordinator Tess Maki

These can also be sent via email to userexperience@slis.wisc.edu.

Tuition and costs

Program Cost

Base tuition is $1,200 per credit, but scholarships may be available.

Contact userexperience@slis.wisc.edu to discuss your eligibility for scholarships.

Students are billed for courses in which they are enrolled each term.

UW-Madison does not offer a lump sum payment plan.

Tuition Includes:

Technology costs for Internet course delivery
Live web conferencing
Toll-free telephone line for the audio portion of conference calls
Library use including a world class collection of digital journals and books and library services
Use of the web conferencing software for group project work for program courses

There are no distance learning fees, segregated fees or application fees.

Supplies:You will need to purchase books and some software for some courses, however you will be able to purchase the software at a heavily discounted UW student rate.

Loans and Aid

Loans: Capstone Certificate students are not eligible for federal student loans but are eligible to apply for “undergraduate” private student loans to pay for the program.

Employer Tuition Assistance: Are you currently employed? Many employers provide tuition assistance benefits that can defray some or all the cost. We can help you find out if your employer has this benefit!

Scholarships: Base tuition is $1200 per credit, but scholarships may be available, especially for those working in the public sector or non-profit.

Email userexperience@ischool.wisc.edu to set up a personalized appointment to talk about strategies to fund your UX Capstone certificate experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the the UX certificate take ?

You can complete the certificate entirely online, within one calendar year, allowing for balance of your education, work and life. The certificate is composed of 3 classes of 15 weeks and one short capstone class of 4 weeks. The courses build off each other and reinforce your growing skills.

Who is the UX certificate for ?

The UX certificate will accommodate both existing computing professionals whose expanding job responsibilities require a deeper understanding of user experience design, and people new to the technology workforce seeking introductory skills in user experience design.

Where can I get more information about whether the UX certificate is right for me?

Email userexperience@ischool.wisc.edu to talk about the UX certificate and you.

How much does capstone program cost & is financial support available ?