Overview
The TC User-Centered Design (UCD) Certificate Program is an evening graduate-level program for students who want to explore a wide range of issues in usability and user-centered design. Participants complete four courses to earn the Certificate. Three are required of all students: TC 517 - Usability Testing, TC 518 - User-Centered Design and TC 521- Seminar: Current Issues in TC. In addition, students complete a fourth course: either TC 537: User-Centered Web Design, TC 511 - Visual Media in TC or TC 516 - Research Methods in TC.

Application Deadlines

• Autumn 2008 (classes start September 24, 2008): Applications are due in August (exact date to be announced).

How to Apply
Applications are accepted to start each quarter: autumn, winter and spring. TC offers the UCD certificate program in conjunction with UW Extension and they manage the application process. Please visit their site to apply for admission.

Courses

Autumn Quarter
TC 517, Usability Testing: Introduction to usability testing as part of a user-centered product-development process. The hands-on step-by-step discussion of test design is augmented by a discussion of current theory and strategy.

Winter Quarter
Both courses must be taken.
TC 518, User-Centered Design: This course will explore the user-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective, emphasizing how user research and prototype assessment can be integrated into different phases of the design process. Students will learn to think like a user-centered designer and to carry out activities that are key to user-centered design.

TC 521, Seminar: Current Issues in Technical Communication: This course consists of presentations on current issues in technical communication. These presentations are also streamed over the web.

Spring Quarter
Choose one of the following:

TC 511, Visual Media in Technical Communication: Use of visuals in print and electronic media. Topics include vision, attention and perception, semiotics, depiction, information graphics, icons, typography, and principles of page and screen design.

TC 516, Research Theory and Application in Technical Communication: Introduction to research methods in technical communication. Students examine the relationship between theory and research, hypothesis testing, experimental designs, modes of observation, sampling, validity, and data analysis and interpretation.

Summer Quarter

TC 537, User-Centered Web Design: Theory and practice of the user-centered web development process. Principles and processes for documenting and implementing various development stages, including requirements analysis, user needs analysis, information architecture, prototyping, mockups, and production.

Tuition and Fees
Per Credit: $450 (one 4 credit class = $1800)
Registration Fee: $35
Certificate Program Fee: $50

(Variable): Quarterly student technology fee is $23 for a four-credit course and $29 for a five-credit course.

For more information on tuition and fees, please visit UWEO's UCD Certificate page.

More Information
For application instructions, deadlines, acceptance notification dates and tuition payment deadlines, please see the UW Extension How to Apply page.