Technology - Digital art and user experience

User experience (UX) refers to the feelings people have when using a product, application, system or service. It’s a broad term that covers anything from how well users can navigate a product to the relevance of content. This program will prepare you to deliver real-world solutions that address users’ wants and needs across industries.

Ideal for students interested in computer systems, human-computer interactions and content development, this UX degree is built using a holistic approach featuring elements of three subject areas:

• Graphic information technology (how users interact with products, including design)
• Human systems engineering (product development and research)
• Technical writing and communication (information development and content focus)

The skills you’ll develop in this UX program

In this program, you’ll become familiar with UX research, design, content development, communication and tone of voice elements. You’ll also learn how to evaluate all components and products with which end users interact. This includes hardware and software user interfaces, informational products, help systems, user support, identification of user needs, tasks, procedures and more. Additionally, you’ll gain a range of transferable skills, such as:

• Data analysis
• Literature review
• Research, interaction and visual design
• Technical writing
• User experience
• User flow and testing
• Verbal presentation
• Web content management
• Wireframing and prototyping

What you can do with a UX design degree

To effectively lead teams and collaborate with clients, UX professionals must be skilled in research, analysis, design and communication. Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped with these skills and prepared for a range of jobs, including UX researcher, UX developer, usability engineer, web content writer, information architect and more.

You can also elevate your studies by earning a graduate degree. Pair this bachelor’s degree with an Accelerated Master’s and finish in as little as one additional year. This path can reduce your time and costs while deepening your expertise. Eligible programs include:

• Master of Science in user experience (UX)

Are you interested in exploring a particular user experience discipline further? Check out ASU’s online UX concentrations:

• Bachelor of Science in graphic information technology – user experience
• Bachelor of Science in human systems engineering – user experience
• Bachelor of Science in technical communication – user experience

As a digital society, there’s a growing need for professionals who understand the importance of art, media and technology in learning. In this concentration, you’ll explore how humans learn and the role arts technology plays in shaping the future of education. You’ll also learn how to drive innovation in settings ranging from libraries and science museums to after-school programs and adult education settings.

Additionally, you’ll gain insight into different types of media technologies and ways they can enhance education. Your courses will demonstrate how to use artificial intelligence, virtual reality and creative tools to facilitate learning. You’ll also develop cultural literacy, which involves understanding the sociocultural and environmental impacts of implementing technology in education.

The skills you’ll develop in this program

In this interdisciplinary program, you’ll expand your media arts and technical skills in the context of education. You’ll build competencies in programming for media creation, digital design, research, communication and collaboration. Additional skills you’ll add to your toolkit include:

• Aesthetic literacy, including form and composition.
• Computational tools and methodologies.
• Improvisation and rapid prototyping.
• Media processing and editing for video, audio and graphics.
• Modeling and inference.
• Physical computing.
• Visualization and sonification.
• User experience.

Who’s a good fit for this media arts and sciences degree?

This concentration can complement your skills whether you have a creative or technical background. For artists and creatives, this degree offers opportunities to increase your fluency with technological tools. If you’re technical-oriented, you’ll gain a foundation in the cultural and creative use of technology. Regardless of where you start, you’ll graduate prepared to reimagine learning experiences within communities, organizations and more.

If you’re interested in exploring media technologies outside of the context of education, ASU’s general Bachelor of Arts in media arts and sciences online is an option to consider. However, both the general program and the education concentration focus on cultivating your creative and technical skills, equipping you to make an impact in today’s digital world.

Full-stack web development means building websites and applications from start to finish, encompassing the front end that users see and the back end that makes them work. Full-stack web developers’ responsibilities range from designing and programming to testing and maintaining applications.

This full-stack development degree concentration is unique because you’ll build a set of programming competencies, as well as gain experience in motion graphics, commercial photography, video production and print design.

Gain full-stack developer skills

In this Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications (ACCGC)-accredited program, you’ll gain skills that complement front- and back-end development. Your versatility in designing visual applications and your technical programming abilities will be highly valued by employers across industries. In addition to learning about graphic media and web design, you’ll hone full-stack development abilities, including:

• Back-end languages, such as Java, Python, PHP and Ruby.
• Front-end languages, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
• Database management.
• Project management.
• Visual design.
• Web development.
• User experience.

Will I learn how to become a full-stack developer?

Yes. The full-stack development concentration provides you with the knowledge and competencies to become a full-stack web developer. You’ll also be qualified for a variety of other roles that may pique your interest, such as full-stack engineer, front-end developer, back-end developer and API engineer.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Science in graphic information technology.

Human systems engineering focuses on designing, developing and evaluating systems that align with human capabilities and limitations. This multidisciplinary field blends computer science, behavioral science, engineering and social psychology, equipping you with the tools to create technologies built with users in mind.

With this program’s concentration in user experience (UX) and focus on human performance science, you’ll develop a deep understanding of human behavior. You’ll learn how to improve computer interface usability and enhance human-computer interactions, making them more accessible and enjoyable.

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Science in user experience.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

This program equips you with a diverse set of skills to tackle real-world challenges. You’ll strengthen your decision-making, programming, reading comprehension and troubleshooting abilities while mastering tools and methods for designing efficient human-computer interactions. The comprehensive skill set you develop will enhance your problem-solving abilities across fields, including product usability, workplace and hospital safety, learning design and sports performance.

Can I become a UX engineer or UX designer with this degree?

Yes, this program enables you to pursue a career as a UX engineer or UX designer. User experience is a rapidly growing field in need of skilled professionals. This program will strengthen your research, analysis and design skills, while also training you in effective communication. These abilities prepare you to lead teams and collaborate with clients and technical experts in a variety of fields, including digital visualization design, human factors research, interaction and interface design, usability testing and more.

Human systems engineering focuses on integrating human factors, such as capabilities and limitations, into technology design to enhance user interaction and efficiency. For instance, human systems engineers might optimize a car's interior displays and controls to ensure that a driver can easily and safely navigate the vehicle. Unlike user experience designers, who focus on the subjective feelings of using an application, human systems engineers analyze behavioral responses to system interactions, such as visual reactions or memory recall. This approach helps tailor technologies to better fit human needs and improve overall functionality.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop in this program

Throughout this program, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of human performance science and learn how to apply this knowledge to solve real-world problems across multiple domains. By integrating principles of engineering and psychology, this program equips you with the skills to enhance system design for usability, safety and efficiency in contexts ranging from product development and aviation to sports performance and health care.

You’ll develop proficiency in research design, data analysis, writing and verbal presentation, preparing you to address challenges in user experience, patient safety, teamwork and more. As you master the ability to design technology that complements human capabilities and limitations, you'll be well-prepared for a career that demands innovative solutions to enhance safety, comfort and productivity.

Traditionally, when picking a program, students are forced to choose between creative and technical fields. However, this program was created to break the mold and fill the growing demand for employees with multiple skill sets.

This program focuses on fostering a new kind of digital fluency — not only proficiency with design, tools and code, but also the ability to adapt to the rapid change associated with 21st century culture. As a media arts major, you’ll learn about the latest digital tools and systems while immersing yourself in the issues of lived experience in our new connected world.

What you’ll learn in this media arts and sciences program

You’ll master cutting-edge tools, engage in critical reflection of these tools and discuss their impact on our lived experience. Throughout your courses, you’ll also:

• Create images, animations and interactive programs.
• Examine the effects of digital technology on the way we live, communicate, learn and create.
• Experiment with techniques for physical, digital, literary and artistic prototyping.
• Explore techniques in programming in the context of images, sounds, interaction, networking and data visualization.
• Trace our evolution, look at current examples of hybrid cultural processes and discuss possible future trends.
• Learn how to use images, movies, sound files, microphones and cameras.

This program concludes with a hands-on capstone, in which you’ll integrate, extend and apply information, principles, theories and methods learned in previous courses while supervised by your instructor.

Please note: During the semesters spent completing your capstone, you’ll have access to all on-campus computing and fabrication resources, including a digital fabrication lab with 3D printers, a wood shop, laser cutters and an electronics lab.

Careers for media arts majors

As our world continues to evolve, there’s a surging demand for professionals who are both creative and technical. This program supports and fosters digital creativity, helping you stay ahead of the curve in our ever-changing digital culture.

Throughout your courses, you’ll gain computer, media, aesthetics and cultural literacy skills. With these skills and the hands-on experience gained in your capstone, you’ll have the knowledge and experience needed for a variety of jobs, including app designer, web developer, sound artist, UX designer and video game designer.

Graphic designers shape how information is shared through visual communication. You’ll study design principles, layout strategies and storytelling techniques to develop engaging messaging. This degree emphasizes responsible design practices and builds your ability to communicate visually beyond just mastering software tools. Upon graduation, you’ll possess a wide range of transferable skills and competencies needed to succeed as a graphic designer, such as:

• Book design
• Color
• Critical thinking
• Environmental design
• Motion graphics
• Seeing, drawing and translating
• Strategic problem solving
• Storytelling
• 3D design
• Typography
• Visual literacy

Who's a good candidate for this graphic design program?

This program is designed for students who are curious, adaptable and excited to learn through hands-on projects. You’ll be a great fit if you’re looking to sharpen your critical thinking while using design to communicate meaningful ideas.

You’ll also thrive if you appreciate deep, thoughtful learning and are ready to participate in digital coursework. Please note this program does not teach specific, in-depth design software. You will, however, have opportunities to develop your technical skills independently with support from resources.

This graphic information technology degree prepares you to create design solutions for commercial use. Unlike a typical graphic design degree, this program includes coursework in

• 2D and 3D animation art.
• Commercial photography and video.
• Front-end web design and development.
• Print and digital publishing.

Within this coursework you’ll develop a diverse design skill set that prepares you to build websites, design brochures, take professional photographs, produce videography and more. The field of graphic information technology is continuously evolving to incorporate innovative visual design techniques that allow designers and engineers to work collaboratively. Emphasizing this unity creates state-of-the-art digital experiences that recognize the designer’s vision and the overall functionality.

Earn your a master’s in GIT while completing this bachelor’s program

This program is designed for individuals with an Associate of Applied Science in graphic design, graphic arts or front-end web design and development. In your courses, you’ll explore topics in visual design and technology through learning theory, while gaining hands-on laboratory practice. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to create visual content across a variety of channels including print, web, photo, video and animation.

Additionally, this BAS can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one extra year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money, while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Science in graphic information technology.

How is a Bachelor of Applied Science degree different from a BA or BS degree?

Bachelor of Applied Science degrees are designed specifically for students who’ve earned an Associate of Applied Science.

• Students who’ve earned an AAS from a regionally accredited institution may transfer 60 credit hours toward their BAS.
• Students who’ve earned an AAS from a regionally accredited Arizona community college may be eligible to transfer up to 75 credits toward their BAS.

Please plan to meet with an academic advisor to ensure your courses will meet degree requirements.

If you don’t have an AAS and aren’t planning to earn one, please check out ASU Online’s Bachelor of Science in graphic information technology.