What Degree Do I Need to Become a UX Designer?

Key takeaways

User experience (UX) designers often earn a bachelor’s degree, but non-degree paths, such as boot camps and certifications, are also possible. 

• According to Zippia, 71 percent of UX designers hold a bachelor’s degree, and 17 percent have a master’s degree [1].

• Certification and certificate programs, as well as boot camps, are another way to develop career-ready UX design skills.

• You can also work on independent UX design projects to help build your portfolio.

Learn more about UX design, including the degrees, training, and experience you need to start your career.

UX design degree: What should I major in?

To become a user experience (UX) designer, a degree in fields like graphic design, human-computer interaction, psychology, or a related discipline can provide a strong foundation for your career. More than half of UX designers have at least a bachelor's degree, though it’s possible to get started in this career without a degree if you can demonstrate significant skills [1]. 

UX is a relatively new field, but select schools offer a few UX-specific degree programs at the bachelor's and graduate levels. In these programs, you study principles and practices you use in your career as a UX designer, including drawing and design, psychology, coding, and visualization. You can also pursue other degree programs that overlap with UX skills and concepts, such as human-computer interaction, interaction design, and information architecture. 

Luckily, several common majors can help prepare you for a career as a UX designer. You may already have a degree in one of these fields, and if not, these are good majors to consider:

• Psychology

• Computer science

• Design

• Industrial design

• Information

• Anthropology

In UX design, you’ll be a champion of the user by understanding what customers want and need. You’ll also need to understand the technical side of building apps or websites. If you decide to pursue a degree, consider balancing your coursework between a study of people (psychology, anthropology, sociology) and technology (computer science, programming, graphic design).

Or you can find programs that offer a concentration in UX. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of London, for example, you can register as a specialist in UX to focus your studies.

Read more: What is Human Computer Interaction and How Does it Work?

Do you need a UX design master's degree?

According to data from Zippia, 71 percent of UX designers have a bachelor’s degree, while 17 percent hold a master’s degree [1]. In a UX design master's degree program, you study many of the same subjects required in a bachelor's degree program, but you're able to explore them in more depth.

Alternatives to a UX design bachelor's degree

A degree is only one of several paths you can take toward becoming a UX designer, and you can even enter the profession before you earn one. Relevant experience and transferable skills, certifications, and self-guided learning can all help you prepare for a new career in UX. Take a closer look at each.

Certifications and certificates 

Earning a credential from a UX industry leader can be an excellent way to show recruiters and hiring managers that you have the necessary skills for the job. Look for UX boot camps and certificate programs where you can learn critical UX skills, complete UX case studies for your portfolio, and earn a credential to share on your resume.

Can I be a UX designer without a degree?

With the Google UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera, you can build the job-ready skills you need to get hired in the UX design field in less than six months—no degree required. By completing the program, you’ll also have three end-to-end projects—a mobile app, a responsive website, and a cross-platform experience—to include in your portfolio.

Experience

You can gain valuable UX design experience and create a portfolio by working on independent projects or finding an internship. Your work experience from areas outside of UX is useful as well. Depending on your previous jobs, you may very well have experience that translates to UX (and that you should include on your resume).

In addition to workplace skills like empathy, critical thinking, collaboration, and time management, some examples of more technical, job-specific skills that translate into UX include:

• Customer service > user empathy

• Quality assurance (QA) > usability testing

• Academic research > user research

• Copywriting > UX writing

• Graphic design > user interface (UI) design

• Technical drawing > wireframing

Self-guided learning

If you’re a self-directed learner with good time-management skills, you could design your own UX design program to develop the most important UX skills. The internet is teeming with resources for learning the art and science of UX. Take advantage of UX books, blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, and UX communities. When the time comes to prepare a portfolio, you can find several types of projects that don’t depend on having a job in UX.

Benefits of a UX degree or credential program

While it’s possible to learn UX design on your own, you may find several benefits to a more structured learning environment, like a degree or certificate program. Take a look at a few of them.

• Some jobs require it: Companies list a degree or certification as a requirement in their job description.

• Structured learning: You don’t know what you don’t know. Sometimes it can be difficult to identify the gaps in our own knowledge, and a certificate program or degree can provide a structured, methodical approach to ensure you learn all the key skills and concepts.

• Networking opportunities: Learning as part of a structured program gives you the opportunity to start building a professional network of other UX designers at various stages of their careers. It’s typically much easier to apply for jobs if you have a connection. UX courses are an excellent place to start making those connections. 

• Projects: You can complete UX projects and case studies on your own, but when you’re a part of a UX program, you gain the benefit of collaborating with others and getting feedback on your work.

• Job search resources: Many UX programs offer job search resources as part of the package. This might include interview practice, hiring consortiums, or resume reviews. 

How to choose the right UX degree for you

As you search for the right UX program, you will find you have several options, but consider personal factors when selecting the best option for you. For example, you can spend several years earning a degree or decide that shorter online courses better serve your goals. As you evaluate where to invest your time and money, look for the following in a program:

• Project-based learning: Having a portfolio is practically a must when applying for UX design jobs. Choose a program that includes hands-on projects that you can use to build your own portfolio. Plus, we learn better by doing than simply by reading or watching videos.

• Taught by UX experts: As you research programs, look at who’s teaching the course or courses. What UX experience do they bring? Do they actively practice UX design in addition to teaching? Who have they worked for? Does the organization providing the program have a credible presence in the UX world?

• Positive career outcomes: Does the program work? Look for programs that offer statistics showing positive career outcomes after completing the training or coursework.

• Matches your learning style: Depending on your unique situation, you may be able to study full-time, or you might require flexible learning that you can build into your busy life. Some boot camps and degree programs require a hefty time commitment. Others let you learn at your own pace. Think about how you want your UX learning to fit into your life.

• Hands-on experience with design tools: UX designers use a range of software during the design process. You’ll want to get some hands-on experience with common design tools, such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.

Find UX design resources for your career

Visit our Career Resource Hub, where you can evaluate your skills and explore career paths. Then, check out these resources as you prepare for a career in UX design:

• Build your knowledge: Glossary of UX Terms and Definitions 

• Consider your options: A High-Income Skill for Creatives: User Experience 

• Watch on YouTube: UI vs. UX: Choosing Your Design Career Path 

Explore flexible degree options available on a schedule that works for you on Coursera, where you’ll find a variety of programs from esteemed college and university partners.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)