Design the digital experiences people actually rely on and earn a bachelor's degree doing it, fully online, from the nation's oldest continuous degree-granting college of art and design.
The BDes in User Experience (UX) Design is a 120-credit, fully asynchronous online undergraduate degree that prepares you to research, design, and test digital products used across technology, healthcare, finance, media, and nonprofit industries. Built on MICA's two-centuries-deep studio tradition and its long-established, highly enrolled MPS in UX Design, the program pairs human-centered design fundamentals with the portfolio-ready, industry-validated skills employers hire for.
Structured pathway for students with an AAS/AS in a design-related field; prior learning assessment available.
Two-course Capstone sequence (Research & Programming; Project & Presentation) plus a Comprehensive Portfolio course.
Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and web development technologies (HTML/CSS/JS concepts)
UX leaders from Google, Publicis Sapient, Ellucian, Ontada, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
$16,260 per semester.
The Bachelor of Design (BDes) in User Experience Design is a 120-credit undergraduate professional degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art that prepares students to design effective, inclusive, and research-informed digital products and experiences. Delivered fully online and asynchronously, the program integrates design thinking, systems thinking, and human-centered methodology to address real user and organizational challenges across mobile and web contexts.
Through a project-based, studio-driven curriculum, students plan and conduct both generative and evaluative user research, synthesize qualitative and quantitative insights, and translate findings into design solutions that hold up under real usability testing. Universal design, accessibility, and ethical practice are built into coursework from the first term rather than appended at the end, so graduates learn to design for the full range of real-world users.
MICA's MPS in UX Design is one of the College's most highly enrolled graduate programs. The BDes extends that same faculty expertise and industry validation to students earlier in their academic journey. The curriculum was developed in direct partnership with UX leaders at Google, Publicis Sapient, Ellucian, Ontada, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Every course contributes to a portfolio you build across all eight terms. You'll produce research plans, wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, and usability findings which are what hiring managers ask to see.
Fully asynchronous delivery, structured recognition of prior learning, and a dedicated transfer pathway for AAS/AS design graduates mean you can complete a bachelor's degree while working, without relocating to Baltimore.
The BDes in UX Design is built for adult learners, career switchers, and design-adjacent professionals who want a flexible, industry-aligned path into UX. You may be a strong fit if you are:
A working adult with some college credit who wants to complete a bachelor's degree without pausing your career or relocating to Baltimore.
A career switcher with little or no design background who wants a structured, guided path into UX, UI, or product design.
An Associate-degree (AAS or AS) graduate in a design-related field such as graphic design, web design, digital media, or interactive design who is looking for a transfer-friendly pathway into a bachelor's degree with maximum credit recognition.
A design-adjacent professional in marketing, communications, web development, or a related field who wants formal UX credentials and a portfolio to support a move into user experience or product design roles.
A visual artist, illustrator, or graphic designer who wants to apply existing creative skills to digital products, interfaces, and human-centered research.
A self-directed learner who thrives in an asynchronous, project-based format and wants faculty critique and structured feedback rather than a self-paced, video-only course.
Someone balancing work, family, or other commitments who needs full-time or part-time enrollment options and a program that can adapt to your pace and schedule.
A prospective student without prior design coursework who is willing to start with foundational design, drawing, and design-thinking coursework before advancing into UX-specific study.
Graduates of the BDes in UX Design are prepared for entry-level roles across a wide range of industries, including:
● UX Designer / Junior UX Designer
● UI Designer / Junior Product Designer
● Junior Interaction Designer
● UX Research Assistant / Junior UX Analyst
● Information Architecture / Content Design Support
● Design Operations / Project Coordination
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for web and digital interface designers (the closest published occupational category to UX design) was $98,090 in May 2024, with employment projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this occupation.
Along the way, you’ll develop professional skills in project management, collaboration, and storytelling—learning how to present your work confidently to clients, teams, and stakeholders. By graduation, you’ll have a strong portfolio that shows not just what you designed, but how and why you designed it—preparing you for entry-level UX, UI, and product design roles.
The 120-credit curriculum is organized into four areas, sequenced across eight 8-week terms:
| Curriculum Area | Approx. Credits | Representative Coursework |
| Design Fundamentals, Strategy & Theory |
~45 | Design history, design thinking and strategy, human-centered design, universal design and accessibility |
| UX Design | ~39 | UX research methods, interaction design, information architecture, UX writing, prototyping, responsive web design |
| Business of Art & Design / Professional Studies | ~30 | Business essentials, financial planning, project management, capstone, portfolio |
| General Education | 6 | Writing for Artists and Creatives, Physics for Designers |
The program culminates in a two-course Capstone sequence: Research & Programming, then Project & Presentation, followed by a Comprehensive Portfolio course, where students refine a client-ready professional portfolio for job applications and interviews.
"MICA’s curriculum felt like the right place to validate my skills, expand my thinking, and push me toward the next level of strategy, analytics, and problem-solving required in today’s evolving design landscape."
Yes. The program is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format, so coursework can be completed on your own schedule within each 8-week term. Courses are supported through Canvas, MICA's learning management system.
The degree requires 120 credits, typically completed across 8 terms while taking two to three courses at a time. An accelerated pathway is available for qualifying transfer students who complete a prior learning assessment.
Yes. MICA offers a structured transfer pathway for students who hold an AAS or AS degree in a design-related field, such as graphic design, web design, or interactive media. Prior coursework is reviewed for transfer credit, which can shorten time to degree.
Tuition for MICA's online BDes in UX Design is billed per credit; current rates are published on MICA's Online Programs Tuition & Fees page. Prospective students can also review financial aid and scholarship options through MICA's Tuition and Aid page.
Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles including UX Designer, UI Designer, Interaction Designer, UX Research Assistant, UX Analyst, Information Architecture/Content Design Support, and Design Operations or Project Coordination roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $98,090 for web and digital interface designers (May 2024), with employment projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Students work with industry-standard tools including Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud, alongside web development technologies, to build interactive prototypes and digital design systems that mirror professional UX workflows.
The Bachelor of Design (BDes) is a distinct credential from MICA's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs. The BDes curriculum concentrates more heavily on applied design practice, professional studies, and industry-aligned coursework, with a general education core rather than the broader liberal arts core built into MICA's BFA degrees.
MICA's review of Maryland's Academic Program Inventory found no other Bachelor of Design program in User Experience Design offered in the state, making MICA's BDes in UX Design a unique credential type in Maryland's higher education landscape.
The curriculum was developed in partnership with MICA faculty and five external UX industry advisors who also serve as adjunct faculty in MICA's MPS in UX Design, holding leadership roles at organizations including Google, Publicis Sapient, Ellucian, Ontada, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
MICA’s innovative curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty come together to support a single purpose: provide a no-holds-barred education and experience that will prepare you to be a creative leader in the 21st century. If you would like to receive more information, please click on the link below to fill out a form.
