UX Design Certificate

In Module 1, students will explore the fundamental concepts of User Experience design, how to develop user personas, user journeys, and sketching out ideas. Students will explore the components of a case study and user flows.  By the end of this module, students will begin designing in Figma and use it throughout the rest of their program.

• Overview and Fundamentals. Vocabulary. What is Critique? 
• Tools 101: tool overview, set-up Figma, image editing tool setup (e.g. Canva)
• Discussion of Final Project and our Portfolios (Due at end of course)
• Define a Case Study and how to keep project notes
• Discovery & Research, User interviews,Personas, Journey
• Competitive Analysis & Analytics
• Wireframes & User Flows and how to set them up in Figma
• Intro to User Interface Design
• Sketching
• Info Architecture & Navigation
• Tools 202: Intermediate Topics including Prototyping in Figma
• Usability Testing

In Module 2, students will learn the principles and elements of graphic design in order to create beautiful designs.  Understanding visual compositions begins with exploring the theories behind successful designs, as well as color theory, and typography.  By the end of this module, students will have a foundation of design to be able to build upon as you work towards your final project.

• Designing on a Grid
• Intermediate UI Topics & Interaction Design
• Typography
• Visual Design
• Gestalt Principles, Color, and Composition
• Low-Fidelity vs. High-Fidelity
• Tools 303: Advanced Tasks and Techniques
• Responsive Design
• Mobile user mindset
• Accessibility

In Module 3, students examine the digital project design life cycle and begin to explore more tools to assist with UX writing.  Explore how AI can help assist with UX work and learn what it means to work on a UX team.  By the end of this module, students will begin to create case studies that will be essential to add to their portfolio.

• Design Systems & Style Guides
• UI Patterns
• Styles and Libraries
• Project Organization
• Mini-Tools-Lesson: Building Figma Components
• UX Writing 
• Using AI to develop content
• Content: images, animations, text, video, and more.
• Project Work Session
• Project Presentations
• Team Critique
• Initial Case Study

In Module 4, students will create complex mockups using Figma and other design tools.  Learning how to improve storytelling in order to embed your personas into your designs is key.  By the end of this module, students will have taken an idea from sketch to mockup and begin to present their work to the class.

• Further Design Portfolio Topics: platforms, strategies, resumes
• Project Management & Planning
• Working with various stakeholders
• Whiteboarding
• Process. Agiles vs. Waterfall. Design Sprints.
• MVP and Prioritization
• The structure of creative teams
• The business of design
• Storytelling & Presentation
• Mockups
• Capstone Project Critiques (review of work-in-progress)

In Module 5, students learn about HTML and CSS, as well as how AI tools can improve your UX Design workflow.  Continue to explore Figma and the advanced features it provides to designers.  By the end of this module, you will be well versed in advanced design systems modern UX design skills.

• Working with Technical team members
• How the web functions, technically
• HTML/CSS
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Design
• Designing complex UI and Forms
• Advanced User Testing, heat maps, surveys, focus groups
• Visual Design: further techniques and tips
• Advanced Design Systems
• Mini-Lesson Advanced Prototyping with Figma 
• How to create the perfect Project Hand-off

In Module 6, students have an opportunity to put their finishing touches on their portfolio.  As students begin to look after graduation and to the next step of their career path, our instructors will provide mentorship on what the job market trends look like, and how to prepare to find work as a UX Designer.  At the end of this module, students will present their final Capstone project and receive critique from their peers.

• Finding work as a Designer
• Design Interviews
• Portfolio: further planning, review designer portfolios, critiques
• Work sessions with other students, with instructor, and solo to work on portfolio, project, and case study
• Final Presentations and Critique

The UX Design Certificate is eligible for WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding, which is a federal workforce development program administered through local American Job Centers. WIOA can cover part or all of tuition for eligible individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or seeking to change careers.

Your local American Job Center determines your eligibility based on your employment status and income level. If approved, your case manager authorizes funding through an Individual Training Account (ITA). DWC is listed as an eligible training provider and works directly with case managers to provide everything they need to process a funding request.

DWC prepares a complete documentation package for every WIOA-funded student, including the program description and learning objectives, tuition and itemized costs, the full program schedule, credential documentation for the DPOS professional certificate, labor market alignment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (web developer and digital designer employment projections, salary data, and job posting demand), and student performance and completion outcomes data. If your case manager has documentation requirements beyond this standard package, the admissions team will work with them directly.

DWC is approved to operate and enroll students in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. Students from other states are welcome to enroll. If your state is not listed, contact the admissions team to discuss eligibility and funding options in your area.

Not sure if you qualify? Contact your local American Job Center to start the eligibility process, or contact DWC’s admissions team and we can help you identify the right workforce resources for your situation.

The UX Design Certificate is eligible for funding through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). DVR provides training funding for individuals with documented disabilities who are working toward employment. DVR services are available in every state through state-run vocational rehabilitation agencies.

If you are already working with a DVR counselor, they can contact DWC directly to initiate enrollment and coordinate funding approval. DWC’s admissions team has experience working with DVR offices across multiple states and handles the documentation, scheduling coordination, and progress reporting that DVR counselors require.

If you think you may be eligible for DVR services but do not yet have a counselor, contact your state’s vocational rehabilitation agency to begin the intake process. Eligibility is based on having a documented disability that creates a barrier to employment. DWC can provide program information to support your application.

DWC awards scholarships to eligible students through the following programs.

The Tech Skills Scholarship is for unemployed individuals who are returning to the workforce and need financial support to complete their training. Scholarship amounts vary and are determined on a case-by-case basis.

The Women in Tech Scholarship is for women pursuing careers in technology, design, IT, data analytics, or other technical fields. UX design is one of the fastest-growing career paths in the technology industry, and this scholarship is designed to support women building the research, prototyping, and design skills that employers are actively hiring for.

The Next Mission Scholarship is for eligible U.S. veterans and qualifying active-duty service members within 180 days of separation. The Next Mission Scholarship provides 80% off standard tuition on this program. For the UX Design Certificate, that means a qualifying veteran pays $1,399 instead of $6,995, with the remaining balance financed through Climb Credit at payments as low as $39/month over 36 months. Eligibility requires verified veteran status (DD-214 or equivalent), individual annual income between $30,000 and $75,000, and separation within the past 7 years. Veterans with income below $30,000 may qualify for fully funded training through WIOA or VA Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) at no out-of-pocket cost. Veterans with income above $75,000 qualify for the Community Heroes Discount of 40% off standard tuition. See if you qualify or visit the Next Mission Scholarship page for full details, eligibility criteria, and required documentation.

Scholarships can be combined with other funding sources including WIOA and DVR. To inquire about current availability, contact the admissions team or visit the financial aid page.

Many employers offer professional development budgets, tuition reimbursement programs, or workforce training stipends that can be applied to DWC certificate programs. If you are currently employed and your employer supports professional development, the UX Design Certificate may be partially or fully covered by your company’s existing benefits.

This is a particularly strong case for employer funding. Companies that build digital products, websites, or applications spend significant money on UX research, usability testing, and interface design, and many of them outsource that work because no one on the team has formal UX training. Training an existing employee in user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing in Figma is often more cost-effective than hiring externally or contracting with a UX agency. If your role already involves product decisions, customer-facing design, or any interaction with how users experience your company’s digital tools, your employer has a direct business reason to invest in this training.

Start by checking with your HR department or manager about available professional development funds. If you are not sure how to approach the conversation, DWC has a step-by-step guide on how to ask your employer to pay for professional development that includes talking points, email templates, and tips on framing the request as a business investment. DWC can also provide a program summary document with the curriculum overview, credential outcomes, and a clear explanation of how the training benefits your employer. Contact the admissions team to request this document.

If your employer wants to enroll multiple employees or explore team training in UX design and research, DWC offers group training options and can work with your organization on scheduling and billing. Contact us to discuss employer-sponsored enrollment.

For students paying out of pocket, DWC partners with Climb Credit for student-friendly tuition financing. Climb Credit offers fixed monthly payments with terms up to 36 months, 0% interest payment plan options (subject to credit approval), no prepayment penalties, and an online application with fast approval.

For the UX Design Certificate at $6,995, monthly payments through Climb Credit can range from approximately $195 to $250 per month depending on the loan term and interest rate. Apply through Climb Credit to see your personalized options, or visit the financial aid page for more details.

No paid software is required for this program. Figma, the primary design tool used throughout the curriculum, is available on a free tier that is sufficient for all program exercises. This means tuition is your only program cost.

DWC also accepts direct payment by credit card or bank transfer. Contact the admissions team to discuss payment options.

Self-paced platforms deliver content you work through on your own with no live instruction and no one looking at your specific designs. DWC’s program is live. You attend scheduled sessions with an active UX practitioner who can look at your wireframes, prototype flows, and research synthesis in real time and tell you specifically what is working and what is not. The Capstone and case study are presented live with structured critique from instructors and peers. The result is a portfolio that reflects a real design process and can be discussed in depth during a UX interview, which is what hiring managers are evaluating when they review a UX portfolio.

Graduates pursue entry-level and early-career roles including junior UX designer, UX researcher, UI designer, product designer, interaction designer, and digital product designer. The skills covered align directly with the requirements listed in entry-level UX job postings across technology, healthcare, financial services, e-commerce, and government organizations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7 percent growth in employment for web and digital interface designers through 2034, with a median annual wage of $98,090. Entry-level UX roles typically start in the $55,000 to $75,000 range, with significant upward movement as designers build their case study portfolio and expand into research and systems work.

Graduates receive the DWC UX Design Certificate, issued as a higher education professional certificate by the State of Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools. DWC provides full documentation for the credential, including credential verification, learning objectives, and program outcomes data, which meets the documentation requirements of WIOA case managers and DVR counselors. UX roles are primarily portfolio-based rather than certification-based, and the emphasis of this program is building a portfolio and case study that demonstrate the full UX process rather than preparing for a specific exam.

Yes, and it will not be a collection of tutorial screenshots. Portfolio work is integrated throughout all six modules. Students produce user research case studies, wireframes and interactive prototypes, usability testing reports, and design system components as part of the regular coursework. The Capstone in Module 6 is a complete UX case study from research through final prototype, presented live with structured critique from instructors and peers. The case study format is the standard by which UX candidates are evaluated in hiring, and the program is structured to help you develop one that you can present and defend in detail. Unlimited career coaching is included for all students at no additional cost.