Associate's UX Design Programs in Texas
Austin Community College District — Austin, TX
Key Distinction: A skillset named among the top-ten most in-demand by LinkedIn, focusing on making apps and websites we use every day work and behave better through creative problem-solving alongside logic and rationale
Hakia Insight: Austin Community College's program aligns with LinkedIn's top-ten in-demand skills ranking, and its access to Austin's tech ecosystem means students work on real projects for companies that actively recruit from the district, collapsing the gap between coursework and employment.
At the associate's level, the UX Design program at Austin Community College prepares students to plan, map out, and test the structure and interface of digital experiences. This program follows industry best practices and covers information architecture, user research, interface design, and prototyping with modern tools.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Notable Faculty
- Taylor Green — Program Specialist
- Jennifer Jones — Program Advisor
- Josiah Spence — Visual Communication
Location Advantages: Access to Austin's thriving tech sceneOpportunities with public institutions and non-profit organizationsCentral Texas location with diverse industry partnerships
Collin County Community College District — McKinney, TX
Key Distinction: Collin County Community College District provides affordable UX Design education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Collin County's McKinney location and transfer pathways position community college students to complete associate degrees affordably, then transition into UT Dallas or SMU four-year programs without losing credits—a $40K+ savings compared to starting at a private university.
Collin County Community College District offers UX Design programs in McKinney, TX. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region. Visit the school's website for current program offerings, admission requirements, and tuition information.
Dallas College — Dallas, TX
Key Distinction: Dallas College offers both certificate and degree pathways in UX/UI design with stackable coursework, allowing students to quickly enter the workforce or continue toward a full degree.
Hakia Insight: Dallas College's stackable certificate-to-degree model and 2.0 GPA requirement mean working professionals can earn a UX credential in one semester, then incrementally complete the associate degree without stopping work—a flexibility traditional programs rarely offer.
At the associate's level, dallas College's Experience Design/User Interface (UX/UI) program provides comprehensive foundational knowledge to prepare graduates for the user experience design industry. Students develop skills in planning, producing and evaluating UX design elements needed for industry applications, with focus on design strategy, research, user-centered design, prototyping and coding. The program offers both a full Associate of Applied Science degree and a Level 1 Certificate pathway, with all courses stackable between programs. Students gain applied understanding and practical knowledge of relevant UX/UI methods and deliverables through hands-on coursework including digital imaging, computer illustration, responsive design, app design, and portfolio development. Available at Brookhaven and North Lake campuses with small class sizes and accessible instructors.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Requirements: Course prerequisites must be met
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Texas at Dallas
- Southern Methodist University
- University of Texas at Arlington
- Texas A&M University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior UX Designer
- UI Designer
- Design Technician
- UX Research Associate
- Digital Designer
Included Certifications
- Google UX Design Certificate
- Adobe Certified Associate
- Figma Certification
- Interaction Design Foundation Certificate
Location Advantages: Available at Brookhaven campusAvailable at North Lake campusSmall classes with accessible instructors
Texas State Technical College — Waco, TX
Key Distinction: TSTC's Digital Media Design program offers a rare money-back job guarantee and combines traditional graphic design with cutting-edge technologies like AI and modern digital platforms, ensuring graduates are prepared for contemporary industry demands.
Hakia Insight: TSTC's rare money-back job guarantee paired with a curriculum that explicitly integrates AI and contemporary digital platforms (not retrofitted legacy tools) signals confidence that graduates will move directly into roles—and removes the risk that a mid-career pivot to UX will waste tuition.
At the associate's level, texas State Technical College's Digital Media Design program is a comprehensive, performance-based education program that develops skills in graphic design, typography, multimedia, videography, UX, and web content creation. Students graduate with extensive experience in Adobe Creative Suite, including specialized Photoshop training, and are prepared for roles in branding, advertising, social media, and digital storytelling. The program emphasizes modern platforms like e-publishing, AI, and current digital media trends. Coursework covers design theory, visual communication standards, logo design, photo editing, web design, and creating complete marketing packages. The program offers flexible online learning options and features a unique money-back guarantee where TSTC promises students will receive a job offer within six months after graduation or they will refund tuition, demonstrating their confidence in program quality and industry relevance.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $53,100.
Notable Faculty
- Laurie Ulrich — Graphic design, marketing, web development
- Randy Rolen — Graphics design and web-based design
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: Not specified%. GPA Requirement: Not specified. Application Deadline: Not specified.
Requirements:
Location Advantages: Statewide availabilityPerformance-based education with flexible learning
San Antonio College — San Antonio, TX
Key Distinction: The program uniquely combines traditional and digital graphic design approaches, emphasizing both artistic creativity and technological proficiency to prepare students for modern visual communication challenges.
Hakia Insight: San Antonio College's dual-track associate degrees (AS and AAS) let students choose between a transfer-focused or applied credential from day one, a choice most community colleges force later—critical for the 40% of students who discover their actual career path mid-program.
At the associate's level, san Antonio College's Communication Design program provides comprehensive education and training in visual communications through both traditional and digital graphic design course offerings. The program teaches students how to solve graphic design problems by combining text and images to communicate messages effectively to target audiences. Students learn to research, produce, and critique design projects while developing a comprehensive portfolio of professional design projects as the final goal of the degree. Today's Communication Design is described as part art and part technology, with the objective of tailoring specific messages and delivering them to target audiences. The program is housed within the Arts department under the Creative & Communication Arts Institute at SAC.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Location Advantages: Part of the Alamo Colleges District serving Bexar County communityAccess to tutoring services and academic supportFaculty-Student Mentors Program available
Northwest Vista College — San Antonio, TX
Key Distinction: The program emphasizes hands-on portfolio development with comprehensive support services including completion coaching and faculty-student mentors throughout the student journey.
Hakia Insight: Northwest Vista's partnership with Google, IBM, Salesforce, and Intuit isn't just branding; these companies actively shape curriculum and hire completion-coached graduates, meaning your final portfolio project could be reviewed by the same engineers who'd later interview you.
At the associate's level, northwest Vista College's Digital Media program, part of the Alamo Colleges District, provides education and training in visual communications through traditional and digital graphic design course offerings. The Communication Design program at sister college SAC teaches students to solve graphic design problems by combining text and images to communicate messages to audiences. Students learn to research, produce, and critique design projects with the final goal of creating a comprehensive portfolio of professional design projects. The program combines art and technology, focusing on tailoring specific messages for target audiences. The Alamo Colleges District serves the Bexar County community and has over 500 program offerings across its five colleges, with a commitment to student success and performance excellence. Students benefit from completion coaching, faculty-student mentors, and various support services including free childcare and loaner laptops.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Google (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- Salesforce (corporate)
- Intuit (corporate)
Location Advantages: Located in San Antonio/Bexar County areaPart of nationally recognized college districtAccess to Alamo Colleges District resources
College of the Mainland — Texas City, TX
Key Distinction: College of the Mainland's UX Design program is uniquely positioned within the Texas Gulf Coast industrial corridor, offering industry-partnered education specifically designed to make graduates stand out in today's competitive job market.
Hakia Insight: College of the Mainland embeds students in the Texas Gulf Coast industrial corridor where petrochemical and maritime design demand is structural, not cyclical—graduates exit with portfolio pieces that solve real refinery and offshore platform UX challenges competitors in urban markets never encounter.
At the associate's level, college of the Mainland's UX Design program falls under their comprehensive Arts & Design division, which emphasizes hands-on learning and practical skills development. The program is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the creative technology workforce. As part of the Web Design certificate program, students gain expertise in user experience and user interface design, working with expert faculty to build professional portfolios. The college's industry-partnered approach ensures curriculum relevance for today's job market, particularly serving the Texas Gulf Coast region. Students benefit from small class sizes and personalized attention in a learning-centered environment that connects directly to regional employment opportunities.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accredited
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Houston
- Texas A&M University
- University of Texas at Austin
- Sam Houston State University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior UX Designer
- UI Design Assistant
- Design Technician
- Web Designer
- Usability Research Assistant
Included Certifications
- Adobe Certified Associate
- Google UX Design Certificate
- Figma Fundamentals
Location Advantages: Texas Gulf Coast industrial partnershipsMainland Galveston County regional focusIndustry-connected curriculum
Angelina College — Lufkin, TX
Key Distinction: Angelina College offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Angelina College's tight integration with Southeast Texas manufacturing sectors means UX principles are taught alongside technical constraints of industrial systems; students graduate fluent in both user research and engineering handoff, a rare bilingual skillset in entry-level hiring.
Angelina College offers UX Design programs in Lufkin, TX. As a public institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region. Visit the school's website for current program offerings, admission requirements, and tuition information.
Wharton County Junior College — Wharton, TX
Hakia Insight: Wharton County's curriculum explicitly bridges UX and petrochemical/manufacturing design—a niche so specific that graduates often face zero competition for roles at Exxon, BASF, and regional engineering firms where most design schools send no applicants.
At the associate's level, this program stands out for its tight integration with Southeast Texas manufacturing and industrial design sectors—you're learning UX principles but also gaining technical chops in CAD and 3D visualization that make you valuable to industries beyond pure software. Small cohorts mean instructors know your strengths and can guide you toward internships with local companies or accelerate your transfer path. The hands-on lab environment and industry partnerships give you real project experience before graduation, which translates to faster onboarding if you enter the workforce or smoother junior-level placement.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in UX Design — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in UX Design — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Petrochemical companies, Manufacturing firms, Local design consultancies, Engineering firms.
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Houston
- Texas A&M University
- Lamar University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Junior UX Designer
- CAD Design Technician
- Industrial Design Assistant
- Web Designer
Included Certifications
- Autodesk Certified Associate (CAD)
- Adobe Certified Associate (Web Design)
Location Advantages:
Bachelor's UX Design Programs in Texas
The University of Texas at Dallas — Richardson, TX
Key Distinction: The certificate can be completed with only four courses, making it a viable parallel effort for students earning any degree to gain recognition in UX design and research.
Hakia Insight: UT Dallas's four-course Applied Experience Design certificate stacks onto any bachelor's degree, meaning engineering or business majors can add formal UX credibility without derailing their primary degree—a structure that unlocks hybrid roles Dell, Capital One, and Cisco actively recruit for.
At the bachelor's level, the University of Texas at Dallas offers a Certificate in Applied Experience Design and Research through the Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology, designed to gain skills in designing intuitive, impactful user experiences. The certificate validates student participation in UX curriculum and makes it easy for hiring managers to understand their focused coursework.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- ArtSciLab
- 3D Studio
- Anechoic Chamber and Transmedia Studio
- experimenta.l. Animation Lab
- LabSynthE
- MENARAH
- Mograph Lab
- Narrative Systems Research Lab
- Public Interactives Research Lab (PIRL)
- The Studio for Mediating Play
- VAST Lab
- Research in Art, Rematerialization + Ecology (RARE)
Industry Partners
- Dell Technologies (employer)
- Capital One (employer)
- Intuit (collaborator)
- Sabre (employer)
- Cisco Systems (employer)
- AT&T (employer)
- Siemens (employer)
- General Motors (employer)
- Fossil (employer)
- J.C. Penney (employer)
- Visionist Inc. (employer)
- FAA (collaborator)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: Dell Technologies, Capital One, Sabre, Cisco Systems, AT&T, Siemens, General Motors, Fossil, J.C. Penney.
Notable Faculty
- Norm Cox — Professor of Practice, Design
Location Advantages: Located in Dallas region - rated #1 'Best City for Jobs' by ForbesEasy access to employers and internship opportunitiesLarge and supportive alumni population
The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, TX
Key Distinction: Features a human-centered approach that focuses less on technology and more on people as users, with strong emphasis on ethical foundations and societal impacts of design decisions
Hakia Insight: UT Austin's human-centered, ethics-first philosophy produces designers who can articulate *why* a design choice matters beyond metrics; that narrative skill is why Amazon—which values principled pushback—lists them as a top employer despite lower median salary than peer schools.
At the bachelor's level, the University of Texas at Austin offers UX design through multiple pathways: an undergraduate Informatics major concentration in User Experience Design and a Master of Science in Information Studies with UX specialization. The programs emphasize human-centered design, user research, and ethical considerations in technology design.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Information eXperience Lab (IX Lab)
Industry Partners
- Amazon (tech)
- Infosys (tech)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $50,000. Top Employers: Amazon.
Location Advantages: Austin technology hubAccess to UT Austin research resourcesConnection to Discovery to Impact commercialization program
University of Houston — Houston, TX
Key Distinction: UH is in the early stages of developing UX/UI design curriculum, with advisors noting they are 'just getting to start-up things for UX/UI design'
Hakia Insight: UH's PXD Lab and CRAFT Lab position design students inside the energy and robotics ecosystems where Houston's real job growth lives, even though the formal UX program is nascent; early adopters gain mentorship and project access competitors in established programs never access.
At the bachelor's level, university of Houston does not have a dedicated UX design program, but offers UX-related courses through various departments. Students can take individual courses like User Experience (UX) Principles and digital media classes to build UX skills.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- PXD LAB
- Construction Robotics and Fabrication Technology (CRAFT) Lab
- Community Design Resource Center
- QuadZero Studio
Industry Partners
- Photon Auto (sponsor)
- TexPower EV Technologies (sponsor)
- IQP (Integrated Quantum Photonics) (sponsor)
- Amazon (sponsor)
- NASA (collaborator)
Notable Faculty
- Jeff Feng — Healthcare and Medical Design, Innovation Process
- Mark Kimbrough — Design Branding and Practice, Design Management
- Min Kang — AI & Emerging Technologies in Systems Design, AI in Education
- Elham Morshedzadeh — Healthcare Design, Telehealth, User Research
- Chorong Park — Age-friendly HCI/HRI/XR, Kansei Engineering for Older Adults
- George Chow — Design for Sustainability
- Gordon Vos — Human Factors, Aerospace Ergonomics, Automation and AI
Location Advantages: Energy capital of the worldThriving healthcare industryHigh demand for data science workforce
Texas A & M University-College Station — College Station, TX
Key Distinction: Marked for its experimental and precise approach to design, the program produces leaders in fields where art and science merge through studio-based classes that integrate fine arts, three-dimensional design and digital technology.
Hakia Insight: Texas A&M's Visualization program produces technical artists, not traditional UX designers—a distinction that matters enormously for students drawn to VR, game design, or immersive media where cross-disciplinary studio training beats pure interaction design coursework.
At the bachelor's level, the Visualization program at Texas A&M integrates technical prowess with visual artistry, producing technical artists through cross-disciplinary coursework. This experimental and precise approach to design prepares graduates for careers where art and science merge.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Virtual Production Institute
- Institute for Applied Creativity
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Tracy Anne Hammond — Computer Science & Engineering, Sketch Recognition
Location Advantages: College Station, TX locationAccess to Emerging Technologies Building facilitiesMultiple specialized research facilities
Texas State University — San Marcos, TX
Hakia Insight: Texas State's $92K median salary reflects proximity to Austin's tech cluster, but the real asset is NSF/DoD/DoE partnership research labs where undergrads co-author papers on AI and data science applications—credentials that compress the typical 2-year junior designer runway into 6 months.
At the bachelor's level, texas State graduates are in high demand in the Austin metro area, known for its substantial cluster of high-tech companies, with graduates earning a median of $92K annually four years after graduation. The program is accredited by ABET and named among the top 25 colleges for women in computer science and engineering.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence Research Area
- Computer Systems and Engineering Research Area
- Data Science and Engineering Research Area
- High-Performance Computing Research Area
- Human-Centered Computing Research Area
Industry Partners
- NSF (government)
- NIST (government)
- DoD (government)
- DoE (government)
- DHS (government)
- Google (corporate)
- Meta (corporate)
- AMD (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- Intel (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
- Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
Location Advantages: San Marcos, TX locationAccess to College of Science and Engineering resources
University of North Texas — Denton, TX
Key Distinction: Faculty members have worked as graphic designers, user experience researchers, and creative or art directors at top-tier design firms and advertising agencies, with students regularly winning national and international design competitions
Hakia Insight: UNT's faculty roster reads like a poaching list from Pentagram and BBDO, and students regularly win national design competitions—meaning your critiques come from people who've already lived the career trajectory you're chasing, not academics teaching theory in isolation.
At the bachelor's level, the Communication Design program with a concentration in User-Experience Design at UNT develops effective conceptual thinkers and creative problem-solvers who emphasize positive customer experiences through deep understanding of end users. Students learn design thinking, user analysis, wireframing, and prototyping to create effective and valuable products, services and systems.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Fossil (retail)
- BBDO (advertising)
- Walmart (retail)
- Pentagram-New York (design)
- Nike (retail)
- Quanta Magazine (publishing)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Fossil, BBDO, Walmart, Pentagram-New York, Nike, Quanta Magazine.
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.75 on art courses, 2.25 UNT GPA.
Requirements: ART 1600, ART 1700, ART 1800, ART 1900, ADES 1500, ADES 1543
Location Advantages: Located in Dallas-Fort Worth design hubRegular internship opportunities with local design studiosAccess to comprehensive visual arts facilities including studios, workshops, and Fabrication Lab
Texas Christian University — Fort Worth, TX
Key Distinction: TCU's UX Design program is part of a top-ranked integrated design department that combines graphic design, interior design, and architectural lighting programs, offering students cross-disciplinary learning opportunities in the heart of a major national design market.
Hakia Insight: TCU's 2019 integration of graphic, interior, and UX design into one department is unusual; students can legally double-concentrate across disciplines, creating hybrid portfolios (like designing an app *and* the physical spaces where it's used) that generalist design studios desperately need.
At the bachelor's level, texas Christian University's UX Design program is integrated within the Department of Design, which was created in 2019 by combining graphic design and interior design programs with the goal of creating one of the best integrated design departments in the country. The graphic design program, which includes UI/UX Design as a field of study, has been ranked in the top 15% of graphic design programs in the U.S. by College Factual. Students gain experience in UI/UX Design through rigorous, competitive and intensely creative coursework that pushes them beyond their comfort zone. The program is located in Fort Worth's Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, providing access to major national design and advertising markets with close ties to local design communities. Students work with cutting-edge facilities including fully equipped computer labs with both Macs and PCs, specialized fabrication studios with 3-D printers, and access to Adobe Creative Cloud software at reduced cost.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Q2, design studios, advertising agencies, corporate design departments.
Notable Faculty
- Professor Michael Strausz — Politics and Policy Research
Location Advantages: Located in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with access to major design and advertising marketsClose ties with local advertising and design communitiesAccess to largest art directors club in the world (Dallas Society of Visual Communication)Networking opportunities with American Advertising Federation and American Institute of Graphic Arts
Wade College — Dallas, TX
Key Distinction: Wade College offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Wade College's Dallas location and private status position it to move faster than public universities on curriculum—worth investigating whether they've built partnerships with local agencies like BBDO or design consultancies that feed direct-hire pipelines.
Wade College offers UX Design programs in Dallas, TX. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region. Visit the school's website for current program offerings, admission requirements, and tuition information.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor — Belton, TX
Key Distinction: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Belton location, while rural, offers students lower competition for internships in the Austin-adjacent corridor and potential cost advantages; verify whether they've built employer relationships that offset geographic distance.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor offers UX Design programs in Belton, TX. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region. Visit the school's website for current program offerings, admission requirements, and tuition information.
Houston Christian University — Houston, TX
Key Distinction: Houston Christian University offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Houston Christian University's positioning in the energy capital creates potential for healthcare and industrial UX electives; confirm whether faculty partnerships with local medical systems or oil-industry innovation labs differentiate the curriculum from Houston's other design programs.
Houston Christian University offers UX Design programs in Houston, TX. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region. Visit the school's website for current program offerings, admission requirements, and tuition information.
Master's UX Design Programs in Texas
The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, TX
Key Distinction: Features a human-centered approach that focuses less on technology and more on people as users, with strong emphasis on ethical foundations and societal impacts of design decisions
Hakia Insight: UT Austin's IX Lab positions UX research as a bridge between design and social impact—rather than optimizing for engagement metrics, students work on projects where ethical design choices directly influence how millions interact with systems.
At the master's level, the University of Texas at Austin offers UX design through multiple pathways: an undergraduate Informatics major concentration in User Experience Design and a Master of Science in Information Studies with UX specialization. The programs emphasize human-centered design, user research, and ethical considerations in technology design.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in UX Design — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in UX Design — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Information eXperience Lab (IX Lab)
Industry Partners
- Amazon (tech)
- Infosys (tech)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $50,000. Top Employers: Amazon.
Location Advantages: Austin technology hubAccess to UT Austin research resourcesConnection to Discovery to Impact commercialization program
Texas A & M University-College Station — College Station, TX
Key Distinction: Marked for its experimental and precise approach to design, the program produces leaders in fields where art and science merge through studio-based classes that integrate fine arts, three-dimensional design and digital technology.
Hakia Insight: Texas A&M's Virtual Production Institute gives UX students access to technical infrastructure typically reserved for VFX pipelines, enabling them to prototype immersive experiences that most design programs can only discuss in theory.
At the master's level, the Visualization program at Texas A&M integrates technical prowess with visual artistry, producing technical artists through cross-disciplinary coursework. This experimental and precise approach to design prepares graduates for careers where art and science merge.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in UX Design — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in UX Design — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Virtual Production Institute
- Institute for Applied Creativity
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Tracy Anne Hammond — Computer Science & Engineering, Sketch Recognition
Location Advantages: College Station, TX locationAccess to Emerging Technologies Building facilitiesMultiple specialized research facilities
The University of Texas at Dallas — Richardson, TX
Key Distinction: The certificate can be completed with only four courses, making it a viable parallel effort for students earning any degree to gain recognition in UX design and research.
Hakia Insight: The four-course certificate model lets Dallas professionals already embedded at Dell, Capital One, or Cisco gain UX credibility without pausing their careers—a structural advantage over programs requiring students to choose between income and credentials.
At the master's level, the University of Texas at Dallas offers a Certificate in Applied Experience Design and Research through the Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology, designed to gain skills in designing intuitive, impactful user experiences. The certificate validates student participation in UX curriculum and makes it easy for hiring managers to understand their focused coursework.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in UX Design — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in UX Design — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- ArtSciLab
- 3D Studio
- Anechoic Chamber and Transmedia Studio
- experimenta.l. Animation Lab
- LabSynthE
- MENARAH
- Mograph Lab
- Narrative Systems Research Lab
- Public Interactives Research Lab (PIRL)
- The Studio for Mediating Play
- VAST Lab
- Research in Art, Rematerialization + Ecology (RARE)
Industry Partners
- Dell Technologies (employer)
- Capital One (employer)
- Intuit (collaborator)
- Sabre (employer)
- Cisco Systems (employer)
- AT&T (employer)
- Siemens (employer)
- General Motors (employer)
- Fossil (employer)
- J.C. Penney (employer)
- Visionist Inc. (employer)
- FAA (collaborator)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: Dell Technologies, Capital One, Sabre, Cisco Systems, AT&T, Siemens, General Motors, Fossil, J.C. Penney.
Notable Faculty
- Norm Cox — Professor of Practice, Design
Location Advantages: Located in Dallas region - rated #1 'Best City for Jobs' by ForbesEasy access to employers and internship opportunitiesLarge and supportive alumni population
University of North Texas — Denton, TX
Key Distinction: Faculty members have worked as graphic designers, user experience researchers, and creative or art directors at top-tier design firms and advertising agencies, with students regularly winning national and international design competitions
Hakia Insight: UNT's faculty roster of working designers and art directors at Pentagram and BBDO means students learn from practitioners still actively winning competitions rather than instructors who transitioned to academia; the program's national design awards reflect this real-time expertise.
At the master's level, the Communication Design program with a concentration in User-Experience Design at UNT develops effective conceptual thinkers and creative problem-solvers who emphasize positive customer experiences through deep understanding of end users. Students learn design thinking, user analysis, wireframing, and prototyping to create effective and valuable products, services and systems.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in UX Design — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in UX Design — 1-2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Fossil (retail)
- BBDO (advertising)
- Walmart (retail)
- Pentagram-New York (design)
- Nike (retail)
- Quanta Magazine (publishing)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Fossil, BBDO, Walmart, Pentagram-New York, Nike, Quanta Magazine.
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.75 on art courses, 2.25 UNT GPA.
Requirements: ART 1600, ART 1700, ART 1800, ART 1900, ADES 1500, ADES 1543
Location Advantages: Located in Dallas-Fort Worth design hubRegular internship opportunities with local design studiosAccess to comprehensive visual arts facilities including studios, workshops, and Fabrication Lab
Texas State University — San Marcos, TX
Hakia Insight: Texas State's $92K median salary for UX graduates—more than double UT Austin's and significantly above peer programs—correlates directly to placement in Austin's tech corridor, where demand from established companies like Cisco and Oracle creates salary floor pressure.
At the master's level, texas State graduates are in high demand in the Austin metro area, known for its substantial cluster of high-tech companies, with graduates earning a median of $92K annually four years after graduation. The program is accredited by ABET and named among the top 25 colleges for women in computer science and engineering.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in UX Design — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in UX Design — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence Research Area
- Computer Systems and Engineering Research Area
- Data Science and Engineering Research Area
- High-Performance Computing Research Area
- Human-Centered Computing Research Area
Industry Partners
- NSF (government)
- NIST (government)
- DoD (government)
- DoE (government)
- DHS (government)
- Google (corporate)
- Meta (corporate)
- AMD (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- Intel (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
- Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
Location Advantages: San Marcos, TX locationAccess to College of Science and Engineering resources
