UX/UI Design: Research Methods Certificate
3 Courses
63 Hours
Online
Program Description
Understanding user behaviour is essential to creating digital experiences that are not only functional but also meaningful and engaging.
Research shows that poor UX causes 60% of consumers to abandon purchases, costing businesses an average of $72,000 annually (Userlytics, 2024). Additionally, organizations that map the customer journey report significantly higher marketing ROI and up to 3.5× more referral-driven revenue, underscoring the value of insight-led design (Aberdeen Group).
This certificate program offers a comprehensive and hands-on introduction to user experience research, equipping learners with the skills to gather, interpret, and apply user insights that drive better design decisions. Participants will explore both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, gaining practical experience with usability testing, interviews, surveys, and data analysis. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of ethical research practices and inclusive design in diverse user contexts.
Ideal for UX professionals, designers, product managers, and others seeking to build or deepen their research capabilities, this program empowers learners to elevate digital experiences through data-informed decision-making.
Whether you're launching your UX career or advancing your current practice, this certificate delivers the tools and techniques needed to lead with insight.
Questions? Please contact our program team: techprog@ualberta.ca
Who Will Benefit?
The UX/UI Design: Research Methods Certificate is designed for professionals across industries who want to leverage user research to enhance digital experiences and make data-informed decisions.
- 🗸 UX Designers looking to strengthen their research skills and better connect design decisions to user needs.
- 🗸 Product Managers seeking to integrate user insights into product development cycles to boost usability and user satisfaction.
- 🗸 Marketing and Communications Professionals wanting to understand user behaviour to improve content strategy, conversion rates, and engagement.
- 🗸 Aspiring UX Researchers who are ready to build foundational research skills and gain hands-on experience with industry tools and techniques.
- 🗸 Entrepreneurs and Business Owners aiming to design more intuitive customer experiences that support retention, loyalty, and growth.
- 🗸 Developers and Technical Teams interested in applying user feedback to create more user-friendly interfaces and functionalities.
What You'll Learn
- 🗸Understand and apply qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including surveys, interviews, usability testing, and A/B testing, to gather meaningful user insights.
- 🗸Learn how to design, conduct, and analyze research studies that inform product development and improve user experiences.
- 🗸Gain expertise in affinity mapping, journey mapping, and experience mapping to communicate findings and influence design decisions.
- 🗸Use heuristic analysis, card sorting, and tree testing to assess information architecture and usability and optimize digital experiences.
- 🗸Understand the ethical considerations, legal implications, and best practices in user research to ensure responsible and effective data collection.
What You'll Earn
- 🗸 Some certificates may also provide a pathway toward a diploma. Please refer to the program mapping chart to confirm eligibility.
- This program is comprised of three courses. Courses are 21 hours each, for a total of 63 instructional hours.
- EXSM 3920 UX Design Foundations and EXSM 3921 UI Design Foundations are both prerequisites for EXSM 3923 User Research Fundamentals. If you have previous UX/UI Design experience, you can contact your advisor at techprog@ualberta.ca to discuss an exception.
- It’s designed for part-time study and can generally be completed within one year.
- Grading is through assessments.
- It’s a flexible online experience, with courses offered asynchronously. More info about online delivery formats can be foundhere.
- Course materials are shared in ConEd Canvas. Some courses may require additional resources, such as textbooks.
- Please note that continuing education classes are not eligible for student loans.
- If you're seeking financial assistance for these courses, please explore the scholarship, bursaries and funding opportunities specifically designated for continuing education students.
- Approximate cost of the full program: $1,935 CAD
- Flexible payment options: register and pay for all courses at once or pay course-by-course as you go.
- Courses are GST-exempt.
- Some courses may require additional resources, such as textbooks.
- This program may be eligible to stack toward a diploma program. For more information, please contact techprog@ualberta.ca.
- To learn about transferability from other institutions, see our Transfer Credit information.
- International Students are welcome to enroll and pay the same course fees as local students.
- Proficiency in English and a stable internet connection are needed to participate and succeed in our courses.
- Please note that non-credit programming does not qualify for a study permit, therefore, this program cannot be used for immigration to Canada. For more information, please contact University of Alberta International Student Services.