Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in our continuing series of highlighting CSU’s new integrated degrees program

Cleveland State University recently became the first institution of higher education in Northeast Ohio to offer 11 new interdisciplinary degrees designed to empower undergraduate students with the skills, versatility and adaptability they need to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines or fields. They are each a purposefully designed blend of curriculum for students whose paths require expertise in several disciplines. 

The university’s combined majors developed not only from faculty members’ proposals, but also from collaboration with local employers, who weighed in on which of the proposed programs might meet the area’s workforce needs.

“As a regional public, as an institution that seeks to serve this community, we said, what do our employers need?” said CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is spearheading the initiative.

Today, we are highlighting the Design + Psychology Bachelor of Arts.

The Design + Psychology degree is intended to prepare students for careers in User Experience Design and User Interface Design (UX/UI). User experience teams are multi-disciplinary and highly collaborative, involving designers, cognitive psychologists, data analysts, writers, marketing professionals, and more. 

“Our goal is not to develop students who can do everything. We aim to create graduates who are seen as an asset because they are discipline multi-lingual. They speak the language of visual design but also understand how to design and analyze cognitive research,” said Associate Professor of Design Sarah Rutherford. “Design + Psychology students will understand not just how and why people make decisions. They’ll have the design proficiency to help create interfaces or experiences to reach them.”

The Design integration provides students with skill sets in user experience design, web design and coding, typography, communication, human-centered design and research methods, digital accessibility, and data visualization and information design.

Within the Psychology major, students learn to apply a broad range of psychological concepts that describe and explain the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of humans which includes applying basic statistical concepts; creating psychological research designs; and evaluating psychological research.

“Design + Psychology integrated degree students learn fundamental design principles and software while building an understanding of psychological research and data analysis,” said Rutherford. “The curriculum includes courses in human-centered and user experience research from Design and courses on perception and cognition from Psychology. There’s room for students to specialize in either discipline. One of the great things about the Design + Psychology integrated degree is that it gives students an opportunity to shape what their expertise will look like.”

CAREER OUTLOOK

In the UX/UI field, designers work in diverse environments across a wide range of industries while collaborating with other designers and programmers, as well as researchers, psychologists, neuroscientists and sales teams. In addition to preparing undergraduates to step into UX/UI careers, graduates of the integrated Psychology and Design program would also have the experience and knowledge necessary for positions in web design, graphic design, digital design, 2D animation, research psychology, statistics or human factors, potentially at a Fortune 500 company.

“At present, the barrier of entry into UX/UI careers is job experience or expertise in the form of expensive bootcamps or graduate degrees,” said Rutherford. “Ten years ago, when the UX field was younger, it was more accessible to enter with a Design degree and learn as you go. As more companies and organizations see the value of integrating user experience design into their web, mobile, or visitor experiences, graduates must enter the profession with the necessary background.”

UX/UI designers are some of the highest paid in the design industry, with established UX researchers in the Cleveland area earning an average of $80,000–$110,000 per year, UX/UI designers earning around $70,000­–$80,000 per year, and digital designers (graphic design with UX design) earning approximately $50,00­0­–­$70,000 per year. There is also good potential for remote work in UX research and design, resulting in more competitive salaries depending on region.

With all the potential that lies ahead, it’s easy to see why this degree is a fast-growing option at CSU.

“As an anchor institution in the city of Cleveland, CSU excels at offering access to professional careers,” said Rutherford. “Through the integrated degree program, students for whom CSU opens doors now get more than just access, they get educational experiences available nowhere else in the state.”

For more information on CSU’s new integrated degree programs, click here. 

For more information on the Design + Psychology B.A, click here.