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UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley
UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley
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Silicon Valley

Winter 2010 Catalog
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Silicon Valley
 

UCSC extension
Program Overview Course Schedule

Web Design


Web Designers Need Broader, Deeper Knowledge
The internet's rapid evolution means professional Web designers must continually update and expand their skill sets to keep up with changing technologies and industry needs. Today's Web designers must be able to define the business problem and determine user needs, in addition to applying principles of information architecture, interaction design, graphic design, and user research. They also must know how to write their own front-end code and use visual authoring software.

Professional-Level Program Delivers Solid Expertise
The professional Web design program at UCSC Extension equips you to meet these challenges. Our newly revised certificate program delivers solid expertise, beginning with an orientation course entitled "Web Design, Introduction" that brings you up to date on opportunities in the field. The final course, "Web Design Project," provides an opportunity to apply newly acquired theory, tools, and techniques to create a professional-quality Web site. In between are courses that expose you to each step in the user-centered design process, including:

  • Graphic Design
  • User-Centered Design
  • User Research and Usability
  • Graphical Production
  • HTML/XHTML
  • Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
  • JavaScript
  • Search-Engine Optimization
  • Adobe Dreamweaver, Flash, Illustrator, Photoshop

Get Hands-on Experience Working in Our State-of-the-Art Labs
Many of the software courses are taught in our state of-the-art Macintosh Lab. The lab features dual-core Mac Pros, the latest version of Mac OS X, and the latest software including Adobe CS4. This lab provides you with the opportunity to learn new skills on top-quality machines loaded with the most current software.

Benefits of Studying Web Design at UCSC Extension
The Web Design program at UCSC Extension offers current and aspiring professionals:

  • Certificate courses provide the basic knowledge for designing Web sites
  • Electives in advanced topics help students develop areas of specialization
  • Ability to become a Web professional with well rounded skills and tools know-how
  • Courses are taught by senior working professionals
  • Convenient course schedules and Silicon Valley location
  • Courses are updated frequently to reflect changing technology and industry needs

Who Should Attend This Program

  • Those who want to enter the Web design field
  • Those who want to build and maintain their own Web sites
  • Designers and developers who want to add Web design to their skill set
  • Those already working in the field who want to keep up with this rapidly changing industry



Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites to enter the certificate program. However, students should be proficient with common desktop applications on either PC or Mac, and be experienced users of the World Wide Web.

The two recommended prerequisites (introductory Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator) do not count toward the total number of units requireed for the certificate, and may be satisfied with equivalent experience. Illustrator skills are required for "User-Centered Design Fundamentals"; Photoshop skills are required prior to enrolling in "Graphical Production for the Web"; and Photoshop and Illustrator skills are required before enrolling in "Graphic Design Principles for the Web."

Recommended Course Sequence
We recommend that students begin their course work with "Web Design, Introduction" which lays a solid foundation for the program. All certificate students should end with "Web Design Project." The remaining courses may be taken in any order, provided the individual course prerequisites have been fulfilled.

Note: Some courses may be listed in more than one program, however, only one course may be shared between two Engineering and Technology certificate programs unless otherwise noted.

Program Coordinator
LILLIAN SVEC, M.F.A., has championed user-centered design and information architecture (IA) for more than fifteen years. She pioneered the IA role at Studio Archetype. At Sapient, she was the Global Practice Lead for IA providing leadership to 100 team members in 18 offices world-wide. At Walmart.com, she was the Director of User Experience.




Benefits of Declaring Candidacy
We encourage you to establish candidacy in a certificate program early in your studies. There are substantial benefits in doing so:

  • Curriculum changes subsequent to the date your application is received will not affect your course requirements.
  • Candidates will be notified of updates or special opportunities related to the program.



Program Contact
Enroll online now or contact the Engineering & Technology Department for more information: (408) 861-3860 or e-mail program@ucsc-extension.edu.



Certificate Requirements
Total: 17.5 units
Required: 10 courses
Elective: 1 course (minimum)
GPA: 3.0 (GPA Calculator)
C or better in all courses.
Timeline: Complete minimum units/courses within 3 years.

Note:
Courses completed more than five years prior to date of certificate issuance cannot be used to fulfill requirements




How to Apply
Certificate applications can be submitted online or by using the PDF application. An application fee, listed on the form, is required to establish candidacy.

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