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University of Michigan School of Information

Graduate Certificate in Automotive User Experience

Automotive UX is the research, design, management, and implementation of the user experience within the automotive industry. Vehicles are now being more defined by the software needs of the user as much as they are by the mechanical and engineering needs of the vehicle.

With Michigan’s unique position as a global hub for the automotive industry, this graduate certificate program provides students with the opportunity to engage with industry professionals, develop portfolio-ready projects, and gain relevant skills that align with industry needs. Students who complete the certificate will be well-positioned for roles in UX design, research, and related fields in the automotive industry. 

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Automotive UX, students will be able to:

  • Identify the key differences between automotive UX and other digital interfaces
  • Apply UX principles to automotive interface design
  • Conduct basic UX research for automotive applications
  • Design high fidelity designs for in-vehicle interfaces
  • Work with industry tools and standards
  • Present UX work in a professional context

Certificate requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Automotive UX requires the completion of 15 credits of coursework, which is composed of one 3-credit foundational course alongside 12 additional credits of elective coursework that provides depth into specific areas of specialization in the topic area. 

Core course

SI 594: Automotive User Experience (3 credits)
The core course will provide hands-on experience with best practices and the theory that exists within Automotive UX design space. Students will be expected to create designs of their own to convey their understanding.

Elective coursework

12 credits from the following approved list of coursework:

  • SI 511: Concept to Market: Foundations in Product Management (3 credits)
  • SI 520: Graphic Design (3 credits)
  • SI 552: Introduction to Accessibility (3 credits)
  • SI 582: Interaction Design (3 credits)
  • SI 588: Principles of User Experience (3 credits)
  • SI 611: Advanced Automotive Visual Design (3 credits)
  • SI 611: Advanced Interaction Design (3 credits)
  • SI 612: Pervasive Interaction Design (3 credits)
  • URP 560: Transportation & Land Use Planning (3 credits)
  • URP 561: Public Policy & Transportation (3 credits)
  • URP 562: Active Transportation Planning for Biking & Walking (3 credits)
  • MECHENG 561: Design of Digital Control Systems (3 credits)
  • MECHENG 568: Vehicle Control Systems (3 credits)
  • EECS 460: Control Systems Analysis and Design (3 credits)
  • NAVARCH 565: Self-Driving Cars: Perception and Control (3 credits)

Declaring the Automotive UX Certificate

The graduate certificate in Automotive UX is open to all graduate students at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. 

Students can declare their intention to pursue the certificate by completing the attached form below. 

Please give the UMSI team 5-10 business days to process your declaration. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email. 

Complete the declaration form here

Graduating with the Automotive UX Certificate

Once you have completed all of the requirements for the Automotive UX Certificate, you will submit the Auto UX Certificate Completion form. Our team will review your academic record to ensure that you have completed the certificate requirements, and upon verification, will release the certificate. 

The Auto UX Certificate Completion form will be made available later in the Fall 2025 term. 

Double-counting policy

The Graduate Certificate in Automotive UX follows the double-counting policy of the Rackham Graduate School:

  • Not more than one-sixth of the credits required for any given master’s degree may be double-counted between a graduate certificate and a master’s program.
  • Double-counted credits may not exceed one-half of the required credits of a graduate certificate.

In most cases, students will be able to double-count a maximum of 6 credits for the certificate. Please make sure to double-check your academic plan and double-counting restrictions with your home unit academic advisor. 

Course seats and permissions

Students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Automotive UX are not guaranteed seats in any courses, and plan for backup options in the event that their primary choices are not available. 

Additionally, students are expected to meet prerequisite requirements for courses on the approved list - prerequisites and corequisites will not be waived and special overrides will not be granted for students pursuing the Graduate Certificate. 

Questions?

Reach out to us at [email protected]