UX/UI Design and Development, M.A.

The Department of Digital Art and Design offers three different STEM graduate programs that integrate critical inquiry, applied research, and emerging technologies within creative practice. Rooted in New York Institute of Technology's mission of career-oriented professional education and access to opportunity, our programs support research that benefits industry, culture, and society.

The M.S. in Digital Product Design focuses on the creation, management, and growth of digital products within technology-driven ecosystems, while the M.F.A. in Graphic Design and Media Innovation remains grounded in the integration of theory, technology, and studio practice. Our M.A. in UX/UI Design and Development prepares designers to shape intelligent and adaptive interaction systems within rapidly evolving digital environments. Across all graduate programs, students balance conceptual rigor with technical fluency, cultivating a perspective that connects design, technology, and professional practice.

UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface) Design and Development is a critical qualification across industries increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and intelligent digital systems, including technology, finance, health care, media, communications, engineering, product development, and emerging technology sectors. As digital environments evolve from static interfaces to adaptive and data-driven systems, UX/UI designers play a central role in shaping how humans interact with intelligent technologies.

Technological advancements driven by AI, machine learning, voice systems, and intelligent platforms present expanding opportunities for innovation in user experience design. The success of contemporary digital products depends on a sophisticated interaction strategy implemented through advanced software, data systems, and multimodal environments. Designers are required to understand system behavior, automation logic, and human-AI collaboration in addition to visual interface design. The work of UX/UI professionals continues to expand as organizations deepen their reliance on intelligent digital infrastructures.

In conjunction with a faculty composed of practicing professionals and industry leaders, the Department of Digital Art and Design offers a learning environment that integrates academic rigor with professional insight. Faculty bring experience from leading technology, media, finance, and research institutions, grounding instruction in current industry practice. Through the HIVE (Home of Innovation, Visualization, and Exploration), students engage advanced visualization tools and emerging digital platforms to support applied UX/UI research and design development. Coursework may incorporate collaborative and project-based experiences informed by industry practices and real-world design challenges.

The Master of Arts in UX/UI Design and Development provides students with visual design strategies, digital development skills, and foundational knowledge of industry standards and methodologies, alongside advanced research and problem-solving frameworks. The curriculum integrates human-centered design with Human-AI Interaction Design, UX research, systems thinking, and contemporary product workflows, reflecting the shift toward intelligent, adaptive, and intent-driven interaction models. The degree aligns with New York Institute of Technology's mission of career-oriented professional education while preparing graduates to lead within evolving digital ecosystems.

The M.A. serves artists and non-artists seeking to design interactive systems and digital experiences across diverse contexts. Students develop a master's-level understanding of interface design, interaction systems, and user research within environments shaped by AI, automation, and emerging technologies. As a co-developed program, the M.A. shares strategic alignment with the M.S. in Digital Product Design, enabling students to extend their studies and retain specialized expertise in UX/UI while expanding into broader product strategy and innovation frameworks. These competencies are increasingly essential across interdisciplinary industries undergoing digital transformation.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The M.A. in UX/UI Design and Development program accepts students for fall semester admission only.

Admission Requirements

B.F.A. degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university
Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0

Application Materials

Completed application
$50 nonrefundable application fee
Copy of college diploma or proof of degree
M.A. supplementary application (see instructions below)
International student requirements: English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE), I-20, and transcript evaluation

M.A. Supplementary Application

Once you complete the online application, you are required to submit a supplementary application. To upload, you will need to include the application ID number which you will receive after submitting your online application. Each student is limited to one portfolio submission. Additional submissions will not be considered until the following fall semester.

The supplementary application includes:

Digital portfolio (recommended but not required) that showcases your best work through a wide range of media. Portfolio should contain 15–20 high-quality digital images and/or a sample reel of animation/video (max. three minutes).
Description sheet of the contents of the portfolio (required only if submitting portfolio) detailing each work with a title, brief description, measurements or duration, and date of completion. Collaborative work must be individually identified and credited as such.
Curriculum vitae/résumé which should include a summary of academic and professional history and achievements, including research, awards, and exhibitions.
Personal statement: A statement of purpose of 300 to 500 words, which should include academic/career objectives and creative intent. The statement of purpose should also indicate your anticipated area of study (UX/UI).
Letters of recommendation (optional)

Formats

All artwork must be submitted in PDF file format.
Description sheet, cv/résumé, and artist statement must be in PDF file format.
Animation/video work (max. three minutes) must be included as a link to an uploaded file on YouTube, Vimeo, or a personal website. Please include the URL in your description sheet.
All submitted materials must be in English, including all file names, credits, and letter of recommendations.

Transition from the M.A. to M.F.A. Degree Policy

The Master of Arts in UX/UI Design and Development is transitional to the Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Media Innovation program.
All 30 credits of the M.A. degree will transition to the M.F.A.
Graduate Critique/Thesis Orientation ARTC 802 will be waived; however, the credits will still need to be taken in the form of an elective.
Master's Project (ARTP 802) is co-listed with Thesis Proposal (ARTC 851). Thus, students who have taken Master's Project do not need to take Thesis Proposal.

Transition from other New York Tech Graduate Programs to the M.A. Degree

Graduates of other graduate programs may only transition six credits to satisfy the six elective credits required.