Universal Design Certificate expands with new curriculum and online options
The University of Kentucky College of Design is launching a new curriculum model for the undergraduate certificate in Universal Design.
Offered in partnership with the UK Human Development Institute and several colleges across campus, the Universal Design Certificate provides students the opportunity to learn about and apply Universal Design’s broad range of strategies that create products and environments usable by all people.
Under this new curriculum model, students are required to take two asynchronous, online classes: DES 450: Universal Design Theory and DES 400: Universal Design in Practice then choose two elective courses from the list below, for a total of 12 credit hours:
- ANT 377: Global Aging
- ANT 450: Symbols & Culture
- BSC 301: Shadowing, A Guide to Social Medicine
- CLD 460: Community Development & Change
- DES 470: Universal Design Practicum 1 (can be taken up to two semesters)
- EDS 375: Intro to the Education of Exceptional Children
- ICT 316: Universal Access- Information & Working Environments
- ICT420: Semantic Web Development
- LIN 331: Language in US Society
- MKT 325: Digital Marketing Strategy Evaluation
- WRD 401: Special Topics in Writing
While this program is directly related to design students, it can also be particularly valuable for students interested in looking critically at how healthcare, community development, education and digital technology industries can better serve everyone.
The certificate is open to all undergraduate students at the university and can be added to their program of study in the myUK GPS system. Many students who successfully complete the certificate will receive a stipend to support their work in Universal Design.
The new requirements are designed to apply to students who begin in Fall 2026 or later. The only possible change for students already in the certificate program as of Spring 2026 is that DES 470: Universal Design Practicum 1 classes will require 144 hours of practicum work as opposed to the currently required 104 hours.
Visit https://academics.uky.edu/programs/undergraduate-certificate/universal-design for more information. For questions, contact Rachel Womack, Human Development Institute training director and certificate director, at rachel.womack@uky.edu.