The Experience Design (XD) program takes a human-centered approach to problem solving by developing ethical and impactful solutions to complex business problems and society’s most consequential challenges. Through interdisciplinary courses in content strategy, graphic design, design innovation, user research, interface design, and interaction design, students learn the tools of the trade, build portfolios, and launch their careers as experience designers and researchers.
Bentley's XD major offers a rare combination of ethical and inclusive research and design-thinking principles, hands-on practice, and tools for advancing an organization’s triple bottom line: planet, people, profit. These core values, coupled with core business courses, prepare Bentley students to design creative, sustainable, and transformative experiences that benefit businesses and their customers in today’s competitive innovation economy.
Experience designers and researchers are uniquely placed to design the future of our world, including human-to-human, human-to-environment, and human-to-technology interactions. Experience designers enhance the usability, accessibility, inclusivity, and satisfaction of digital and physical experiences, products, services, environments, and systems. They conduct research, leverage analytics, create prototypes, and iterate solutions to ensure that user needs and preferences are prioritized in the product development lifecycle.
Ultimately, XD designers and researchers play a crucial role in creatively shaping how people interact with technology and the greater world, fostering positive and transparent experiences, and collaboratively designing more sustainable futures. Our XD graduates reimagine customer experiences in retail and e-commerce, patient experiences and devices in healthcare, and digital experiences in financial services, and any other industry.
For further information about degree requirement policies and guidelines, see the Degree Requirements page.
Major Requirements
Major Courses (24 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| XD 225 | Designing Experiences | 3 |
| XD 240 | Fundamentals of Design | 3 |
| XD 375 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| XD 385 | Elements of Usability and User Experience | 3 |
| XD 386 | Investigations in Experience Design | 3 |
| Select three electives from the following list: | 9 | |
| Content Strategy | ||
| Web Design I: Information Design, Principles and Practices | ||
| Concept Development | ||
| Web Design II: Information Architecture and Site Management | ||
| Internship in Experience Design | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
The Business Environment (6 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 305 | Business Processes and Systems | 3 |
| MG 300 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
General Degree Requirements
Foundations for Success (15 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FDS 100 | Falcon Discovery Seminar | 3 |
| Communications and Writing | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| EMS 101 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| or EMS 101L | Critical Reading and Writing with Lab | |
| or EMS 102 | Critical Reading and Writing for ESOL | |
| or EMS 102L | Critical Reading and Writing for ESOL with Lab | |
| And one from: | ||
| EMS 104 | Multimodal Communication | 3 |
| or EMS 105 | Multimodal Communication for ESOL | |
| Information Technology | ||
| CS 100 | Solving Business Problems with Information Technology | 3 |
| Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| MA 105 | Mathematical Foundations for Business | 3 |
| or MA 105L | Mathematical Foundations for Business with Lab | |
| or MA 107 | Applied Calculus for Business | |
| or MA 107L | Applied Calculus for Business with Lab | |
| or MA 131 | Calculus I | |
| or MA 131L | Calculus I with Lab | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Context and Perspectives (18 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take six courses, one in each category of Context and Perspectives: | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Business Dynamics/Business Administration Minor (18 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| All courses are required: | ||
| AC 115 | Introduction to Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| FI 118 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| LA 100 | Business Law | 3 |
| MG 116 | Human Dynamics in Organizations | 3 |
| ST 113 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Communication Intensive
All students are required to take a three-credit course designated as a Communication Intensive. This requirement can be met within a variety of course subjects in both Arts & Sciences and Business. Communication Intensive courses are designated with a "CI" in the course schedule. Transfer students with a minimum of 30 credits will be waived from the Communication Intensive requirement.
Please note that certain majors have an additional three-credit Communication Intensive built into their major requirements, separate from the general CI requirement.
Additional Requirements
Arts and Sciences Electives (15 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select five Arts & Sciences elective courses | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Unrestricted Electives (24 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select eight elective courses | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |