Areas of Concentration

Management Strategies for Digital Products (15): The following coursework will allow me to gain knowledge of businesses and management practices necessary to plan, design, and execute ideas in multiple start-up or corporate environments.


  • IS 202: Systems Analysis Methods (3): This course introduces documentation and development of a digital prototype through different development processes common in corporate environments such as agile approach and software development life cycle (SDLC).

  • MGMT 210: The Practice of Management (3): Practical knowledge learned in this course will help me manage digital products through their life cycles from conception to final production stage. This will play an important role when communicating with teams of designers, developers, analysts, and stakeholders in different start-up or corporate environments.

  • IS 300: Management Information Systems (3)*: This class is an overview of information system capabilities in transaction processing, human resources, and e-commerce systems that enable suppliers, businesses, and customers to function properly together.

  • ENGR 2196: Technical Communication (3)*T: This course teaches me how to synthesize various research sources to produce professional technical documentation that is deemed current, impactful, and ethical. This will play an important role as a designer to speak the “languages” of different disciplinary teams to efficiently create a digital product.

  • ENGR 3001: Engineering Economics (3)*T: I will learn computational analysis tools in the context of large-scale engineering. This will allow me to make wise financial decisions regarding rate of return, return of investment, and cost/benefit of proposed product ideas.

  • ENTR 320: Entrepreneurial Marketing (3): This course will develop my understanding of integrating media technologies that are used to effectively market a new digital product. Marketing technologies that are prevalent today like podcasts, blogs, and websites will help draw attention from consumers to a digital product.


Users and Behavior of Digital Products (12): The following coursework will allow me to consider the human aspects of digital products by studying behavior, communities, and environments. Knowing these will ensure that I design with empathy toward users while putting their needs first.


  • PSYC 210: Psychology of Learning (3): I will gain an understanding of reinforced and conceptual learning patterns necessary in the usage of digital products. (Fulfilled prerequisite - PSYC 100)

  • MLL 305: Introduction to Intercultural Communication (3)*: This course teaches strong verbal intercultural communication skills necessary to properly/sensitively engage with others in cross-cultural settings.

  • PSYC 317: Cognitive Psychology (3): I will learn the role of interdependent processes in human cognition such as attention, memory, and perception which are critical to using digital products effectively. (Fulfilled prerequisite - PSYC 100 & one other PSYCH course)

  • ANTH 397: Special Topics: Design and Culture (3): This special course will show me the intersection of applied cultures and human-centered design, particularly in the context of product/UX, engineering, and mobile app design.


Technology and Design of Digital Products (15): The following coursework will allow me to gain knowledge of the theories and applications towards designing digital products. Knowing these will ensure that the interaction between the products and its intended users is friendly and intuitive while meeting business/market demand.


  • ECE 2112: Electrical Devices & Systems I (3)*T: This course emphasizes the technical requirements of circuits and hardware systems in which digital interfaces might exist. Knowing this will allow me to understand possible hardware limitations of digital products.

  • IS 303: Fundamentals of Human-Computer Interaction (3): Through this course, I will gain an understanding of the design principles that are necessary for a positive user-experience of digital systems. I will also be able to define different human usability/UX goals. (Fulfilled prerequisite - IS 300)

  • IS 403: User Interface Design (3): Knowledge from this class will allow me to apply the concepts learned in Human-Computer Interaction to plan and develop interactive prototypes in design software and code. (Chosen as Research Methods course. Fulfilled prerequisite - IS 303)

  • HCC 613: User Interface Prototyping and Development (3): This graduate-level course will show me the practical steps of the prototyping design process from start to finish by introducing web and mobile development tools. (Pending approval from department)

  • HCC 710: Graphic Design for Interactive Systems (3): This graduate-level course will teach me different visual communications skills important in creating the aesthetic appearance of digital interfaces. (Enrollment consent approved)


Understanding Interdisciplinary Thinking (15): The following coursework consists of the INDS core curriculum and is a required part of my degree plan in order to earn either a BA or BS in Individualized Study. These will allow me to integrate the different disciplinary perspectives for my final capstone project.

  • INDS 330: Ways of Knowing (3)*: This class emphasizes research of interdisciplinary thinking through pathos, logos, and ethos reasoning in written communication.

  • INDS 335: Degree Plan Writing Seminar (2): This seminar course will make sure that my finalized degree plan meets INDS requirements, properly integrates desired disciplines, and is presentable to the ISC for a final review.

  • INDS 399: Guided Reading in Interdisciplinary Studies (1): Through this course, I will obtain a thorough understanding of research literature in the desired degree topic of digital product design to prepare me for the final capstone project.

  • INDS 410/PRAC98A: Internship/UMBC Internship Practicum (3): This course, paired with PRAC 98A, will provide me success in professional development through real-world work experience in the form of a product design-or- related internship.

  • INDS 480: Capstone Project Seminar (3): In this course, I will be preparing and strategizing towards a capstone project proposal in conjunction with faculty mentors from different departments.

  • INDS 490: Capstone Project (3): This final class is my capstone project relevant to my degree that can be presentable to employers and future graduate school programs.