Pratt Institute

About the programme

The M.S. in Information Experience Design (IXD) is a 36-credit degree from Pratt Institute's School of Information, taught on the Manhattan campus. It covers UX design and UX research, with usability and information architecture as the shared foundation.

All students take Information Architecture and Interaction Design (INFO 643) and Usability Theory and Practice (INFO 644). After that, they build their course plan from electives in two areas. Design electives include accessibility, UX and AI, visual communication, content strategy, mobile UI, design systems and XR. Research and evaluation electives include human-centred research methods, data analysis, advanced usability evaluation, ethnography and digital analytics.

There is no thesis. Students build a digital portfolio around five learning outcomes and do client projects through the school's Center for Digital Experiences. Second-year students can apply for fellowships at New York institutions. The school has a UX lab with observation rooms and eye tracking, and it reports an average class size of 12.

Format

In person in Manhattan. Classes run at 11:30 am, 3 pm and 6:30 pm, and the evening slots offer the most choice.

Length

36 credits, usually completed in two years.

Cost

$1,894 per credit for the School of Information in 2026-27, or $68,184 for 36 credits. Full-time students also pay mandatory fees each semester (facilities, technology, health services, activities, tuition insurance and health insurance unless waived).

Admissions

Fall and spring entry. The priority deadline is 5 January 2027 for fall 2027 (1 October for spring 2027), with rolling admission after that until places fill. You need a statement of purpose (500 words max), a resume, two letters and transcripts. No GRE is required.

Capstone

There is no thesis; the degree is built around a portfolio and project work.

Who it suits

Suits people who want a flexible, elective-heavy UX design and research degree in New York, with evening classes and client projects. If you want a fixed cohort studio sequence or a research thesis, look elsewhere.

Checked against Pratt Institute’s official programme pages in October 2026.