UC Irvine Extension Debuts New Web Design Specialized Studies Program to Fill Void in Market

July 19, 2007; 02:56 AM
University of California, Irvine Extension, the continuing education arm of UC Irvine has announced plans to offer a new fully-online “Web Design Specialized Studies” program, which is designed as a solution for novice Web designers seeking to build and update Web sites that are more usable, functional and engaging. Internationally renowned for its vigilance in identifying the needs of businesses and addressing knowledge gaps with relevant continuing education, UC Irvine Extension developed the innovative and issue-specific curriculum to offer a balance of technical and creative education that caters to the needs of today’s changing market without overwhelming students.

“Since the majority of Web sites are not utilized to their full potential, there is a huge market of professionals who simply want to bump their Web site up a notch from mediocre to truly usable and engaging,” said 20-year industry veteran, Stefano Stefan, the assistant director of business, management and information technology at UC Irvine Extension.

In addition to discovering how to add functions such as ‘shopping carts’ and entry forms, students will explore ways to learn more about the people visiting their sites, how to increase their Web site traffic, and ways to make their sites ‘stickier’ so they can ensure repeat traffic. The courses will also provide tools for troubleshooting, adding functionality and dynamic features, as well as improving the appearance of Web pages by including interactive elements that capture viewers’ interest.

While many colleges and private education providers address this need by offering Web development and programming courses, the curriculum they feature is often too advanced for the needs of many learners. In contrast, UC Irvine Extension’s new Web Design Specialized Studies program effectively combines only the most essential topics needed to establish a compelling Web presence for organizations that do not require overly complex Web functionality.

“Most people are not interested in exploring the most complex scripting of Web languages; they just want the ‘nuts and bolts’ information that addresses their immediate needs most directly,” notes Kevin Hanegan, UC Irvine Extension course developer and instructor, and author of four successful programming books. “This program approaches both the technical and creative aspects of Web design with just the right amount of depth, thereby offering students everything they need and nothing they don’t. The program offers a new option to those seeking to enhance their knowledge and expand their capabilities – without spending time on technologies or techniques that they won’t use.”

One of the most compelling features of UC Irvine Extension’s new program is that it can save busy professionals both time and money.

“Large Web design firms charge $10-15,000 for the same services this program will teach students to do for themselves,” noted Hanegan. “Plus, by keeping Web design in-house, businesses will own the intellectual property and avoid being charged new fees every time the site needs to be updated. This course provides a great incentive for both businesses seeking greater profitability and individuals seeking to jumpstart a new career.”

In addition, the courses will be offered entirely online, making them especially accessible to busy working professionals while still offering students the instructor interaction necessary to making the material come to life. Stefan explains, “Web design only looks scary, but after step-by-step instruction most people will find it’s a lot less intimidating than they might think.”

For more information call (949) 824-5414 or visit http://extension.uci.edu/.

About the University of California, Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu.

About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.