Established in 1924, the University of San Francisco has a long reputation as a leader in business education and thanks to the implementation of its flexible online learning program, even those unable to make it to the University’s sprawling campus are able to earn a degree using the latest technologies and online learning systems.

Through the University of San Francisco’s online program, students are able to earn advanced certificates or master’s degrees in areas such as Internet marketing, supply chain management, and sales management. Each of these programs is specifically designed for professionals looking to improve their performance on the job or increase their marketability in today’s competitive job market.

It is through these courses that students enrolled in the University of San Francisco’s online program are able to study areas such as usability, user experience, and interaction design in a variety of upper-level classes.

Usability

Usability is emphasized in a number of USF courses. Specifically, for students working to obtain a master’s degree in Internet marketing, usability is covered extensively in the popular course, “Search Engine Marketing and Usability.” The course is designed for those looking to fine-tune their current online strategy, along with those preparing to obtain a Google Advertising Professional Certification. While beginning Web marketers will learn the basic skills necessarily for online usability, those who come into the course with more experience will still be challenged by the course’s emphasis on learning to optimize online presence and marketing efforts.

Starting at week one, instructors give students an overview of what usability truly means in the business world. The lesson is followed up with additional lectures on the topic of information architecture and usability. In addition, students must complete a usability case study as a requirement at the end of the course.

User Experience

USF’s Internet marketing online program employs a number of instructors who are experts in the field of user experience. Understanding proper use of user interaction in website design is a key component for completion of the course “Integrated Online Strategies.” Not only do students receive lectures on the basics of social media and Web 2.0—of which user experience are both major factors—but they are also taught about creative planning opportunities, podcasts, and blogs.

Interactive Design

To become an expert in the field of Internet marketing, individuals must master the concept of interactive design because consumers are much more likely to stay on a Website if an interactive element is present on the page.

In the course “Advanced Web Analytics,” this issue is discussed in great depth. During the second week of the eight-week program, the topic is brought up during a lecture titled, “Visitors: Site Interaction.” In this class, University of San Francisco stresses that in order to succeed in developing effective Web sites and media ventures in the real world, there must be an emphasis made on interactive design. This is a concept that is brought up when discussing traditional analytics components as well, since user variables and site interaction are two imperatives when looking at “vital visitor info.”

At the University of San Francisco’s online program, Internet marketing students are consistently presented with information on the areas of usability, user experience, and interactive design, with the hope that this information and knowledge will prove useful once they enter the working world and begin developing Web sites and marketing campaigns on their own.

Author Bio: Stephanie Miles is a freelance writer for the education site Guide to Online Schools.