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Only one enrollment form needs to be completed for all desired courses.
Deadline:
08/15/2026
Format:
Online
Term Offered:
Fall
Overview
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a problem-solving approach that places human needs, behaviors, and experiences at the forefront of addressing complex, transdisciplinary challenges in healthcare systems, public health, and medicine.This introductory, practice-based HCD course uses a dynamic, experiential learning format to guide students through the full design process—from initial framing and discovery to solution development. Within each phase, students will learn and apply methods focused on building empathy, translating user needs into actionable solution requirements, creative ideation, rapid prototyping and testing, and planning for real-world implementation. The course also emphasizes the complementarity of HCD with implementation science practice.This is a rigorous,...
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a problem-solving approach that places human needs, behaviors, and experiences at the forefront of addressing complex, transdisciplinary challenges in healthcare systems, public health, and medicine.
This introductory, practice-based HCD course uses a dynamic, experiential learning format to guide students through the full design process—from initial framing and discovery to solution development. Within each phase, students will learn and apply methods focused on building empathy, translating user needs into actionable solution requirements, creative ideation, rapid prototyping and testing, and planning for real-world implementation. The course also emphasizes the complementarity of HCD with implementation science practice.
This is a rigorous, fast-paced course designed to simulate real-world design environments. Students work in small, diverse teams, each paired with an expert design coach. Teams meet weekly in live, online Design Labs and collaborate using virtual platforms to advance their projects. Success in this course requires active engagement: students are expected to participate in all live Design Labs and actively contribute to teamwork.
Faculty are intentional in making this course accessible to busy professionals across multiple time zones. Weekly live Design Labs are scheduled with flexibility to meet the needs of each cohort of students.
For those ready to bring curiosity, creativity, and dedication to HCD, this course offers a unique opportunity to develop practical skills that can create lasting, impactful change.
Course Details
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Articulate the purpose and principles of human-centered design as a problem-solving approach
- Describe the phases of the design process, including key activities and objectives within each phase
- Explain how implementation science principles can complement and enhance human-centered design methods
- Demonstrate basic skills in using design methods to address a real-world healthcare problem
Recommended: training or experience in public health, quality improvement, or healthcare organization leadership.
This course is designed for clinicians, public health practitioners, healthcare, and health services researchers seeking foundational knowledge and practical skills in applying human-centered design methods.
Each week, learners view recorded lectures, assigned readings, and submit written assignments in an online forum. Students work in small, diverse teams, each paired with an expert design coach. Teams meet weekly in live, online Design Labs and collaborate using virtual platforms to advance their projects. Success in this course requires active engagement: students are expected to participate in all live Design Labs and actively contribute to teamwork. When scheduling meetings, faculty strive to accommodate the schedules of busy professionals across multiple time zones.
This course requires learners to have a stable internet connection and access to the Zoom platform for synchronous meetings.
All course materials will be made available on the course website. In developing assignment submissions, students often benefit from using websites and other materials from their selected organizations.
All learners who meet the minimum course requirements will receive a formal letter documenting their successful completion of the course, its objectives, and requirements. Only learners who are matriculated in a UCSF Graduate Division program (e.g., Masters, PhD) may receive a letter grade on their UCSF transcript. UCSF graduate students should complete the ImS enrollment form (see below) and enroll via the UCSF Office of the Registrar – Student Portal.
Learners are expected to view video lectures, complete assigned readings, and use tools and/or complete documentation to demonstrate progress on the weekly design activities.
Completing this course will take approximately 4-6 hours per week. To receive a letter of course completion, students are expected to:
- Turn in weekly assignments by their due dates.
- Actively participate in design activities
- Attend all weekly design labs
- Contribute to the team’s final report
- Produce and give an oral presentation at the final Design Symposium
Academic Year 2025-2026: The fee for each course is $2,900. A reduced fee of $2,250 is available for individuals affiliated with UCSF, individuals based in countries designated as low- or lower-middle-income-economies (LMIC), and individuals based in areas of ongoing armed conflict. Applicants seeking the reduced fee will be asked to provide support for their status. UCSF affiliation is defined as concurrent enrollment in a UCSF–sponsored residency or postdoctoral fellowship program; or a registered student in one of the UCSF professional schools or graduate programs; or individuals who hold full-time salaried UCSF faculty, academic, or staff positions.
Fees do not include books, supplies, or software. (These costs are minimal as most readings are from open-access journals.)
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Articulate the purpose and principles of human-centered design as a problem-solving approach
- Describe the phases of the design process, including key activities and objectives within each phase
- Explain how implementation science principles can complement and enhance human-centered design methods
- Demonstrate basic skills in using design methods to address a real-world healthcare problem
Recommended: training or experience in public health, quality improvement, or healthcare organization leadership.
This course is designed for clinicians, public health practitioners, healthcare, and health services researchers seeking foundational knowledge and practical skills in applying human-centered design methods.
Each week, learners view recorded lectures, assigned readings, and submit written assignments in an online forum. Students work in small, diverse teams, each paired with an expert design coach. Teams meet weekly in live, online Design Labs and collaborate using virtual platforms to advance their projects. Success in this course requires active engagement: students are expected to participate in all live Design Labs and actively contribute to teamwork. When scheduling meetings, faculty strive to accommodate the schedules of busy professionals across multiple time zones.
This course requires learners to have a stable internet connection and access to the Zoom platform for synchronous meetings.
All course materials will be made available on the course website. In developing assignment submissions, students often benefit from using websites and other materials from their selected organizations.
All learners who meet the minimum course requirements will receive a formal letter documenting their successful completion of the course, its objectives, and requirements. Only learners who are matriculated in a UCSF Graduate Division program (e.g., Masters, PhD) may receive a letter grade on their UCSF transcript. UCSF graduate students should complete the ImS enrollment form (see below) and enroll via the UCSF Office of the Registrar – Student Portal.
Learners are expected to view video lectures, complete assigned readings, and use tools and/or complete documentation to demonstrate progress on the weekly design activities.
Completing this course will take approximately 4-6 hours per week. To receive a letter of course completion, students are expected to:
- Turn in weekly assignments by their due dates.
- Actively participate in design activities
- Attend all weekly design labs
- Contribute to the team’s final report
- Produce and give an oral presentation at the final Design Symposium
Academic Year 2025-2026: The fee for each course is $2,900. A reduced fee of $2,250 is available for individuals affiliated with UCSF, individuals based in countries designated as low- or lower-middle-income-economies (LMIC), and individuals based in areas of ongoing armed conflict. Applicants seeking the reduced fee will be asked to provide support for their status. UCSF affiliation is defined as concurrent enrollment in a UCSF–sponsored residency or postdoctoral fellowship program; or a registered student in one of the UCSF professional schools or graduate programs; or individuals who hold full-time salaried UCSF faculty, academic, or staff positions.
Fees do not include books, supplies, or software. (These costs are minimal as most readings are from open-access journals.)
Meet the Faculty
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Meghana Gadgil, MD, MPH, FACP, FHM
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Email
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How to Enroll
Whether you're exploring the field, enhancing your skills, or working toward a larger academic goal, most individual courses are open to everyone. Below, you’ll find details on course fees, how to apply and pay, and the full course schedule. Be sure you understand the enrollment policies and payment process before completing the enrollment form.
And remember: you only need to submit one form for all the new courses you want to take.
Leaners who are matriculated in a UCSF Graduate Division program (e.g., Masters, PhD) may take this course Pass/No Pass or for a letter grade. Please
- Consult with your program manager about taking ImS courses
- Complete the ImS enrollment form (see below), and
- Enroll via the UCSF Office of the Registrar – Student Portal.
Direct any enrollment questions to your program manager.
Enrollment policies and payment process (please read before completing the enrollment form)
Please complete this form and select courses. An invoice will be sent shortly.
For returning learners or those who previously created an account, please login to your existing account to select additional courses. To find the unique link to your account, search your inbox for UCSF Implementation Science Program: Registration Link.
For help accessing your existing account, please email [email protected].
Enrollment in selected courses will be confirmed upon receipt of payment. If a course fills ahead of the registration deadline, you will be placed on a waitlist and notified.
If the registration deadline has passed, please inquire about enrollment opportunities: [email protected].
About two weeks before the course begins, enrolled learners will be sent a welcome note that includes course access instructions as well as the syllabus.
The schedule of synchronous meetings (Zoom) will be determined during the first week of the course. Please promptly respond to any inquiries about your availability. Direct any questions to the faculty leader of the small group to which you will be assigned.