Tufts University - School of Engineering
Certificate in Product Development and Design
- Medford, USA
- Boston, USA
Certificate
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jun 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 1,799 / per credit
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
The Certificate in Product Development and Design is for students and professionals who seek to solve complex problems from a holistic, design-oriented perspective. Whether you are an entrepreneur, administrator, civil servant, marketer, project manager, engineer, healthcare worker, educator, or advocate – this program will help you to discover solutions through the use of creativity, collaboration, and iterative design. Learn the fundamentals of design thinking and build solutions that have an impact.
Program Highlights
Product development and design provide students with a toolkit to identify, examine, and address complex problems. Rooted in a flexible and collaborative practice known as iterative design, students from all disciplines and professional backgrounds learn how to build solutions that surpass client and stakeholder expectations. The iterative design process is universal, and students will graduate from this certificate program with the ability to view products, services, and society from a multifaceted perspective.
Accommodating busy schedules, the certificate program offers 100% online courses. Two courses must be completed in order to earn the certificate. Study on a part-time schedule and apply newfound skills simultaneously within the classroom and professional settings. In as little as one semester, students will learn how to:
- Articulate design principles within the context of product and service development.
- Apply a design mindset to better understand client needs and expectations.
- Manage interdisciplinary teams that include stakeholders like customer experience, marketing, finance, innovation, manufacturing, and organizational leadership.
- Differentiate services and products to better compete within the marketplace.
- Examine unsuccessful outcomes and recover from challenging situations.
- Foster a culture that supports innovation, collaboration, and reflection.
- Gather market insights from the perspectives of a consumer and service provider.
How to Qualify
- Apply to one of our master's or certificate programs via the online application.
- Navigate to the "Application Information" page.
- Select "Tufts Degree Program or Bridge Partner School Alumni applying to a School of Engineering master's or certificate program" in response to the last question on the page.
- If you are eligible, these benefits will then be applied automatically to your application.
The certificate requires six credits and all courses must be taken at the graduate level (courses numbered 100 or above). The curriculum is offered 100% online. To earn the certificate, students must choose and complete two of the courses listed below:
- EE 181 - The Art of Product Design: Making an Impact
- EE 182 - The Art of Product Design: Harnessing the Impact
- EE 185 - Societal Aspects of Design: Integration, Innovation, and Impact
Graduate credits earned toward the certificate with a grade of B- or better may transfer towards an applicable master’s degree program within the School of Engineering.
The Certificate in Product Development and Design is valuable to anyone who seeks a design-based approach to problem-solving. Students and professionals from all backgrounds will benefit from learning how to listen, plan, do, and iterate. Those who complete the certificate program will be well-positioned to support product development within their chosen field, be it consumer products and services, technology, healthcare, education, government, and more.
The program also prepares those with STEM backgrounds for further study at Tufts School of Engineering. Credits earned during the certificate program may be eligible to transfer toward a master’s degree. Students may pursue advanced work in programs such as innovation and management, technology management and leadership, engineering management, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and human factors engineering.