Degree Path

A seamless path from program search to degree exploration.

Role

Solo designer

Deliverables

UX strategy · UI design

overview

A path from search to inquiry

The University of Missouri–St. Louis homepage serves as a starting point for prospective students exploring academic programs. This concept focuses on creating a clear pathway from program discovery to degree exploration and ultimately to a specific program page.

The goal was to create a clear, accessible and engaging experience that supports informed decisions and drives next steps.

Find Your Program search

Primary entry point for students beginning their program search, embedded below the hero.

Search directly below the hero

No navigation required. Students begin finding their program the moment they land on the page.

Keyword, level, and focus in one row

Degree type and area of study sit beside the search bar. Students who know what they want can filter immediately without going to the listings page.

Browse shortcuts below

Undergraduate, Graduate, and View All Programs links serve students who prefer browsing over searching — no dead ends for either behavior.

Live keyword dropdown

Matching programs appear instantly with their level labeled this reduces clicks and displays relevant results before they hit Search.

Majors & Degrees Listings

Search and filter the full program catalog. Key interaction point between discovery and evaluation.

Full-width search

Search spans the full header — the first and most direct path to finding a program.

Sidebar filters

Degree level, school, and format let students narrow results without leaving the page.

Key info per card

School, degree level, available degrees, and format visible at a glance — students shortlist without clicking into every program.

Program Detail page

The student’s last stop before converting. Every element answers one question: “Is this the right program for me?”

Program type labeled first

Undergraduate vs graduate confirmed in one glance. This removes the most common reason students leave the wrong page.

Description sells the outcome

Written around career results, not curriculum, students decide based on where a degree takes them, not what they’ll study.

Apply Now leads, Request Info follows

Two CTAs serve two readiness levels, neither audience is left without a path forward.