E009, Web Design Fundamentals, is a course in WGU's Information Technology degree. WGU's guides say it teaches essential web development skills for creating accessible, responsive and interactive pages, with hands-on work in HTML, CSS and foundational JavaScript.
The course also covers web accessibility, with a focus on WCAG compliance, and core UX and UI principles. Students often struggle less with syntax than with the details that evaluators check: valid structure, consistent styling, accessible markup and behavior on different screen sizes.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | E009 (codes may be updated; guides list titles) |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Competency units | 3 in the current guide |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Format | Competency-based |
The Three Competencies
| Competency (WGU wording) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Applies CSS to style and design visually appealing web pages | Selectors, layout, color, type and responsive rules |
| Constructs basic web pages using HTML to create structured, accessible content | Semantic elements, headings, links, images with alt text, forms |
| Modifies basic JavaScript code to add interactive functionality | Changing existing scripts to respond to user actions |
Key Concepts Explained
Semantic HTML and Accessibility
Semantic elements such as header, nav, main and footer describe the role of content, which helps screen readers and search engines. Every image needs a text alternative, every form field needs a label and headings should follow a logical order.
Example: A form field written as <label for="email">Email</label><input id="email" type="email"> lets a screen reader announce the field and lets users click the label to focus it. A field with only placeholder text fails both tests.
CSS and Responsive Design
CSS controls presentation. Responsive design adapts layout to screen width, often using flexible units and media queries. Test at phone, tablet and desktop widths, not only one.
WCAG Basics
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are organized around four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. A common check is text contrast; level AA asks for at least 4.5 to 1 for normal text. Keyboard access and visible focus are also frequent requirements.
Modifying JavaScript
The competency is about modifying code, so read the script first, find where the behavior is defined, change one thing and test. Keep comments that explain what you changed.
Typical Assessment Tasks and How to Approach Them
Check your course page for the exact format. Tasks in web courses commonly look like this:
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Build a page in HTML | Structure and accessibility | Use semantic elements, alt text, labels and valid nesting |
| Style with CSS | Design and consistency | Use an external stylesheet and a small set of colors and fonts |
| Modify a script | Reading and editing code | Change one behavior at a time and test |
| Explain design choices | UX reasoning | Link each choice to a user need or guideline |
Pre-Submission Checklist
| Check | How |
|---|---|
| Valid HTML | Run the page through an HTML validator |
| Images have alt text | Inspect each image element |
| Contrast is sufficient | Use a contrast checker |
| Keyboard works | Tab through links and fields |
| Phone layout works | Narrow the browser window |
Layout Basics Worth Mastering
| Technique | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Box model | Understanding padding, border and margin |
| Flexbox | Rows or columns of items that align and wrap |
| Grid | Two-dimensional page layouts |
| Media queries | Changing styles at different screen widths |
| Relative units | Text and spacing that scale |
UX Principles to Cite
When asked to justify design choices, tie them to user needs. Clear navigation helps people find content, consistent patterns reduce effort, readable type and contrast support all users, and prompt feedback tells people their action worked. Pair each principle with a feature of your page.
Forms and Interaction
Forms are a frequent assessment item because they test structure and accessibility together.
- Pair each input with a visible label.
- Group related fields and give clear error messages.
- Ensure the form can be completed with a keyboard alone.
- Test any script change with valid and invalid input.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Layout surprises. Learn the box model and flexbox early.
- Missing accessibility detail. Labels, alt text and heading order are easy to forget.
- Breaking a script. Test after each change.
- Unexplained choices. Say why you chose a layout or color.
Study Tips for E009
- Build a tiny page from scratch several times until structure feels natural.
- Use browser developer tools to inspect and test changes live.
- Keep a snippet file of patterns you reuse.
How We Help with E009
Send the task, rubric and evaluator comments. A writer with web experience can prepare a model with annotated code, explain a concept or review your draft.
GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Western Governors University. Our work is a study and reference aid; you complete and submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy, and we never take assessments or access student accounts.
Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the scope of your original request and are refunded in full if late.
Get Your E009 Pages Right
Share the task, rubric and feedback. We prepare a model with annotated code and accessibility notes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU's program guides state there are none.
HTML, CSS and foundational JavaScript, according to WGU's course description.
Yes. The description mentions web accessibility with a focus on WCAG compliance, plus UX and UI principles.
The competency refers to modifying basic JavaScript code to add interactivity.
Use a validator and contrast checker, test keyboard navigation and review alt text and labels.
No. We never take assessments or access accounts. We provide annotated examples and feedback.