| |  | | Design, Housing, and Apparel | Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Director of Graduate Studies, Design, Housing, and Apparel, University of Minnesota, 240 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 (612-626-1219; fax 612-624-2750;
dhagrad@umn.edu; http://dha.cdes.umn.edu).
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General
Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply
to all major fields.
Curriculum—The design, housing, and apparel graduate program focuses on the study of relationships between humans and their designed environments. This focus is based on the assumption that design and analysis of environments contributes to the improvement of the human condition. The program addresses theory, research, and application, using a shared disciplinary base from the arts and social and behavioral sciences. The goal of the program is for students to analyze, evaluate, and integrate theoretical frameworks related to humans and their designed environments.
The M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees are available with four areas of emphasis: apparel, design communication, housing studies, and interior design. The M.F.A. and M.A. degrees are available with an emphasis in interactive design. The emphasis in apparel advances both theoretical knowledge and applications for textile and apparel products related to human behavior. Students may focus on consumer behavior and behavioral aspects of dress; history and culture; product development and design. The emphasis in design communication focuses on design theory, process, and methods related to design practice and research. Potential areas of study include graphic design history, theory, and critical narrative; visual systems research; situational and transformative design; and interactive design. Students and faculty collaboratively develop designed objects and information resources that will enhance people's lives. The emphasis in housing studies advances both theoretical and applied knowledge in the housing field. Through research experiences, students are prepared to assist people and communities in addressing housing-related issues. Courses emphasize human needs and behavior, analysis of designed environments and technology, policy and community development, and housing for special populations such as the elderly or low-income families with children. Graduate study in interior design emphasizes the theory, research, and specialized practice components of design as applied to people's health, safety, and welfare in the interior environment, including design education, sustainability, social/cultural issues, aspects of professional practice, and facilities research (educational, office, criminal justice, and residential). Advances in theoretical knowledge and study of the interactions of humans in interior environments prepare students for teaching and research positions as well as design specializations within the profession. The emphasis in interactive design provides students with experience in designing for the electronic environment. The program integrates theory with practice in the application of emergent and established technologies to digital design solutions. Students complete a creative thesis.
Prerequisites for Admission—Individuals must have adequate undergraduate education in the area of emphasis and background in the basic disciplines of art, social science, physical science, and biological science appropriate to the area of emphasis. To pursue a degree with interior design as the emphasis area, a first professional degree in interior design is required. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. must first complete a master's degree. Specific requirements may be obtained by contacting the director of graduate studies.
Special Application Requirements—Consult the director of graduate studies; scores from the GRE are required. Students pursuing a degree in an emphasis related to design are required to submit a portfolio consisting of 15-20 examples of recent work. Students pursuing a Ph.D. are required to submit a writing sample. Students are admitted for fall semester only.
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, MELAB).
 For an online application or for more information about Graduate School admissions, see the General Information section in this catalog, or visit the Graduate School Web site.
Courses—Please refer to Design, Housing, and Apparel (DHA) in University Courses for courses that pertain to this program.
Use of 4xxx Courses—No more than 30 percent of a student's official degree program may be comprised of 4xxx courses. Not all of the department's 4xxx courses are available for graduate credit. Appropriate courses are selected in consultation with the student's advisers. |
M.A. and M.S. Degree Requirements | | Minimum requirements include 4 credits in courses that focus on theory building and the theoretical and philosophical bases of inquiry in the discipline; 6 credits in courses on qualitative or quantitative methods of research and evaluation; 8 credits for Plan A students, and 18 credits for Plan B students in the area of emphasis; 10 thesis credits for Plan A students; and 6 credits in a related field. Required courses include DHA 8181—Ethics and Research or the equivalent, and DHA 8101—Philosophical Foundations of Design, Housing, and Apparel. Students may be required to complete additional credits upon recommendation of their committee.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—The final exam is oral.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—For a master's minor, a minimum of 9 credits in design, housing, and apparel is required, including DHA 8101. Courses are selected in consultation with the director of graduate studies. | M.F.A. Degree Requirements | | Minimum requirements for the M.F.A. include 7 credits in courses that focus on theory building and the theoretical and philosophical bases of inquiry in the discipline, including DHA 8101—Philosophical Foundations of Design, Housing, and Apparel and DHA 5399—Theory of Electronic Design; 6 credits in evaluation and analysis, including DHA 5388—Design Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation; 27 credits in the area of emphasis, including DHA 8114—Design Studio and DHA 8181—Ethics and Research or the equivalent; 12 credits of M.F.A. creative thesis; and 8 credits in a related field. Students may be required to complete additional credits upon recommendation of their committee.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—The final exam is oral. | Ph.D. Degree Requirements | Minimum requirements for the Ph.D. include 6 credits in courses that focus on theory building and the theoretical and philosophical bases of inquiry in the discipline; 9 credits in courses on qualitative and quantitative methods of research and evaluation; 12 credits in the area of emphasis; 24 thesis credits; and 12 credits in a supporting program. Required courses include DHA 8181—Ethics and Research or the equivalent and DHA 8101—Philosophical Foundations of Design, Housing, and Apparel. Students may be required to complete additional credits upon recommendation of their committee.
Language Requirements—None.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—For a doctoral minor, a minimum of 12 credits in design, housing, and apparel is required, including DHA 8101—Philosophical Foundations of Design, Housing, and Apparel. Courses are selected in consultation with the director of graduate studies. |
Faculty | | For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>. Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).
Regents Professor
Joanne B. Eicher (emeritus), ASM
Professor
William J. Angell, M2
Marilyn R. DeLong, SM
Edward G. Goetz, ASM
Denise A. Guerin, SM
Kim K. P. Johnson, SM
Karen L. LaBat, SM
Steven McCarthy, M2
Becky L. Yust, SM
Associate Professor
James Boyd-Brent, M2
Marilyn Bruin, SM
Elizabeth Bye, SM
Sauman Chu, SM
Jeffrey R. Crump, SM
Sherri A. Gahring, M2
Delores A. Ginthner (emeritus), AM2
Brad Hokanson, SM
Barbara E. Martinson, SM
Gloria M. Williams, SM
Ann Ziebarth, SM
Stephanie A. Zollinger, SM
Assistant Professor
Tasoulla Hadjiyanni, M2
Daniel Jasper, M2
Caren S. Martin, M2
Carol C. Waldron, M2
Other
Lou Bunker-Helmich, AM
Kathleen E. Campbell, Goldstein Museum, AM
Mary Catherine Daly, AM
Lin Nelson-Mayson, Goldstein Museum, M | | | | | |
