| |  | | Design | Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Director of Graduate Studies, Design,
University of Minnesota, 240 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul, MN
55108 (612-626-1219; fax 612-624-2750; designgrad@umn.edu; http://dha.design.umn.edu/programs/grad).
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 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 include formal tracks in apparel studies (including
dress, history, and culture; product development; and retail merchandising and
consumer studies); graphic design (including interactive design); housing studies;
and interior design (including evidence-based design). The M.F.A. is available
in the graphic design track and interactive design emphasis. The track in apparel
studies advances both theoretical knowledge and applications for textile and
apparel products related to human behavior. Students may focus on product development;
dress, history, and culture; or retail merchandising and consumer studies. The
track in graphic design 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. 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. Students and faculty collaboratively develop designed objects and information
resources that will enhance people's lives. The housing studies track 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, policy and community development, and housing of specific
subpopulations such as the elderly or low-income families with children. Graduate
study in the interior design track 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 evidence-based design emphasis provides students with
the opportunity to explore theoretical, process, and applied aspects of this
emerging innovation of design practice.
Prerequisites for Admission—Individuals must have adequate undergraduate
education in the track and background in the basic disciplines of art, social
science, physical science, and biological science appropriate to the track. To
pursue a degree in the interior design track, 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—Refer to Design (DES) and Design, Housing, and Apparel (DHA) in the course section of this catalog or in Twin
Cities Courses on the University Catalog Web site 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 | | Students
are required to take 4 credits in the core, 24 credits in the major field,
and 6 credits in the related field or minor. Master's Plan A students are
required to take 10 thesis credits. The program requires a minimum number
of credits in theory and methods. 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 is required. Courses are selected in consultation
with the director of graduate studies.
| M.F.A. Degree Requirements | | Students are required to take 4 credits in the core, 36 credits in the major field, 8 credits in the related field or minor, and 12 credits for the creative project. The program requires a minimum number of credits in theory and methods. 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 | Students are required to take 4 credits in the core, 23 credits in the major field, 12 credits in the related field or minor, and 24 credits of dissertation credits. The program requires a minimum number of credits in theory and methods. 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 is required. 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
Daniel Jasper, M2
Barbara E. Martinson, SM
Gloria M. Williams, SM
Ann Ziebarth, SM
Stephanie A. Zollinger, SM
Assistant Professor
Lucy Dunne, M2
Tasoulla Hadjiyanni, M2
Hye-Young Kim, M2
Caren S. Martin, M2
Carol C. Waldron, M2
Juanjuan Wu, M2
Other
Lou Bunker-Helmich, AM
Kathleen E. Campbell, Goldstein Museum, AM
Mary Catherine Daly, AM
Kathleen Harder, AM2
Lin Nelson-Mayson, Goldstein Museum, M
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