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The MSD Program offers seven concentrations (see the list below). All concentrations share design research as the underpinning methodology, but each one has a different focus in design. Furthermore, students may choose to complete their graduate degree by way of a thesis or an applied project. A master's thesis is a scholarly endeavor that demonstrates the ability of the author to do supervised research and intellectual writing. The applied project is somewhat different. It includes both a project and a written document and is a scholarly endeavor that demonstrates the ability of the designer to do supervised research and present substantial evidence of the ability to creatively apply research to a design situation.
The selection of a concentration in the MSD is a critical decision to your graduate education in design. Consequently, the choice has to be made judiciously. In many cases, the selection of a concentration may be as simple as an extension to a student’s previous degree. For example, a student with an undergraduate degree in industrial design may logically select the concentration in industrial design. In this situation, the concentration is of prime importance. However, that may not always be the case. For example, a student with an undergraduate degree in graphic design may want to research the history of a particular aspect of graphic design and may find that a faculty member in the Department of Interior Design is the ideal mentor. Or a student with an undergraduate degree in interior design may want to know more about wayfinding. In this case, a mentor from the Department of Visual communication may be more appropriate.
In the end, the selection of a concentration should not be based solely on your undergraduate education but on what you wish to gain from your MSD experience.
List of Concentrations
IND -Industrial Design
INT - Interior Design
VCD - Visual Communication Design
AME - Arts/Media/Engineering
HHE - Healthcare and Healing Environments
ID - Interactive Design
NPI - New Product Innovation |
