Master of Fine Arts in Design

The MFA in Design is a two-year program that encourages an interdisciplinary approach through research and practice that align with social and environment responsibilities. We offer graduate students a unique opportunity to work with a dedicated and renowned design faculty within one of the nation's top public research universities. And we do our best to fully fund our graduate students through Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions. Students work with outstanding faculty within the Design Department and the greater university. Design faculty expertise includes design theory, exhibition, fashion, history, information, interactivity, interior architecture, immersion, lighting, product, textiles, time-base, visual communication, wearables, and more. Students are encouraged to build connections across campus by working with faculty from the arts and humanities, to social sciences and politics, from biological sciences and agriculture, to the professional schools of medicine, law and veterinary.

Students develop their research and creative practice with an understanding of key design issues within history, theory, research and methodologies. Through a series of core courses, students progress alongside the members of their cohort, while they simultaneously advance their individual theses through upper-division courses, and graduate-level independent and group studies. The MFA core courses include the following: Theory & Issues in Design, Research Methods & Critical Writing for Design, Professional Practice & Ethics in Design, Studio Practice in Design, Studio Practice and Critique and Exhibition Design. The MFA program culminates in a written thesis, thesis project and exhibition.

Applicants to our MFA should hold an undergraduate degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, preferably in design or related field such as art, art history, or architecture. They should show excellent promise in design, as demonstrated by portfolio review, and have had suitable course preparation in foundation areas such as two- and three-dimensional composition, drawing, media, computer graphics, design history, art history, and related social sciences, as well as in the area of study they wish to pursue.

TOEFL iBT - Minimum Score: 80

IELTS - Minimum Score: 7.0 on a 9-point scale

Duolingo English Test - Minimum Score: 115

Admission Deadlines
General: Jan 15
Space Available: May 1