Masters in Design Program Details
Masters in Design program overview.
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Application deadlines
Priority: May 1
Final deadline: July 1
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Master of Arts in Design
Admissions requirements
1. Graduate application fee
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. A statement of design philosophy or approach
4. Copy of your official transcripts from institutions where an undergraduate and/or graduate degree (if applicable) was earned
5. Three recommendations from individuals who have been in a position to comment on your abilities and performance
6. A portfolio of your design work, or samples of written or other creative artifacts you have
produced if your prior training was not in a design-related discipline.
7. GRE scores (preferred, but not required)
Curriculum and Requirements
M.A. in Design Management and Strategy
Required courses (16 credit hours)
Course | Credit hr. | KU Code |
ADS 750: Design Management | 3 | ADS 750 |
ADS 712: Advanced Design Methods | 3 | ADS 712 |
ADS 714: Service and User Experience Design | 3 | ADS 714 |
ADS 760: Strategic Design Innovation | 3 | ADS 760 |
ADS 751: Design Scenarios and Simulations | 3 | ADS 751 |
ADS 861: Thesis Research Seminar | 1 | ADS 861 |
Electives in Design (12 credit hours)
Select three or more from the following options:
Course | Credit hr. | KU Code |
ADS 765 Interaction Design | 3 | ADS 765 |
ADS 710 Advanced Human Factors in Design | 3 | ADS 710 |
ADS 540 History and Philosophy of Design | 3 | ADS 540 |
ADS 740 Special Problems in Design | 1-6 | ADS 740 |
Electives Outside of Design (6 credit hours)
6 hours of classes 500-level and above
Practicum (3 credit hours)
Total Credit Hours 31
M.A. in Interaction and User Experience Design
Required courses (12 credit hours)
Course | Credit hr. | KU Code |
ADS 710: Advanced Human Factors in Design | 3 | ADS 750 |
ADS 712: Design Strategies and Methods | 3 | ADS 712 |
ADS 765: Interaction Design | 3 | ADS 765 |
ADS 714: Designing Business Services and Consumer Experiences | 3 | ADS 714 |
Research (2 credit hours)
Course | Credit hr. | KU Code |
ADS 860: Graduate Synthesis and Applications Seminar | 1 | ADS 860 |
ADS 861: Thesis Research Seminar | 1 | ADS 861 |
Practica (3 credit hours)
Course | Credit hr. | KU Code |
ADS 890: Thesis | 3 | ADS 890 |
Electives in Design (9 credit hours)
Select three or more from the following options:
Course | Credit hr. | KU Code |
ADS 770: Design Cognition | 3 | ADS 770 |
ADS 750: Design Management | 3 | ADS 750 |
ADS 751: Creating Design Scenarios and Simulations | 3 | ADS 751 |
ADS 745: Branding and Design | 3 | ADS 745 |
ADS 740: Special Problems in Design | 1-6 | ADS 740 |
Electives Outside of Design (5 credit hours)
5 hours of classes 500-level and above
Total Credit Hours 31