Design Degrees Online

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.

The opportunity to design a major appeals to students whose interests and career goals are broadly interdisciplinary. Most students decide to select a major from one of the established academic areas. They choose, for example, to major in geology or Spanish, sociology or religious studies. At Wooster, however, students may also propose a special major if they find that their educational objectives are better served in a curriculum which extends beyond that provided by an existing departmental sequence of courses.

Many students who initially investigate the special major discover, after consultation with faculty members, that their needs can be met by working within an existing department. The Independent Study (I.S.) program at Wooster already lends enough flexibility to the curriculum to allow most students to specialize in certain areas, if they so desire, while remaining in a regular department. However, if a student desires to study a set of issues or questions that cut across conventional disciplinary boundaries, then that student may consider the self-designed major.

We aim to teach and inspire students to think, design and act professionally in any working environment they face. On successful completion of the degree, students will be able to produce creative and technically proficient architectural designs, which can be communicated through both computer technology and traditional media. Students will also be required to pursue research, apply knowledge of building technology, and organise, manage and operate interior architectural projects within the regulatory frameworks that govern design, architecture and construction. Like the Honours Degree, this programme has been created in consultation with the profession and is staffed by practising designers and subject specialists.

Following a comprehensive review in 2003, the course has been updated. It now covers the important subjects of computer-aided design, freehand drawing, building technology, contemporary interior design and professional management.

Students in the third year of study have the opportunity to spend up to one quarter of their residency working with a professional theatre company or observing a particular artist or company. The specific job definitions and responsibilities of the internship will be developed in consultation with the organization and the student in advance of the quarter in which the internship is scheduled. Students must be in good academic standing and obtain approval of the core faculty before an internship will be approved.

Graphic Design Program

The program in graphic design is comprised of a total of 139 credit hours normally taken over four years. The degree requirements consist of the following:
Ninety seven credit hours of mandatory core courses
Six credit hours of approved electives in the areas of humanities and social sciences
Six credit hours of approved electives in science and mathematics [one of which should be in mathematics]
Six credit hours of English, one of which should be English 204
Three credit hours in Arabic, as per the placement test
Six credit hours of approved ArD/FEA electives in the areas of history, theory, and methodology
Six credit hours of approved ArD/FEA electives in the areas of representation skills, digital media, typography and professional practice
Nine credit hours of free electives in any area chosen in consultation with the academic adviser

The Department of Visual Arts offers two programs of study:

1. Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design or Studio Arts

2. Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts

Admission into the BFA or BA degree programs requires filing a Declaration of Major Form and a consultation with the department chair.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
A professional degree program that offers a balance of theoretical and practical skills complimented by the enriched experience of the liberal arts environment of Pacific.
The goal of this degree is to develope skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to professional Studio Artists and Graphic Designers.
Designed for students who are willing to engage in a rigorous undergraduate program that provides preparation for professional life through internships, graduate studies, or entry-level opportunities in the arts and arts-related fields.

To complete a BFA degree in 4 years a student should complete 17 units each semester to accrue 136 units.

The primary aim of the course is to nurture and develop students’ creative abilities. Students initially study traditional painting methods and learn to imitate classical works. As students advance they are encouraged to produce original work.

The practical component of this course includes drawing and painting plants and animals, still life and landscapes as well as print making, murals, life drawing and pastiche work. Students are also encouraged to research the materials they use and to undertake sketching tours. Rather than assign students individual tutors, all staff are available for consultation. Some of the graduate research is conducted at the Toride campus.

This programme enables you to develop and undertake original research in or into design practices and related fields at Master’s level. This can be preparation for more evolved research, and may allow for fast tracking onto a PhD programme.

You are able to bring your own research project or interests to develop through your study. Your research may be focused on past and/or contemporary forms of design, design practice, design ideologies, design research; it may also engage with the contexts in which design is produced and consumed, and with wider contextual fields. The submission for examination can be focused in writing or in practice, in many forms – what constitutes a practice research submission will be part of the ongoing debates on the programme.

Three strands of study will: introduce you to the theories/discourses inherent in design practice; encourage you to review and explore the methods and processes used to research and produce ideas for and about design; encourage you to locate topics and themes for research in particular areas of interest. A major research project will prepare you for further research in industry/professional practice or at MPhil/PhD level.

Assessment

Through peer review, tutor appraisal, self-evaluation and student-tutor consultation, and also via assignments and essays; written or design work; major research project.

Design + Computation PhD Degree Requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to fill out the appropriate section of the Report of Completed Design and Comptuation/PhD Requirements upon completion of the following:
Major and minor field coursework
General exam
Dissertation proposal
Dissertation defense

This document is submitted to the degree administrator and kept in the student’s official departmental file. The degree administrator informs the MIT registrar that the degree requirements have been fulfilled.

Subject Work
PhD Students are expected to complete at least 144 units of subject work while in residency at MIT. This is usually accomplished over two years by enrolling in an average of 36 units per term-the equivalent of three or four subjects. In those special cases where the student is awarded advanced standing at admission, the unit requirement is lowered accordingly. The only specific subject requirement is 4.581 Proseminar in Computation. All other subjects are selected in consultation with the faculty advisor and may be taken outside of the Department of Architecture. Registration in 4.THG, Graduate Thesis, does not count toward the 144-unit requirement.

PhD students in Design and Computation are expected to enroll in 4.581, Proseminar in Computation, during their first year in residence. The Proseminar is meant to provide a rigorous grounding in the field with a focus on specific research topics related to architecture and design practice.

Major and Minor Fields
Major and minor fields must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Normally, the minor field requirement will be satisfied by outstanding performance in three related subjects (not less than 27 units). The major field requirement is satisfied upon successful completion of the general examination.

General Examination
The general examination is given after required subject work is completed and is taken no later than the third year of residency. The general examination is meant to show broad and detailed competence in the student’s major field of concentration and supporting areas of study. The content and format of the general examination are decided by the student’s advisory committee in consultation with the student. The committee evaluates the examination upon completion and may 1) accept the examination, 2) ask for further evidence of competence, or 3) determine that the examination has not been passed. In the event that the general examination is not passed, the committee may allow the student to repeat the examination or may recommend that the student withdraw from the PhD program.

Dissertation Proposal
The PhD dissertation is a major work that makes an original scholarly contribution. It is the main focus of the doctoral program in Design and Computation, and it serves as the primary indicator of a PhD student’s ability to carry out significant independent research.

A dissertation committee of three or more people approves the dissertation topic, and supervises the research and writing of the dissertation. The student’s advisor is always a member of the dissertation committee and typically serves as its chair. The chair must be a member of the Computation faculty. When specialized guidance is necessary, one of the three members of the dissertation committee may be selected from outside the Department of Architecture. Approval of the dissertation topic is gained through a proposal submitted by the student to his or her dissertation committee. An oral examination in which the student meets with the dissertation committee to discuss the proposal should be planned for the third year of residency and marks the formal acceptance of the topic. Students who are preparing their thesis proposals will often register for Preparation for Computation PhD Thesis (4.589) that same term. Once the proposal has been approved, the student may register for Graduate Thesis (4.THG). The student may be asked to present his or her dissertation proposal in the class Research Seminar in Computation (4.582). The student is responsible for arranging meetings with the committee members on a regular basis.

Dissertation Defense
An oral defense of the completed dissertation in front of the student’s dissertation committee is required. The committee may accept the dissertation at the oral defense or may ask for revisions. The PhD is awarded after two copies of the defended, approved, archival-ready dissertation have been submitted to the Department of Architecture at its headquarters. The copies must be submitted by the Institute deadline for doctoral theses as published in the MIT Academic Calendar. Students must adhere to the Specifications for Thesis Preparation published by the Institute Archives.

Nonresident Research Status
Students are expected to carry out thesis research while in residence at MIT. It is rare that a PhD candidate in Design and Computation will need to apply for nonresident status. However, should a student who has completed all requirements except for the dissertation need to continue thesis research in years beyond the awarded funding, he or she may opt to apply for nonresident research status with the permission of the dissertation advisor.

English Requirement
All students whose first language is not English are required to take the English Evaluation Test (EET) prior to registration at MIT. Even students who satisfy the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirement for admission may be required to take specialized subjects in English as a Second Language (ESL), depending on their EET results. These subjects do not count toward the required degree credits but will prove valuable in helping students develop the skills necessary to write a dissertation.

The Dean of Studies has created an FAQ page on Majors and Minors for responding to typical questions students have about declaring their major.
The Academic Major

Connecticut College offers you more than 50 academic majors, 47 of which are established within traditional departmental frameworks.

You may declare your major at the beginning of your freshman year or thereafter until the second semester of the sophomore year. You must submit a declaration of major form no later than March 31 (or October 31) of the second semester of your sophomore year.
Student-Designed Majors

You may design your own interdisciplinary major program in consultation with faculty advisers and with the Committee on Student-Designed Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors, subject to the approval of that committee. For further information on qualifications and procedures, contact the Associate Dean of Studies for Juniors and Seniors.
The Academic Minor

You can minor in any department or interdisciplinary program that offers a minor field of study, or may design an interdisciplinary minor in consultation with faculty advisers and with the Committee on Student-Designed Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors. A carefully chosen minor can provides substantial grounding in a field other than your major and adds breadth and depth to your educational experience.