Doctor of Design at Washington State University Pullman
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Degree offered Doctor of Design (D.Des.)
Faculty working with students 22
Graduate students 7
Students receiving assistantships or scholarships 100%
Priority deadline Fall - January 10
Campuses Interdisciplinary Design Institution at WSU Spokane campus
Test required GRE; TOEFL or IELTS (international students only)
Admission Requirements
To apply, please submit: a completed Graduate School application; official transcripts from all colleges and universities from which credit has been received; curriculum vita or resume; statement of purpose (not to exceed 1500 words); documentation of one faculty member accepting initial responsibility to work with the applicant; three letters of recommendation from educational and/or professional references who can speak to the applicant’s research and academic potential, and ability to succeed in a doctoral program; GRE scores;for international students,TOEFL (minimum score of 600 paper test, 250 computer test), or IELTS; and an exhibit of work illustrating the applicant’s interests and abilities in areas related to the design disciplines at Washington State University. This exhibit should be representative of the applicant’s most significant work and may include design projects, research papers, evidence of participation in interdisciplinary teams, academic papers, scholarly and/or professional presentations, or other work relevant to the applicant’s area of interest. The work may be presented via hard copy reprints, web accessibility, CD, DVD, or combined media as appropriate. (Materials will be returned to the applicant after admission decisions have been made in mid-February. Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for the return of these materials).
Program Description
The doctor of design (D.Des.) is offered by the program in interdisciplinary design. The degree is a collaborative effort among the disciplines of architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture. The D.Des is intended for persons who are well-versed and professionally advanced in the design professions and are seeking to make original contributions to their fields. It provides candidates with opportunities to advance their education through enhanced research and analytical skills and rigorous methods employed within the pedagogy of design-oriented investigation, critical synthesis, and problem-solving; access to advanced knowledge specific to their area(s) of inquiry and comprehensive scholarly investigations; and development of critical design and synthesis process skills in the interdisciplinary context.
The D.Des offers areas of concentration in history, theory, and criticism; physical design; and people and place. These areas of concentration fulfill specific needs in the design disciplines while building upon faculty expertise.