Master of Design/Master of Public Administration
Curriculum
45 Institute of Design credit hours
24 Stuart School of Business credit hours
The program director or academic advisor will develop a curriculum plan when the student begins the dual-degree program. Students select a series of courses from the available studios and lectures to meet the objectives of the student’s professional goals. Students select from the same pool of elective classes as found under the Master of Design description.
Typically, students will reduce the overall credit requirements compared to individual degree programs because MPA will double count 9 M.Des. credit hours towards MPA electives, and M.Des. will double count 9 MPA credit hours towards M.Des. electives. The program director may make exceptions to this plan depending upon the student’s individual situation.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | (41.5) | |
| Institute of Design courses | ||
| IDN 508 | Principles and Methods of User Research | 3 |
| IDN 556 | Strategic Communication | 1.5 |
| IDN 571 | Introduction to Systems Theory | 1.5 |
| IDX 508 | Modes of Human Experience | 1.5 |
| IDX 542 | Analysis + Synthesis | 3 |
| IDX 550 | Building and Understanding Context | 3 |
| Please choose one course from below: | 4 | |
| Communication Systems | 4 | |
| Embodied Design | 4 | |
| Digital Media | 4 | |
| Stuart School of Business courses | ||
| PA 501 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PA 502 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| PA 522 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| PA 532 | Public Financial Optimization and Management | 3 |
| PA 568 | Optimization in Policy and Administration | 3 |
| PA 580 | Policy Forecasting and Evaluation | 3 |
| PA 581 | Policy Economic Modeling and Design | 3 |
| PA 599 | Practicum | 3 |
| Elective Courses | (27.5) | |
| Select 27.5 credit hours from any 500-level or 600-level IDN or IDX non-required course. Up to 12 credit hours may be chosen from IDN 475 - IDN 497, provided that those courses are not also applied as program prerequisites. | 27.5 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 69 | |
ESP + Design Courses
These courses are corequisite for students who require additional fluency in English and design-specific vocabulary.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IDN 461 | Advanced Reading and Writing for Design I | 3 |
| IDN 462 | Advanced Listening and Presentation in Design I | 3 |
| IDN 466 | Advanced Reading and Writing in Design II | 3 |
| IDN 467 | Advanced Listening and Presentation in Design II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Foundation Courses
These courses are prerequisite for students without an undergraduate degree in industrial or communication design and must be completed prior to proceeding with any other M.Des. requirements.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of 15 credit hours from the following: | 15 | |
| Introduction to Design Practice | 3 | |
| Introduction to Visual Communication | 4 | |
| Introduction to Objects & Artifacts | 4 | |
| Introduction to Photography | 4 | |
| Introduction to Interaction | 4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Elective Courses
Students select a series of courses to meet their professional goals in consultation with their adviser. Courses may be chosen from any 500-level IDN or IDX non-required course, and up to 12 credit hours from the 400-level Foundation courses (IDN 481-IDN 497), provided that those courses are not also applied as program prerequisites. Students select from the same pool of elective classes as found under the Master of Design description. Up to six credit hours may be taken outside of ID with the approval of the student's adviser.
