Program Title:
Doctor of Design
Level:
Graduate
Abbreviation:
DDes
Description:
The Doctor of Design (DDes) program provides design practitioners a springboard to further reflect on their design practice and hone a research agenda to advance design knowledge. The program offers learners the ability to focus on the development of original, high-quality scholarship in the discipline of design.
The Doctor of Design academic program requires the completion of 60 credit hours, consisting of the following course and non-course requirements:
Practice COURSE Requirement
Complete 3 Credit Hours of the following courses:
Dialogue COURSE Requirement
Complete 9 Credit Hours of the following courses:
INQUIRY COURSE Requirement
Complete 12 Credit Hours of the following Research Foundations courses:
Complete 12 Credit Hours of the following Supervised Research course; course is repeatable for credit:
Complete 3 Credit Hours of the following Candidacy Qualifying Examination course:
Complete 18 Credit Hours of the following Dissertation Research courses; courses are repeatable for credit:
Complete 3 Credit Hours of the following Dissertation Defense course:
Non-COURSE Requirement
Complete 6 Credit Hours of courses in
Residency.
The Doctor of Design academic program works to achieve the following outcomes:
Specialized Knowledge
- Deepen a design practice in a field of expertise and apply this practice to reserach applications.
- Document and describe key issues in design and how they affect the practice and profession today.
- Design and deliver instruction in the field of design.
Broad and Integrative Knowledge
- Articulate and debate contemporary issues that are impacting design practice.
- Investigate historical, cultural, social, and technological contexts have shaped contemporary design practices.
Intellectual Skills
- Identify and analyze theories, methods, and research studies from interdisciplinary fields in design practice.
- Critically assess existing design research, identifying gaps in the literature and proposing new avenues for investigation to advance the design discipline.
- Design, conduct, report, and present clear and coherent research studies that contribute to understanding and solving problems of practice in the field of design.
Applied and Collaborative Learning
- Prepare and present scholarly work to both academic and practitioner audiences in the field of design.
- Produce well-researched scholarly articles and papers that contribute to academic and professional discourse in design.
- Engage in collaborative research projects, working with faculty and peers to produce scholarship and design prodcuts that address interdisciplinary issues within design practice.
Civic and Global Learning
- Describe how design practices vary around the world.
- Examine the social, ethical, and environmental implications of design.
- Advance design practices that are inclusive, culturally sensitive, and sustainable.
