印第安納大學(xué)與普渡大學(xué)印第安納波里斯聯(lián)合分校

Herron's graduate program in Visual Communication Design emphasizes applied people-centered design research, design thinking and design research methods.

The interdisciplinary, collaborative nature of the program requires students to participate in the program as a cohort of colleagues. Thus, the majority of the work in the program is performed within a shared learning community that requires students to be present throughout the graduate residency experience.

The program of study is 60 credit hours distributed equally across four semesters. Fifteen credit hours of course work each semester will be coordinated and co-requisite. The MFA graduate program in Visual Communication Design requires full-time study within an academic residency.

Plan of Study

YEAR ONE course work- 30 credits

• Focus on people-centered design research for positive change and innovation (with particular emphasis on understanding people and contexts)
• Focus on design analysis for innovation (with particular emphasis on identifying problems, understanding patterns and insights, and framing challenges)
• Focus on design synthesis for innovation (with particular emphasis on generating and exploring ideas and conceiving plans)
• Focus on design optimization for innovation (with particular emphasis on prototyping, testing, iterating and creating solutions)

YEAR TWO course work- 30 credits

• Focus on mastery of design facilitation as a distinctive capacity for driving and leading participatory, people-centered design
• Focus on professional development for transitioning from graduate school to new professional contexts
• Focus on defining, developing, and defending an applied action research thesis project

To complete the degree, students are required to define, develop, and defend a written thesis and companion capstone project. A master thesis is a document authored by a student that describes results of original research undertaken by that student and asserts a position that is defensible in an academic context.

This position should not be construed to prohibit joint or collaborative research endeavors. It is expected, however, that in such a situation, unique aspects of the broad problem will be explored by each individual and that the thesis written and presented to the final examining committee will be a personal document describing the student’s creative effort and contribution.