PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in design is a research program for those who wish to teach or conduct fundamental research in design. The program culminates with a dissertation that extends the body of knowledge about design theory and process.

ID was the first design school in the U.S. to create a PhD program, and continues to have the largest interdisciplinary doctoral design program in the country. Much of our faculty and students' research work is supported by companies through a variety of sponsorship programs.

Candidacy
Early in their studies, admitted doctoral students will be required to submit and obtain approval for a program of study and pass a foreign language requirement. Within two years of being admitted, and after approval of the program of study and passage of the foreign language examination, the student must take a comprehensive examination. This examination is intended as a rigorous review of the level of competence achieved by the student as a result of the entire program of graduate study (except for the dissertation) as approved by the advisory committee and specified in the program of study form. Students are not considered candidates for the PhD degree until after the comprehensive examination is passed.

All applicants to the PhD program must have a demonstrated interest in a research area that aligns with research currently being conducted at the Institute of Design. For a list of currently active topics, please see our faculty profiles.

For more detailed information on our research agenda, you may wish to download our PhD handbook (pdf, 235kb).

For more about current PhD candidates' doctoral research interests and ID PhD alumni, see the departmental homepage.

Curriculum
A candidate will be recommended for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in design upon satisfactory completion of the following program of study:

• MDes program or equivalent design master's degree: 32 credit hours
• Research Sequence: 15 credit hours
• Seminars: 6 credit hours
• Electives: 6 credit hours
• Language Examination
• Comprehensive Examination
• Dissertation: 48 credit hours

Total: 107 credit hours

Research Sequence
A series of projects and courses selected from available design workshops and specialty courses to meet the objectives of the student's research goals. Choices will be made in consultation with the student's advisor and will account for at least 21 credit hours of the required program.

Design Workshops: Major, semester-long project courses that explore design problems in breadth and depth. Processes and information from the specialty courses are developed here in practical and experimental applications (ID 580).

Specialty Courses: Courses in special branches of design theory, process, or practice. Normally selected from half-semester courses: (ID 520-559 and ID 570-576).

Seminars
Discussion courses that consider topics of contemporary interest. These courses provide a continuing meeting ground and forum for students during their course and project work (ID 586).

Electives
Full- or half-semester courses selected from the university's course offerings to complement objectives of the student's program. These courses should be at least 400-level and should be selected with advisor approval.

Note: Summer research on projects designated by the department may substitute for up to three hours of elective or research sequence credit requirements.

Dissertation
A distinct, substantial, and original contribution to design knowledge. At least 48 credit hours (ID 691).

Doctor of Philsophy in Design Program - 2009
10 doctoral candidates in 2009 (9 continuing, 1 new)
Ratio of 2 to 5 per PhD advising faculty
87% rate of completion
23 PhD degrees granted (since 1992)
75% of PhD alumnae hold faculty positions in major research
universities and 25% work in major corporations in the U.S. and
internationally