Category: Graduate

Catalog

M.F.A. – Color & Materials Design

Master of Fine Arts Degree Requirements

First Year

First Semester = 15-16 Credit Hours

Course #Course TitleCredits
DGR 601Graduate Communication1*
CMD 601Studio I:, CMD Experience3
DGR 613Graduate Seminar3
CMD 604Trend Research Methods3
CMD 605Color Lab: Theory & Science3
CMD 609Digital Visualization for Color & Materials Design3
*Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Second Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #Course TitleCredits
CMD 602Studio II: CMD Brand Narratives3
CMD 606Material Lab: Crafted Science3
DGR 620Graduate Research Methods3
DGR 721Professional Practice3
DGR 775Graduate Studies Internship3*
—–Assigned Elective3*
*Choose one of the indicated courses.

Second Year

Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #Course TitleCredits
DGR 711Thesis Project I6
CMD 701Studio III: CMD Impact3
CMD 607Applied Material and Processes3
DGR 631Written Thesis3

Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #Course TitleCredits
DGR 712Thesis Project II6
CMD 702Studio IV: CMF 3603
CMD 790Color & Materials Independent Study3*
—–Assigned Elective3*
DGR 775Graduate Studies Internship3†
—–Assigned Elective3†
*Choose one of the indicated courses.
†Choose one of the indicated courses.

Catalog Year 24/25

Total Credits: 30/31

Assigned Electives – Studio or Lecture course assigned from a specific list of approved courses. Students are required to meet with their Graduate Department Chair for final confirmation of elective selection, prior to registration.

Students enrolled in Graduate Level Programs must maintain the required 3.0 cumulative GPA.

M.A. – Color & Materials Design

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

First Year

First Semester = 15-16 Credit Hours

Course #Course TitleCredits
DGR 601Graduate Communication1*
CMD 601Studio I:, CMD Experience3
DGR 613Graduate Seminar3
CMD 604Trend Research Methods3
CMD 605Color Lab: Theory & Science3
CMD 609Digital Visualization for Color & Materials Design3
*Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Second Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #Course TitleCredits
CMD 602Studio II: CMD Brand Narratives3
CMD 606Material Lab: Crafted Science3
DGR 620Graduate Research Methods3
DGR 650Final Project
DGR 775Graduate Studies Internship3*
—–Assigned Elective3*
*Choose one of the indicated courses.

Catalog Year 24/25

Total Credits: 30/31

Assigned Electives – Studio or Lecture course assigned from a specific list of approved courses. Students are required to meet with their Graduate Department Chair for final confirmation of elective selection, prior to registration.

Students enrolled in Graduate Level Programs must maintain the required 3.0 cumulative GPA.

GID-601 INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIO I

This is the first of two studio courses on the MA and MFA Interdisciplinary Studies programs. These studio courses enable students to explore modes of interdisciplinary and collaborative practice. Building on multidisciplinary experiences and technical knowledge from option courses, or in other programs of study, students will explore and develop frameworks for anti-siloed practices that extend laterally across numerous disciplines, and when possible, outside of art and design.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GID-602 INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIO II

This is the second of two studio courses on the MA and MFA Interdisciplinary Studies programs. These studio courses enable students to explore modes of interdisciplinary and collaborative practice. Building on multidisciplinary experiences and technical knowledge from option courses, or in other programs of study, students will explore and develop frameworks for anti-siloed practices that extend laterally across numerous disciplines, and when possible, outside of art and design.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: GID 601

CMD-605 COLOR LAB: THEORY & SCIENCE

In this course, students are introduced to the discipline of color, materials and finish (CMF) design to create meaningful narratives that connect ideas, artifacts and experiences to individuals and communities. Working in experiential – and sometimes interdisciplinary - projects, students collaborate alongside their peers with design teams and external partners within the industry. The role of a Color and Material Designer is to participate in a range of complex activities, including graphic-led visual storytelling, materials research and innovation, collaborating with color and materials development teams for the purposes of manufacture, digitally applying CMF strategies to virtual models, and the delivery of the final design intent through visual and verbal presentations. This course will serve as the foundation for students intending on pursuing CMF Design, Color Design, Material Design, and adjacent positions within the industry and entrepreneurism.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

DGR-620 GRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS

The Graduate Research Methods course equips students with the knowledge and skills required to undertake a range of advanced research methods appropriate to practice and critical inquiry in art and design. The course covers primary research methods, including design ethnography, field research, case studies, interviews, reflective practice, and practice-based methods. The knowledge acquired throughout the course will support students in the formulation of sophisticated, reflective and fully reference proposals for research-led creative practice, and a rigorously informed critical discourse.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DGR 613 GRADUATE SEMINAR

GRT-611 3D RENDERING & ANIMATION I

This course introduces the basics of 3D digital rendering and animation techniques as specifically applied to vehicle design. Students will be introduced to Blender as the main animation & rendering software and will also incorporate other digital assets and software for rigging 3D models and video editing.

Credits: 1.5

Prerequisites:

IXD-701 UX DESIGN STUDIO III

The Graduate Studio I, II, III, and IV courses are designed to address projects of increasing complexity and progressively strengthen your problem-solving skills in UX Design. Students will solve a design problem rooted in a creative industries-related context, requiring substantive research and concept development phases, refinement, and execution phases. Research methodologies, design approaches, and techniques students learned in the UX-centered courses will be applied to develop and evaluate their solutions. These courses are structured to simulate the professional studio environment with formally scheduled milestones and defined deliverables and will be reviewed by faculty and industry professionals through formal presentations.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: IXD 601, IXD 602

DGR-635 DESIGN THINKING

Students learn to use Design Thinking as a cross-disciplinary method for problem solving. Design Thinking is characterized by a non-linear, creative, playful, and collaborative approach for generating and testing ideas through rapid ideation and prototyping. Students learn to challenge assumptions, take risks, and adopt unconventional perspectives in the process of problem solving. The class teaches students to take a human-centered approach, led by user empathy to (re)define problems, generate ideas, prototype, model, and test concepts and ideas for new products, services, processes, and strategies. Students do not need any formal design training to take this course, but will be required to visualize, map, enact, and document thinking and ideas in collaborative spaces.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

CMD-606 MATERIAL LAB: CRAFTED SCIENCE

In this course, students explore the intersection of design, craft, and science through engaging in a series of material experiments to examine properties, technique, mechanics, potential, and failure to develop innovations in color, materials, and finish design. The course supports the student in developing and innovating ideas using both proven and non-traditional techniques. Students work in the wood, metal, glass, and ceramic studios to create a series of surfaces and artifacts – with the fundamental understanding of the chemistry behind each process – to support their concepts within their CMD studio courses. Working in shop and studio environments, the projects immerse students in both 2D and 3D surface and form to present forward-thinking concepts. The course offers both structured group projects and self-directed learning.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: CMD 605