Topics of current interest in the College of Design. Used to develop new courses.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Preparation for college level teaching in the design disciplines. Discussion of the history of design education, curriculum development, pedagogical strategies, assessment, and teaching and research demands on college design faculty. Meets partial requirements for the university Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching. Restricted to students enrolled in College of Design masters and doctoral programs.

Typically offered in Spring only

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Master's Student

Typically offered in Fall only

Survey of research methods in the field of design including overall systems of inquiry, criteria for assessing quality, strategies and tactics. Strengths and weaknesses of various research designs. Experimental and quasi-experimental research, correlational research, qualitative research strategies, simulation and modeling research, action research and design intervention, case study, and combined strategies.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Spring only

Overview of contributions and limitations of various theoretical perspectives that inform the field of design inquiry. Knowledge and theory construction. Nature, scope, and merits of scientific approach. Criticism of the scientific approach and examination of alternative approaches utilized in design research and practice. Linking philosophy, research, and action/practice/application.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall only

This course presents an introduction and overview of interdisciplinary research theories, strategies, and methods as applied to issues in professional practice of design. Special emphasis is placed on the roles, values, and specific methods related to design practice, including (not limited to) case study analysis and evaluation; design typology; engaged research; research and development (e.g. prototyping); and design process. Course content is adaptable to student needs and interests. Restricted to Doctor of Design (D.Des) students; other advanced post-professional design students may enroll with permission of instructor. Although course content and instruction is predominantly online, the course requires one week of face-to-face intensive on-campus instruction and other activities before Fall term begins (TBA).

Restriction: Doctor of Design Students or other advanced students (PhD or other DDes programs off campus) may be enrolled by permission of instructor only.

Typically offered in Fall only

The case study method addresses the importance of learning how to learn as an essential element of professional growth as well as a means toward building a culture of reflective design practice. Case studies provide orientation and perspective on the complexity of design practice, both for novices and seasoned professionals. When closely examined, lessons learned from design processes and decision-making provide opportunities to build a body of professional knowledge. Course content is adaptable to student needs and interests. Restricted to Doctor of Design (D.Des) students; other advanced post-professional design students may enroll with permission of instructor. Although course content and instruction is predominantly online, the Fall course requires one week of face-to-face intensive on-campus instruction and other activities prior to the start of Fall term. The Spring course requires one week of face-to-face intensive on-campus instruction and other activities during Spring term (TBA).

Corequisite: DDN 740

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

Relationship between theories of human cognition and design. Analysis and critique of design objects as cognitive artifacts and extension, transformation, or diminishing of human thought by their form and content. A critical examination of cognitive, linguistic and social science theories shaping design.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student, Design Majors, Corequisite: DDN 830 or 831

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

Recent theories in various disciplines concerning a cultural understanding of graphic design. Theories of mass and popular culture, critiques of creativity and authorial intentionality, influences of interpretive criticism, theories of consumption and issues of cultural representation. Emphasis on adaptation of these theories to an understanding of the cultural significance of graphic design. Non-majors by permission only.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student, Design Majors, Corequisite: DDN 830 or 831

Typically offered in Fall only

Changing role of design in new information environments. Implications of new technology on social construction of meaning, impact of electronic media on culture and cognition, and differences in designing artifacts and designing interactions.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student, Design Majors, Corequisite: DDN 830 or 831

Typically offered in Spring only

Techniques for documenting and analyzing user needs at cite planning scale. Methods of integrating user needs into design programming in design and redesign projects. Community participation methods. Examples of best practice in design of user-intensive settings in residential, health, education and recreation. Principles of Universal Design. Fieldwork-oriented.

Typically offered in Spring only

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: Doctoral student in Design

Typically offered in Spring only

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student in Design

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student in Design

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Dissertation research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student in Design

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student in Design

Typically offered in Summer only

For students who have completed all credit hour, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student in Design

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer