MDes critical path

Course requirements

Fall  

Students take three (3) seminars (9 credits)

• Dart 600 Design Theory/Practice I (3 cr.)
• Dart 601 Research Methods in Design (3 cr.)
• Dart 631 Special Topics: Critical Materiality (3 cr.)*

Winter  

Students take three (3) seminars (9 credits)

• Dart 610 Design Theory/Practice II (3 cr.)
• Dart 611 Interdisciplinary Practices in Design (3 cr.)
• Dart 631 Special Topics in Interaction Design (3 cr.)*

* Under special circumstances and in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, it is possible to take elective courses from other departments, or an Internship/residency (DART 671). Students are also encouraged to consider registering for a Directed Study (DART 651) during the summer to advance their research.

Research requirements and activities

September-October

Each faculty member will present his/her research profile to the MDes cohort. This will allow you to determine whom you should approach for your research project. Following initial meetings with potential supervisors, you are asked to take an appointment with the selected faculty member to sign off a Supervision Agreement form.

November 1

Deadline for the selection of the supervisor.

March 1

Deadline to submit the Research Proposal to your supervisor and Graduate Program Assistant. The proposal is a six-to-nine-page document that includes: research question(s), preliminary theoretical framework/literature review, research methodology, schedule, planned outcome, resources implications (space, tools, materials, technology), and preliminary bibliography. The preparation of this document is part of the assignments in Dart 610 Design Theory/Practice II.

The Research Proposal will be reviewed by the supervisor for approval.

April 1

Along with the supervisor, a selection of two (2) faculty members is made to form the Evaluation Committee. Students are responsible to have the Evaluation Committee members sign off the Evaluation Committee form. The Committee of three (3) faculty members (including the supervisor) participates in the evaluation of both the final research-creation project and the written thesis.

April

MDes students present their research project to the program faculty members during a public presentation at the end of the semester; this presentation is prepared and evaluated in Dart 611 Interdisciplinary Practices in Design.

Spring / Summer

Students work on their written thesis and research-creation project. It is recommended to pursue a Directed Study during this period to provide continuity in the program and advance work on the project.

Through the Fall and Winter terms, students concentrate on their research-creation project and thesis writing and should meet with their supervisor on a regular basis i.e. ideally every two weeks.

Course requirements

Fall-Winter

• DART 620 Graduate Colloquium (3 cr.)
• DART 690 Masters Research and Thesis (24 cr.)

The Colloquium seminar is given over the fall and winter semesters (six weeks in both semesters). An important part of this course involves teamwork to organize and plan the final research showcase in April.

Research requirements and activities

April  

Exposition and oral presentation of the final research-creation project at the showcase. Evaluation Committees review the projects for the formal evaluation (pass or fail).

May 1

Latest recommended deadline to submit thesis to the supervisor. Following the supervisor’s approval, the thesis is sent to the two (2) other members of the Evaluation Committee for review.

Thesis
In summary, the written document contextualizes the practice historically and theoretically, describes the research and reflects critically on the process and production.

Length
13,000 to 15,000 words – this is equivalent to approximately 35 to 40 pages, 375 words/page, 1.5 line spacing. Please follow the thesis guidelines.