Curriculum

The curriculum can be completed in one year (fall and spring semesters and a summer residency) with full-time enrollment. Alternative strategies for degree completion can be reviewed with the graduate coordinator in advance of admission, and all coursework must be completed within two calendar years. 

Fall Semester (15 credit hours) 
FJAD 6906 Advanced Design Studio 1 
FJAD 6723 Methods of Design Inquiry 
Elective (3 CH)  
Elective (3 CH)  

Spring Semester (15 credit hours) 
FJAD 6916 Advanced Design Studio 2 
FJAD 6803 Design Leadership 
Elective (3 CH)  
Elective (3 CH) 

Summer (6 credit hours) 
FJAD 6926 Graduate Residency  

Elective Courses 
Students pursuing the Resiliency Design concentration will choose four courses (12 credit hours) offered within the U of A Communitiy Design Center, the U of A Resiliency Center or in sustainability, public policy, sociology, public administration or environmental dynamics under the direction of the graduate coordinator.

The Retail and Hospitality Design concentration requires students to identify one of the focused areas and select four courses (12 credit hours) to support that focus. Topics include industry trends and strategies, quantitative analysis and marketing. Courses will be identified in the Sam M. Walton College of Business and in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Some prerequisites may be required. These course selections will be directed by the graduate coordinator. 

Example Curriculum for the M.Des. Resiliency Design Concentration


Fall Semester (15 credit hours total)

  • Advanced Design Studio 1
  • Methods of Design Inquiry
  • Vocabularies of Context Production
  • Sustainability 1: Analysis and Design of Resilient Systems 

Spring Semester (15 credit hours)

  • Advanced Design Studio 2
  • Design Leadership
  • Cities and Public Good
  • Sustainability 2: Decision Making, Analysis and Synthesis in Sustainability

Summer

  • Graduate Residency

Example Curriculum for the M.Des. Retail and Hospitality Concentration


Fall Semester (15 credit hours total)

  • Advanced Design Studio 1
  • Methods of Design Inquiry
  • Hospitality Operations and Financial Analysis
  • Sustainability 1: Analysis and Design of Resilient Systems

Spring Semester (15 credit hours)

  • Advanced Design Studio 2
  • Design Leadership
  • Meetings and Convention Management
  • Global Travel and Tourism Management

Summer

  • Graduate Residency

Example Curriculum for the M.Des. Retail and Hospitality Concentration


Fall Semester (15 credit hours total) 

  • Advanced Design Studio 1
  • Methods of Design Inquiry
  • Business Analytics
  • Introduction to Marketing

Spring Semester (15 credit hours)

  • Advanced Design Studio 2
  • Design Leadership
  • Retail Strategy
  • Consumer and Market Research

Summer

  • Graduate Residency

Example Curriculum for the M.Des. Integrated Wood Design Concentration


Fall Semester (15 credit hours total)

  • Advanced Design Studio 1
  • Methods of Design Inquiry
  • Fundamental Wood Theories, Tectonics, and Environmental Response.
  • Timber Design

Spring Semester (15 credit hours)

  • Advanced Design Studio 2
  • Design Leadership
  • Advanced Wood Production Processes
  • Environmental Health

Summer

  • Graduate Residency