Master of Design Studies
The Master of Design Studies (MDes) is a post-professional degree designed for individuals seeking to expand their design expertise and advance their careers. This one-year, three-semester program offers multiple concentrations, leveraging the strengths of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and the University of Arkansas to prepare graduates for advanced professional and academic pathways.
Each concentration integrates advanced coursework with a studio-centered curriculum and a final experiential component—students may complete either a professional residency or a capstone project, depending on their career goals.
Reflecting the growing movement toward interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary design practice, the MDes enables students to explore complex, real-world issues that are reshaping the built environment. Graduates are prepared for leadership positions in architecture and design firms, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and emerging industries where advanced design thinking and research-driven practice are increasingly valued.
The one-year structure offers both academic focus and financial efficiency, allowing professionals to gain specialized, STEM-designated expertise and return to practice with contemporary knowledge and applied skills.
Current Concentrations:
- Advanced Design (proposed for Fall 2026)* — for designers seeking a flexible, research-informed path to develop expertise across emerging design methods, digital fabrication, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Health and Wellness Design — focused on human experience, environmental quality, and design for well-being.
- Resiliency Design — addressing adaptation, sustainability, and resilience in the built environment.
- Integrated Wood Design — exploring innovative uses of timber and hybrid materials in architectural applications.
- Retail and Hospitality Design — connecting branded environments with community, service, and user experience.
- Historic Preservation Design — advancing methods of conservation, adaptive reuse, and heritage interpretation for the future of built environments.
*The Advanced Design concentration is currently pending final approval from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE). Expected launch: Fall 2026.
All concentrations are STEM-designated, and the curriculum integrates allied disciplines such as sustainability, digital technologies, materials, and health sciences to support problem-based, applied learning.
To learn more about how the MDes can enhance your design career, contact our Graduate Coordinator today.
