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admission (01) = who should apply? |
The design science program currently offers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Design Science. A master’s degree may be offered at a later time. Applicants must have earned at least a bachelor’s degree at the time of admission. A master’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent coursework must have been earned prior to advancement to doctoral candidacy. Examples of relevant disciplines are the physical, behavioral, life, and social sciences, engineering, business, art, product design, architecture. The bachelor’s and master’s degrees do not need to be in the same discipline. However, it is expected that students entering the program will have a good foundation in at least one of the disciplines contributing knowledge to design science.
The program is specifically designed to accommodate students with a diversity of backgrounds, who are interested in design research and practice at an advanced level. Each student will have a tailored program of study based on her/his background and interests. The number of admitted students each year is very small.
The program follows the tradition of rigorous scholarship at the University of Michigan. Program graduates may pursue careers in academia, industry or government. The program offers a new, non-traditional degree. As such, it carries a risk in how it may be received by future employers. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, their potential for innovation, and their ability to be self-directed and to manage risk.
The program has a strong analytical and quantitative orientation. Therefore students with strong analytical and mathematical skills (typical for students with backgrounds in the physical sciences and engineering) will be particularly suitable for pursuing studies in the program. Students will have the opportunity to further build such skills, as required.
Students planning to pursue a master’s degree at the U-M and then continue their studies in the design science program should apply for early admission to the program. This will allow them to consult with program advisors and to structure their master’s studies so that they are best prepared for their doctoral work.
Applicants from fields that do not grant masters degrees, or who do not wish to pursue a masters degree, must consult the program director. Typically, such students will have to earn an additional 24 credits within an approved discipline before they can achieve doctoral candidacy.
