Design, Environment and the Arts (Design), PhD
Collaborate with nationally recognized faculty to develop original scholarship. Advance knowledge through design research that shapes healthier communities, more sustainable environments and a better future.
Quick facts
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Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Design Environment and the Arts, PhD degree description
The Doctor of Philosophy in design, environment and the arts with a focus in design is a flexible, interdisciplinary program prepares you with the experience, skills and framework you need in order to become a competent researcher, scholar, innovator, visionary and leader in the various disciplines of design, environment and the arts.
Broad in scope, the program involves interdisciplinary research interests at both the micro- and macro-scales of design, environment and the arts. You are able to study architecture, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, visual communication design, urban design and related disciplines. There are opportunities for research specialization in areas such as:
- global health and human factors
- history, culture, theory and philosophy
- social justice, placemaking and placekeeping
- sustainability and resilience
- technology, innovation and entrepreneurship
Why specialize in design at ASU?
ASU's design, environment and the arts program prepares you to become leaders in interdisciplinary design research. Unlike doctoral programs focused on a single design discipline, you'll develop individualized research agendas that integrate architecture, industrial design, interior architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, visual communication and related fields. The program's interdisciplinary structure reflects ASU's leadership in use-inspired research and provides opportunities to collaborate with researchers across colleges and research centers while addressing complex global challenges. Doctoral students become part of an interdisciplinary research community that encourages collaboration, mentorship and scholarly exchange.
You can participate in research groups, lectures, conferences, workshops and academic events while building professional networks with faculty, researchers and doctoral peers across ASU. Graduates leave prepared to lead research that expands the role of design in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours) Concentration (9 credit hours) Other Requirements (12 credit hours) Research (12 credit hours) Electives (33 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
EPD 700 Research Methods (3)
EPD 710 Current Research in Design (3)
DSC 594 Conference and Workshop (3)
EPD 791 Seminar (3)
GRA 501 Creative Environment and Collaborative Leadership (3)
EPD 590 Reading and Conference (3)
EPD 790 Reading and Conference (9)
EPD 792 Research (12)
EPD 799 Dissertation (12)
Students must take all three courses from the list of concentration courses above. Other courses as relevant coursework should be taken as Electives with approval of the supervisory committee. When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Synthesize iterative ideas and design concepts into deliverables that meet the professional standards in design, environment and the arts sectors.
- Disseminate the results of their design, environment and the arts research in a public forum.
- Effectively use theories and concepts in design, environment and the arts for critical analysis of real-world problems in their respective fields.
Synthesize iterative ideas and design concepts into deliverables that meet the professional standards in design, environment and the arts sectors.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a master's degree in a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution. Examples of appropriate fields include art history, architectural history and design history. Fields in the humanities such as history, literature, archaeology and anthropology also may be considered. Students without graduate experience in the history of art, history of architecture and history of design may be asked to fulfill deficiencies. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the applicable master's degree. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at home edition. Applicants must submit the personal statement, abstract of proposed research and contact information for two references to Slideroom (https://asudesign.slideroom.com/#/Login). It is required that these be submitted in addition to the Graduate College application requirements.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/15 | Priority* |
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this design concentration prepares you for
Graduates pursue university teaching and research careers in design, environment and the arts fields. Others have careers leading planning and design firms or are engaged in business, industry, government and advocacy careers.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Dean, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
|
CDN 152E
designgrad@asu.edu
480-965-3536
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
