Design, Environment and the Arts, PhD
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
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.
ASU is not currently accepting applications for this program.
Degree description
In the Doctor of Philosophy program in design, environment and the arts, you work through an individualized, institute-wide, transdisciplinary degree program that integrates graduate courses and faculty research with expertise in design; health care and healing environments; history, theory and criticism; and digital culture in design.
Broad in scope, the program is at the cutting edge of creating new knowledge in architecture, design and the arts. It complements transdisciplinary research in other disciplines within the university. The program provides research experience for you, if you wish to pursue careers in industry as a member of interdisciplinary design teams on environmental and energy issues, as well as if you wish to teach in the architecture, design or the arts fields.
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
Up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree can count toward the requirements of the doctoral program. Of the 54 credit hours remaining after the master's degree, 12 must be dissertation credit and 12 may be research. These 24 credit hours plus the remaining 30 credit hours must be completed after admission to the program. No transfer credits are allowed to fulfill the 54 credit hour minimum requirement completed after admission to the program. The student is required to take 15 credit hours in the concentration and a minimum of nine credit hours of specialized coursework outside the area of focus; a minimum of six credit hours in current research and research methods is required. Each student entering the program is required to submit a plan of study during the first year.
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 the field of architecture, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture or fine arts from a regionally accredited institution. 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 an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information International applicants who are interested in receiving funding as teaching assistants must take the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit, administered at ASU, and become certified. Additional information is available on the department website. Students are admitted to the program only upon completion of a degree in architecture, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture or fine arts, or upon the demonstration of equivalent standing. Applicants must be familiar with design and the arts and are expected to demonstrate a high level of academic maturity before being admitted to the program. Applicants must have identified a doctoral program faculty member who has agreed to serve as a mentor. The faculty mentor should be from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Students should introduce themselves by email to the faculty members who they feel have related research interests and to inquire about their availability to be mentors. The letters of recommendation preferably would be academic, although they could be professional. Applicants must provide the names and contact information of three recommenders at the time of their online application. Recommenders receive an email with a link to the online letter of recommendation to complete. Candidates are able to see which recommenders have already completed their recommendation by logging into the My ASU system and viewing their To Do list. Once a recommender has submitted the letter of recommendation, the recommender's name is removed from the To Do list. All letters must be in English. Applicants should identify a proposed research topic or list of possible topics that aligns with the research mission of the program and the research interests of faculty. The application is considered incomplete if any of the items is missing. The doctoral executive committee evaluates the applications and supporting materials. Admission decisions are based on the ability of the potential mentor to devote time to the student; the compatibility of the applicant's career goals with the purpose of the degree program; GRE scores (optional); previous academic training and performance; recommendation letters; and the research mission of the institute and the research interests of faculty. The recommendations of the committee are forwarded to the program director for approval. Upon receipt of the written recommendation from the program director, the dean of the Graduate College notifies all applicants in writing of the admission decision. ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at home edition. Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Admission to doctoral programs in The Design School requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5, or 90 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026; a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0; a minimum PTE score of 65; a minimum Duolingo English Test score of 115; or a minimum Cambridge English exam score of 185.
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
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
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CDN 162E
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.
