DS PhD Program Overview

The Human Ecology PhD program in Design Studies offers two pathways: one in Design Research and the other in Design History. Within each pathway, students are expected to build a self-directed but highly coherent curriculum in close consultation with a major faculty advisor.

All students will complete coursework, a qualifying research project, identify a major area of specialization, complete a doctoral minor to satisfy the breadth requirement, take a preliminary examination, write and defend a dissertation proposal, and the final oral defense of the written dissertation. Each student identifies a faculty advisor and committee to advise and inform their work along the way.