Graduate Field
Design and Environmental Analysis
Program Description
The M.A. in Design at Cornell University is a two-year program centering on a concern for the individual. Both the faculty and the students believe strongly in the power of design to nurture the human spirit and support health and well-being. Design is art in the service of humankind: a profession of innovation as well as accountability. Designers have a social responsibility to the people for whom they create and, with each design decision, must strive to ensure the ethical, sustainable, and informed role of design in society. The program brings together faculty and students with expertise in the fields of interior design, industrial design, interaction design, graphic design, architecture, art, design history, planning, building technology, environmental psychology, human factors and ergonomics, geography, engineering, and facility planning and management to work on problems related to the interior environment.
For more information, visit the M.A. in Design website.
Research Opportunities
Much of the research occurs in the field. The department also has a computer-aided design and facility management lab; human factors and ergonomics research labs; an art and environmental design gallery; and a wood workshop.
Concentrations
- Design + health
- Design for interaction
- Emerging technology for design
- Sustainable design studies
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 45
Program Requirements
- 9 - 12 credits of DEA 8990 Master's Thesis and Research
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 4
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: Second Year
- Masters Exam (M Exam): Spring of second year
- Thesis: Required
Course Requirements
- Additional course requirements may be set by the student’s Special Committee. Program specific requirements that apply to all students are included below.
Core Courses
- DEA 6100 Studies in Design Thinking
- DEA 6200 Studies in Human-Environment Relations
- DEA 6500 Problem-Seeking through Programming
- DEA 7100 DEA Graduate Pro Seminar (2 semesters)
Methods and Statistics
- One Research Methods course 5000-level or higher
Breadth
- Choose two of the following:
- DEA 6025 Design for Change: Imagining Decolonial Futures
- DEA 6520 The Ambient Environment
- DEA 6550 Healthcare Innovations
- DEA 6610
- DEA 6650 Poverty, Children and the Environment
- DEA 6800 Ethical Design: Engine of Positive Change
- DEA 5304 Design Accountability: Evaluation of the Physical Environment
- DEA 6040
- DEA 6210 Architectural Robotics
- DEA 6510 Human Factors and Inclusive Design
- or similar DEA grad courses depending on chosen concentration
Studio Courses
- Choose one of the following:
- DEA 5210 Interaction Design Studio
- DEA 5305 Health and Healing Studio
- DEA 5540 Workplace Strategy Studio
- DEA 6000 Special Problems for Graduates
- DEA 6406 Generative Design Studio
Additional Courses Determined by Committee
- 1 - 2 additional concentration courses
- 2 - 4 courses in minor area
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
