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Online and Distance Education

Design

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Program Contact

M. Elen Deming, FASLA, DDesDirector, Doctor of Design (DDes) Program919.515.8318doctor-of-design@ncsu.edu
Doctoral Degrees | Design | Courses

Courses

The structure of the DDes program allows design professionals to complete the degree program through distance education. Students have an opportunity to work on interdisciplinary courses and individual research projects remotely while continuing to fulfill professional and personal obligations if and as necessary.

The Doctor of Design program comprises a 57-credit, six-semester learning sequence tailored for the pursuit of original design-based investigations. Other requirements include the preliminary comprehensive exam (comps), the final exam (defense), and a final research product (dissertation). Similar to the PhD in Design program, the DDes program introduces research design and its methods in the first year. Required online coursework is typically completed in the first two years; students then delve deeply into independent inquiry. Full-time students craft a detailed design research proposal and prepare for the preliminary exam during the second year. The remainder of the program is dedicated to original investigation towards the final dissertation or equivalent alternative product in design research.

Students work closely with an individual mentor and are guided by supporting committee members with varied expertise. Doctoral programs require a minimum of four (4) graduate faculty members, including the graduate advisor (mentor) who serves as chair or co-chair of the committee. The Chair must be a member of the College of Design faculty who has Graduate school status; at least one other member must be a faculty member of the College of Design.

Additional committee members may be recruited from other NC State Colleges (e.g. Agriculture, Engineering, Education, etc.) and/or from UNC system-wide faculty (e.g. UNC Chapel Hill) and/or Duke University. External committee members may be invited from other universities by appointment (with director approval).Technical consultants from industry may also be invited to work with students. For more on committee composition, visit the Graduate School Handbook.

Curriculum and courses:

Level One Courses (12 credits). The following courses are required:

Units: 3

This course presents an introduction and overview of interdisciplinary research theories, strategies, and methods as applied to issues in professional practice of design. Special emphasis is placed on the roles, values, and specific methods related to design practice, including [not limited to] case study analysis and evaluation; design typology; engaged research; research and development [e.g. prototyping]; and design process. Course content is adaptable to student needs and interests. Restricted to Doctor of Design [D.Des] students; other advanced post-professional design students may enroll with permission of instructor. Although course content and instruction is predominantly online, the course requires one week of face-to-face intensive on-campus instruction and other activities before Fall term begins [TBA].

Offered in Fall Only

DDN 742-Design Practice Legacy as a Learning Educator

Level Two Courses (12 credits). Select four courses of the following:

Units: 3

The case study method addresses the importance of learning how to learn as an essential element of professional growth as well as a means toward building a culture of reflective design practice. Case studies provide orientation and perspective on the complexity of design practice, both for novices and seasoned professionals. When closely examined, lessons learned from design processes and decision-making provide opportunities to build a body of professional knowledge. Course content is adaptable to student needs and interests. Restricted to Doctor of Design [D.Des] students; other advanced post-professional design students may enroll with permission of instructor. Although course content and instruction is predominantly online, the Fall course requires one week of face-to-face intensive on-campus instruction and other activities prior to the start of Fall term. The Spring course requires one week of face-to-face intensive on-campus instruction and other activities during Spring term [TBA].

Offered in Fall and Spring

DDN 743-Design Practice Leadership and Ethics

DDN 744-Design for Health and Wellbeing

DDN 745-Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Level Three Courses (15 credits). Select two courses of the following:

Units: 1 - 9

For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.

Offered in Fall Spring Summer

Units: 1 - 9

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Offered in Fall Spring Summer

Level Four Courses (18 credits).

Units: 1 - 9

Dissertation research.

Offered in Fall Spring Summer

Units: 1 - 9

For students who have completed all credit hour, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.

Offered in Fall Spring Summer

*Students must take 12 total credit hours of DDN 893 (Doctoral Supervised Research) and 18 total credit hours of DDN 895 (Doctoral Dissertation Research).

Optional Elective (1-6 credits).