IUPUI Campus Bulletin 2010-2012

• Admissions
• Degree Programs
  • Master of Art Education
  • M.F.A. in Visual Art and Public Life
  • M.F.A. in Visual Communication
    • Admission
    • Plan of Study
    • Thesis
• Contact Information
• Student Learning Outcomes

Graduate Programs

Degree Programs

M.F.A. in Visual Communication

• to prepare professional designers for valuable (and valued) roles as collaborative leaders of creative problem-solving in organizations, institutions and communities;

• to advance excellence in the processes and practices of designing as a set of professional activities;

• to prepare design leaders for evolving (and challenging) roles as design mentors and educators to future generations; and

• to expand the disciplinary knowledge of designing through scholarship

• Designing as a set of creative problem solving processes including Identifying Patterns & Framing Insights, Exploring Ideas and Conceiving Plans, Prototyping & Optimizing Proposals, and Implementing Solutions.

• Designing as a set of innovation creation processes including Breaking Patterns (Inventing) and Optimizing Patterns (Improving).

• Designing as a set of human-centered understanding processes including Modeling Experiences, Advocating Empathy, Untangling Complexity and Visualizing Relationships.

All research occurs within a defined territory that investigates, defines and advances the role of design thinking and design action for driving business innovation, stewarding organizational leadership, shaping public policy and enhancing direct democracy.

In the first year, students focus on the mastery of design research methodologies with particular emphasis on understanding audiences and contexts. Students conduct primary research using advanced design research methods. Students apply user-centered research findings by participating in real-world community-based projects. All students engage in the design process using a creative problem-solving framework that requires collaborative and cross-disciplinary approaches.

In the second year, students focus on the mastery of design leadership skills for managing processes for change and innovation to improve the experiences of businesses, institutions, organizations, communities and individuals. Students define, develop and defend an applied action research thesis project to serve as a case study demonstration of the power of design to clarify, humanize and energize the issues that are central to life in a pluralistic society.

The interdisciplinary, collaborative nature of the program requires students to participate in the program as a cohort of colleagues. Thus, the majority of the work in the program is performed within a shared learning community that requires students to be present throughout the graduate residency experience.

The program of study is 60 credit hours distributed equally across four semesters. Fifteen credit hours of course work each semester will be coordinated and co-requisite. The MFA graduate program in Visual Communication requires full-time study within an academic residency.

Contact

Graduate application inquiries should be directed to:

317-278-9400

• Admission
• Financial Assistance and Fellowships
• Plan of Study
• Thesis