Herron School of Art and Design
Graduate
Degree Programs
Master of Design
To complete the degree, students are required to define, develop, and defend a written thesis and companion capstone project. A master thesis is a document authored by a student that describes results of original research undertaken by that student and asserts a position that is defensible in an academic context.
This position should not be construed to prohibit joint or collaborative research endeavors. It is expected, however, that in such a situation, unique aspects of the broad problem will be explored by each individual and that the thesis written and presented to the final examining committee will be a personal document describing the student’s creative effort and contribution.
Students should speak with their advisor early in their graduate careers when considering a collaborative thesis project. A downloadable version of the Visual Communication Design Thesis Guideline is available from the department.