Deadline for Graduate Admissions is January 13th for admission the following Fall Quarter. The portfolio is also due on January 13th.
The focus of the graduate Joint Program in Design (JPD) is exploring the intersection of technology with human needs and aspirations. This program is a collaborative offering of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Art and Art History. It provides students with a design experience at the Masters level that synthesizes technology, human need, and aesthetics.
Students can graduate from the JPD with one of two degrees; an MS in Engineering (Product Design) from the School of Engineering/Mechanical Engineering or an MFA (Product Design) from the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Humanities and Sciences. The degree program that fits the student best depends on the student's undergraduate and work experience and their individual ambition. Students who have technical backgrounds (undergraduate degrees in engineering, physics, etc.) typically apply to the School of Engineering. Students who have undergraduate art or design degrees (art, art design, industrial design, graphic design, architecture, etc.) typically apply to the Art Department.
Although this is a joint program, the application process for the MFA and MS are different. Be sure to follow the appropriate procedure for the program you are applying to.
MFA - Joint Program in Design - 2 years
Detailed requirements for applying to the MFA in Design can be found at the Department of Art & Art History, or by contacting Jill Davis jmdavis@stanford.edu. Please note that the remainder of the information on this web page applies only to those seeking admission to the MS in Engineering. All application requirements for the MFA are fully outlined at http://art.stanford.edu/graduate.php?content=ms.
MS in Engineering - Product Design - 2 years
Typically these are students who are engineering graduates from other universities. They must complete a series of Product Design courses in their first year of graduate study before undertaking the Master's Project in their second year.
However, students wishing to earn the MS degree who have other academic preparation (Architecture, Industrial Design, Psychology, etc.) can be admitted to the MS program, with some qualification. Typically these students will need to complete enough engineering classes prior to attending Stanford to qualify for an engineering degree. At a minimum, these classes include:
- A year of Physics
- A year of Calculus
- Statics and Dynamics; a class in each
- Strength of Materials; at least one analytical class
- Mechanical Systems Design; at least one senior-level class
- Electronics - circuit and systems design
- Programming - one or more modern programming languages
Students will need to discuss their specific academic experience with the Executive Director of the Product Design Program to determine whether they are eligible for admission to the MS program. Please mail Bill Burnett at wburnett@stanford.edu.