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(1) Thesis - a 1.5 year (3 - fall/spring/fall)
(2) Non-Thesis - a 1.5 year (3 semester - fall/spring/fall or spring/fall/spring)
Thesis is a total of 30 hours (24 course hours + 6 thesis hours) and Non Thesis is a total of 32 course hours.
The first semester of the curriculum begins the exploration of computation, research, and communication, as these activities relate to visualization and design in the context of the student's chosen emphasis area. The second semester introduces modeling and testing strategies and begins the in-depth exploration of visualization hardware, software, and strategies, and allows the student to focus on discipline-specific studies. For thesis students, the third semester is dedicated to the development and production of the thesis. The standard course of study may be augmented by professional or field experiences, research projects, and similar opportunities which, on an individual basis, may extend the time to graduation.
Elective courses are marked with an *. Apart from the mentioned courses, these credits may also be used to pursue Directed Individual Studies (DIS), the animation sequence in the Art Department, courses in Computer Science and/or Computational Engineering (with the necessary prerequisites), Business School or other pertinent courses.
Fall Semester
Professional Practice Strategies
Digital Design Fundamentals
Digital Design Fundamentals Laboratory
Thesis (only for Thesis track students)
* Architecture and Virtual Spaces
* Ecological Building Design
* Introduction to Industrial Design
* Discipline-specific elective
Spring Semester
Digital Design I
Digital Design I Laboratory
* Research & Writing (required course for Thesis track students)
* Interactive Media
* Theory of Information Design and Packaging
* Furniture Design for Manufacturing, and Marketing
* Storytelling in Computer Animation
* Discipline-specific elective
Fall Semester
Digital Design II
Digital Design II Laboratory
* Discipline-specific elective
Design + Technology Emphasis Area
The Design + Technology curriculum is designed to allow the student an overview of technology in the first semester. The course work progressively provides increasing flexibility to the student for pursuit of personal interests and career goal strategies. Optional Directed Individual Studies (DIS) with CoA Graduate faculty, or pertinent elective courses with external faculty in the numerous quality related programs at MSU, are encouraged where there is congruence between the student's and sponsoring faculty member's research agenda.
Fall Semester
Required Courses:
Digital Design Fundamentals (Justin Taylor) (4 Credit Hours)
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Exploration of basic design principals to include 2-Dimensional Figure/Ground, Color Theory, Abstract Thinking, Representational Diagramming and review of Digital Media Input / Output means and methods in 1,2 and 3 Dimensional compositions.
Digital Design Fundamentals Laboratory (Justin Taylor) (2 Credit Hours)
Laboratory based exploration of current digital input and output devices with a concentration on modeling software applications resulting in 2D and 3D representational virtual output.
Professional Practice Strategies (Larry Barrow) (4 Credit Hours)
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This course pursues current issues in the emerging professional practice paradigm. An overview of the evolution of the architect and technology is presented as a means of evaluating contemporary project delivery and practice options. Case studies of contemporary architectural firms will be utilized to provide insight to the possibilities for the students tactics for employment and/or personal practice.The student is challenged to explore their personal values and career goals relative to their field of study. Emerging technology impact and practice trends are investigated from which the student develops a personal plan for “success” as it pertains to Architecture and design related fields.
Architecture and Virtual Spaces(Larry Barrow / Justin Taylor) (3 Credit Hours)
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Internet technology has transformed many processes and conditions, the physical and virtual worlds have become intertwined in a heretofore unknown social and cultural condition. Physical architecture is now often augmented, and at times, supplanted by virtual architecture. The student will explore these phenomena via research in virtual spaces and places which are offering new ways of working, playing, praying, and learning. Web sites will be visited and analyzed from a visual, theoretical and technical perspective.
Ecological Building Design (Michael Berk) (3 Credit Hours)
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The Ecological Building Design course is intended to introduce the student to the fundamental principles of ecologically-conscious design. The course also acts as a primer on how an architect's actions should integrate the manmade world with the natural world; it also demonstrates how the current (western) economic system (as faulty as it is) actually supports this proposition. In the end, ecological design is not a style, not a philosophy, it is a fundamental principle of good design - - - and like gravity (which is not optional), it must be addressed early in a conceptual design process.
Introduction to Industrial Design (Justin Taylor) (3 Credit Hours)
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The course prepares students to create forms, shapes, and packages for consumer and commercial products by gaining sensitivity towards the basic elements of design. Students learn to make designs and prototypes. They study ways to refine existing designs to improve performance or save costs. The projects would help the students to create and innovate products efficient to use and attractive to buyers which also involves use of various graphic design skills to preview their product ideas and proposals for clients. This would help the students to go through the various stages of designing- need for design from research, the ideation /concept-visualization to product development and prototyping.
Independent Study (varies)
Directed study where the student focuses on technology and research pertinent to their program of study and thesis.
Elective (Varies)
The student may take a course outside the School of Architecture, with prior approval of their advisor, where it is deemed to be complimentary to the students approved Program of Study (POS). Complimentary courses taken in the past have been in the Art Department, School of Business, School of Education, Archaeology, Industrial Engineering, and Computer Science.
Spring Semester
Required Courses:
Digital Design I (Larry Barrow / Justin Taylor) (4 Credit Hours)
.
Exploration of current digital input and output devices with a concentration on modeling software applications resulting in 2D and 3D representational virtual output. The influence of technology on design, representation and the practice of architecture, or the student's respective field, is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the product and process evolution which results based on the introduction of technology. Architectural firm practice strategies and utilization of technology are reviewed which shows the application of theory in the practice of architecture and related fields.
Digital Design I Laboratory (Larry Barrow / Justin Taylor) (2 Credit Hours)
Laboratory based exploration of current digital input and output devices with a concentration on modeling software applications resulting in 2D and 3D representational virtual output.
Interactive Media (Justin Taylor) (4 Credit Hours)
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We are constantly interacting with our environment and surrounding, hence any design involves interaction design. However the field of Interaction Design specifically looks at interaction problems and evaluates solutions for these problems in interfaces, spaces and products. Interaction design plays a vital role in the field of architecture and product design. This course attempts to bridge the gap between architecture and interaction design.
In an effort to do this, the students will explore multimedia and various interaction design solutions available in the market today. They will look at case studies and explore methods of using interaction design in large and small scale design environments. Emerging technologies and concepts will be explored and used in design exercises.
Additional exploratory methods will allow the students to gain knowledge of paper prototyping and the actual process of designing interactive interfaces.
Theory of Information Design and Packaging (Michael Berk) (3 Credit Hours)
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The objectives of this course is to explore the architectonics of packaging information (information design); and through a series of lectures, demonstrations, and projects, the student will allow those understandings to manifest themselves into discrete portfolio artifacts (which will be a basis for the student to continue documenting and presenting their current and future work). This portfolio is meant to exist in the physical realm; however a digital medium will be utilized to: document + process + organize the actual content.
Fall Semester
Required Courses:
Digital Design II (Larry Barrow / Justin Taylor) (4 Credit Hours)
.
Further exploration of digital input and output devices with a concentration on modeling software applications resulting in 2D and 3D representational physical outputs. Emphasis is placed on the product and process evolution which results based on the introduction of technology with an increased awareness of modeling in 3d, evaluating various output options etc.
Digital Design II Laboratory (Larry Barrow / Justin Taylor) (2 Credit Hours)
Advanced laboratory based exploration of current digital input and output devices with a concentration on modeling software applications resulting in 2D and 3D representational physical output.
Elective Courses:
Research and Writing (Larry Barrow) (4 Credit Hours) - required for Thesis track students
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Introduction to methods and means of research, writing, and developing a scholarly argument. Students will establish a personal area of interest which will evolve into a research topic. The student will be challenged to arrive at a "research question" and become immersed in an intense literature review of their topic. The ultimate goal is to assist the student in a comprehensive understanding of scholarly research and the Thesis process.
This course is preparatory for the General Exam (GE) which is at the end of the first year, and the thesis defense at the end of the second year, and serves as the foundation hub course for all other course work and research during the student's tenure in the program.
Furniture Design for Manufacturing, and Marketing (Varies) (4 Credit Hours)
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This course takes the student through a creative problem solving process to design and make furniture for industrial, commercial or domestic clients; while creating new concepts and designs that balance innovative design, functional requirements and aesthetic appeal. Industry based projects and construction/manufacturing methodologies are analysed and implemented in final project work.
Storytelling in Computer Animation (Varies) (3 Credit Hours)
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Emerging digital media offers new means of expression and communication of information. This course, Storytelling in Computer Animation, focuses on cinematography and design. The student is challenged to understand use of the camera as an extension of the viewer's eye, the camera placement (i.e. altitude, azimuth, tilt, etc) as well as compositing and special effects within story are reviewed and in order to understand the various psychological effects of representation in 2D as well as 3D frameworks. Audio and visual effects are considered as well as part of the repertoire of multi-media tools available to the visualization creator.
Independent Study (Varies)
Directed study where the student focuses on technology and research pertinent to their program of study and thesis.
Elective (Varies)
The student may take a course outside the School of Architecture, with prior approval of their advisor, where it is deemed to be complimentary to the students approved Program of Study (POS). Complimentary courses taken in the past have been in the Art Department, School of Business, School of Education, Archaeology, Industrial Engineering, and Computer Science.
General Exam (GE): only for Thesis track- Student presents compilation of first year research and provides a research plan for completion of the Thesis in the second year. Student must pass the GE with their committee prior to 2nd year Fall registration.
Fall Semester - only for Thesis track students
Thesis (Varies) (6 Credit Hours)
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Final semester where the student completes their research and writing in concert with their advisory committee --- typically includes both computer inquiry resulting in digital content with accompanying text information which comprises a formal "scholarly" thesis statement and argument.
Independent Study (Varies)
.
Directed study where the student focuses on technology and research pertinent to their program of study and thesis.
Elective (Varies)
.
The student may take a course outside the School of Architecture, with prior approval of their advisor, where it is deemed to be complimentary to the students approved Program of Study (POS). Complimentary courses taken in the past have been in the Art Department, School of Business, School of Education, Archaeology, Industrial Engineering, and Computer Science.