威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校

The M.S. Human Ecology program in the Design Studies department is geared toward generating new knowledge and/or insights into design, broadly conceived as both a process and product. The program is geared for students wanting to conduct limited scholarly research in an area of interest. The M.S. culminates in the production of an M.S. thesis that contributes to the knowledge base in the discipline of design (See the program website for more information on the non-thesis option in textile science). Some graduates of the program may continue their journey into Ph.D. programs while others may find themselves well positioned for jobs in industry.

The Design Studies graduate program provides opportunities for students to pursue topics in depth in design and design’s relationship with human, their environments, textiles and other material objects. The program is highly flexible, as each student works closely with his/her advisor and graduate committee to design a custom-fit curriculum that strives to support each student’s goals after graduation. Due to the centrality of the student/advisor relationship, students will only be accepted if there is a close fit between the student’s area of interest and a graduate faculty member who is willing to commit to serve in this mentorship relationship. In this regard, it is important for each applicant to identify a potential faculty member whom they would intend to work with at the time of the applicant’s submission. At the same time, students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty from a broad range of departments across the university, including, but not limited to, Art, Art History, Civil Society and Community Studies, Computer Science, Consumer Science, Engineering, Folklore, Human Development and Family Studies, Geography, and Planning and Landscape Architecture.

Areas of Concentration

• Design History and/or Material Culture Studies
• Environment Design research (Environment Design, Environment-Behavior Studies)
• Textile Science (Thesis and non-thesis option)

Learning outcomes

• Articulate, critique, or elaborate the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry or schools of practice in one's area of study.
• Identify sources and assemble evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in the area of study.
• Understand the social, political, ethical, and economic contexts of research and creative scholarship.
• Compare and contrast multiple paradigms for describing reality (e.g., personal history, world view, philosophic tradition, discipline).
• Understand the Human Ecology perspective by examining and explaining the relations among humans and their natural, social, and build environments using an interdisciplinary and trans disciplinary lens.
• Select and/or utilize the most appropriate methodologies and practices.
• Recognize the nature and significance of diversity as related to one's area of study.
• Communicate clearly in ways appropriate to a variety of audiences.
• Recognize and apply principles of ethical conduct.