Master of Arts in Design

The M.A. in Design at Cornell University is a two-year program centering on a concern for the individual. Both the faculty and the students believe strongly in the power of design to nurture the human spirit and support health and well-being. Design is art in the service of humankind: a profession of innovation as well as accountability. Designers have a social responsibility to the people for whom they create and, with each design decision, must strive to ensure the ethical, sustainable, and informed role of design in society. The program brings together faculty and students with expertise in the fields of interior design, industrial design, interaction design, graphic design, architecture, art, design history, planning, building technology, environmental psychology, human factors and ergonomics, geography, engineering, and facility planning and management to work on problems related to the interior environment. The M.A. in Design rests on the following basic premises: Development of the knowledge base guiding the design of physical settings requires systematic, empirical research. Individual and organizational behaviors are affected by the form of the environment. The users of environments are diverse and have different needs. Individual characteristics such as gender, stage in life cycle, family structure, role or task affect our environmental needs. In addition, organizational characteristics such as organizational culture, goals, and structure help shape building form and use. Design should be based on enhancing the human condition. Issues of central importance include how the qualities of the environment (i.e., interior design, building systems, lighting, furnishings, equipment and finishes) affect human behavior, comfort, and well-being. How the goals and ideals of both the individual and the organization are translated into physical form, and what the designer's responsibility is to society.

The M.A. degree is a two-year, post-professional degree program intended for students with an undergraduate degree in interior design, architecture, or product design who want to do advanced study and research in interior design. The program culminates in a formal research thesis in which students are encouraged to systematically develop and test research-based design solutions, theories, and methods.
Academic Statement of Purpose (within 500 words)
Three letters of recommendation
Official transcripts
Portfolio (see guidelines below)
GRE general test (The desired combined score should be greater than or equal to 310for the new scoring system effective November 2011or, a combined score of 1200 for the old scoring system.)
English Language Proficiency Requirement - as an international applicant, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by taking a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam. (See exceptions)
TOEFL - test for International students (DEA overall minimum: 105, plus Graduate School minimums must be met for each section: writing: 20, listening: 15, reading: 20, speaking: 22)
OR IELTS - The Graduate School requires an overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS