Overview

Key features

The Design MA program offered at San Francisco State University also prepares students for doctoral study in other institutions which emphasize research and professional development in relation to the various aspects of technology and transitions to careers in design, design research, design education, and related fields for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in design.

This program is designed for students who want to:

Study visual communication design/graphic communications and/or product design development from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Learn and apply contemporary methods used in design research and practice.

Develop further expertise in a specific area of design studies through an individual, interdisciplinary-based program of study that focuses on specific goals.

Program Learning Outcomes

Prepare to pursue professional work in design firms, teaching, project management, strategic planning for design firms, or management roles in technology.

Build problem-solving competencies, both conceptual and practical.

Study visual communication design and product design with an interdisciplinary perspective.

Work closely with graduate advisors to design an M.A. program that meets their career goals.

Engage in focused, critical research into a chosen design problem.

Develop a specialized area of study in graphic design/visual communication design, product design/manufacturing, industrial technology, project management, or digital media.

Develop a Culminating Experience Proposal and Project reflective of their professional interests.

Program may help students prepare for doctoral work at other institutions.

Career paths

Students pursuing this program come from a variety of occupational areas. Employment opportunities include preparation for career advancement/enhancement through advanced study in design and related disciplines, acquisition of additional technical skills, and continued research and development activity.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Seminar in Design Research

Graduate Research Methods and Scholarly Writing for Creative Disciplines

Seminar in Design Management

Seminar in Design Topics

Seminar in Design Methodology

Directed Experience in Design

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Francisco, United States

Disciplines

Design View 455 other Masters in Design in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A statement of purpose

Résumé

Three letters of recommendation

Portfolio that includes evidence of creative, technical, and/or written work

English language proficiency (international students)

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

9870 USD / year

≈ 9870 USD / year
Out-of-State

9870 USD / year

≈ 9870 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9870 USD / year

≈ 9870 USD / year

Additional Details

Out-of-State and International students must pay $444.00 PER UNIT in addition to the tuition fees

Living costs

San Francisco

United States

2206 - 4119 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Key features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

San Francisco

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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