This is an archived copy of the 2020-21 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

Graduate Courses

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2019–2020 and 2020–2021; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.

Please see the General Information Catalog for an updated list of courses effective fall 2020.1


Design: DES

DES 380. Core Course in Design.

Introduction to design process, research, and methodologies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 381. Core Laboratory 1.

Practice laboratory for a variety of design methodologies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours to be arranged. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 182, 382, 482, 582, 682. Critique Studio.

Context and structured dialogue regarding areas of, and the student's own direction in, graduate research. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 383. Graduate Projects.

Independent study. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 184, 384, 684. Design Documentation and Storytelling.

Covers portfolio creation and other tools related to documenting and communicating design work. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the graduate adviser, and consent of instructor.

DES 384C. Design Criticism.

Thinking, writing and talking about design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; consent of the graduate adviser; consent of instructor.

DES 184D, 284D, 384D. Design Perspectives.

Explore design approaches, subfields, practices, and media through workshops, projects or lectures led by industry professionals, visiting instructors, and/or University faculty and graduate students. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the graduate adviser, and consent of instructor.

DES 184E, 384E. The Art of Critique.

Explore methods, frameworks, and practice in giving and receiving feedback in a design studio setting. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the graduate adviser, and consent of instructor.

DES 184F, 384F. Materials Exploration.

Consider materials in design applications. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 184G, 384G. User Research.

Explore generative and evaluative methods for design research, research synthesis techniques, and the design of research field studies for design applications. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 384H. Design Theory and Method.

Examine theory and methods in design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; consent of the graduate adviser; consent of instructor.

DES 384J. Design in Context.

Explore the social, political, historical, legal and economic contexts of design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; consent of the graduate adviser; consent of instructor.

DES 184K. Introduction to Campus Resources for Designers.

Introduction to design-related resources on campus including the Library, materials lab, fabrication lab, and publication studio. One lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385C, 685C. Studio I.

Explore principles and techniques of design across disciplines through project work in a studio setting. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385D, 685D. Studio II.

Build upon principles and techniques of design across disciplines through project work in a studio setting. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser; Design 385C or 685C.

DES 385E, 685E. Studio III.

Refine and apply advanced principles and techniques of design across disciplines through project work in a studio setting. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser; Design 385D or 685D.

DES 385F, 685F. Studio IV.

Culminate previous knowledge of principles and techniques of design across disciplines through project work in a studio setting. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser; Design 385E or 685E.

DES 385G, 685G. Foundation Studio I.

Introduction to vocabulary, principles, strategies, techniques and conventions foundational to design in a studio format. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385H, 685H. Foundation Studio II.

Build upon vocabulary, principles, strategies, techniques and conventions foundational to design in a studio format. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser; Design 385G or Design 685G.

DES 385J, 685J. Foundation Studio III.

Refine vocabulary, principles, strategies, techniques and conventions foundational to design in a studio format. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser; Design 385H or Design 685H.

DES 385K, 685K. Topics in Visual Design Studio.

Studio-based exploration of techniques and concepts specific to visual design. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385L, 685L. Topics in Interaction Design Studio.

Studio-based exploration of techniques and concepts specific to interaction design. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385M, 685M. Topics in Industrial Design Studio.

Studio-based examination of techniques and concepts specific to industrial design. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385N, 685N. Topics in Service Design Studio.

Studio-based exploration of techniques and concepts specific to service design. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385T, 685T. Topics in Design Studio.

Develop studio projects focusing on specialized or advanced topics or methods. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 385V, 685V. Topics in Visiting Designer Studio.

Projects developed by visiting designer on technique and concepts related to their practice in a studio format. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 386. Design History.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the graduate adviser, and consent of instructor.

DES 387, 487, 587, 687. Graduate Internship in Design.

Professional design internship in a field of the student's interest. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Hours to be arranged with supervisor. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the graduate adviser, and consent of the instructor.

DES 387H, 487H, 587H, 687H. Internship in Healthcare Design.

For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the graduate adviser, and consent of instructor.

DES 388. Introduction to Design Thinking.

Restricted to graduate students in design. A preliminary foundation in the emerging practice of human-centered design, the methodology driving design thinking as a way of achieving innovation across sectors. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 388C. Topics in Design Seminar.

Examine specialized or advanced topics in design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 388D. Topics in Service Design Seminar.

Examine specialized or advanced topics in service design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 388E. Topics in Industrial Design Seminar.

Examine specialized or advanced topics in industrial design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 388F. Topics in Interaction Design Seminar.

Examine specialized or advanced topics in interaction design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 388G. Topics in Visual Design Seminar.

Examine specialized or advanced topics in visual design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 190, 290, 390, 490, 590, 690. Topics in Advanced Design Skills.

For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 391. Core Laboratory 2.

Designed to provide students with the opportunity to test and expand their design research through writing and various methods of dissemination. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours to be arranged. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 392. Professional Communication of Research.

Seminar addressing strategies for communicating design research processes and results to a variety of audiences through vehicles such as exhibitions, scholarly reports, and video recordings. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 393. Issues in Design Theory and Research.

Investigates current discourse within design studies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 194, 294, 394, 494, 594, 694. Topics in Advanced Design.

Examine design practices in all areas, and their relationship to research. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional studio hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 395. Fieldwork in Design.

Students conduct fieldwork as part of a collaborative research team and/or under the direction of a project supervisor. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

DES 396. Business of Design.

Explore the integration of design into business and business into design. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 397. Service Design.

Apply design thinking to service-based sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, food service and others. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 397C. Design Pedagogy and Instruction.

Covers theory and research related to the pedagogy of design. Explores creation of design learning experiences. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 197P, 297P, 397P, 497P, 597P, 697P. Teaching Practicum.

Applied teaching in design subjects. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 398P. Capstone Project.

Utilize design methodologies and techniques on an applied project. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

DES 398R. Master's Report.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in design and consent of instructor or the graduate adviser.

DES 398S. Master's Exhibition.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in design and consent of instructor or the graduate adviser.

DES 398T. Supervised Teaching in Design.

Training and teaching under the close supervision of the course instructor for one semester; group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports throughout the teaching period. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in design and graduate standing and appointment as a teaching assistant.

Integrated Design: ITD

ITD 380. Design Thinking.

Explores the concepts of design thinking and human-centered design methods, with a focus on design process and problem solving. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

ITD 185, 285, 385. Topics in Integrated Design.

Graduate studies within integrated design. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Integrated Design 380 or consent of instructor. May be taken concurrently with Integrated Design 380 if topic is appropriate.

ITD 186, 286, 386, 486, 586, 686. Topics in Integrated Design Studio.

Project-based studio graduate work within integrated design. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of two hours of laboratory work per week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Integrated Design 380 or consent of instructor. May be taken concurrently with Integrated Design 380 if topic is appropriate.

ITD 390. Design for Health.

Exploration of creative design-based approaches and problem-solving methods and their application to solving contemporary health care challenges. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and Integrated Design 380, or consent of instructor

ITD 291. Health Design Seminar.

Design techniques, case studies, and team critiques. Seminar component of Integrated Design 692. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Integrated Design 390 or consent of instructor. Concurrent enrollment in Integrated Design 692.

ITD 692. Health Design Lab.

Team-based, project-focused application of the principles of design to real-world health and wellness challenges. Lab component of Integrated Design 291. Twelve laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Integrated Design 390 or consent of instructor. Concurrent enrollment in Integrated Design 291.

ITD 195, 295, 395. Topics in Health Design.

Graduate studies within health design. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and Integrated Design 380 and 390, or consent of instructor

ITD 196, 296, 396, 496, 596, 696. Topics in Health Design Studio.

Project-based studio graduate work within health design. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of two hours of laboratory work per week for one semester. Additional hours to be arranged as needed. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and Integrated Design 380 and 390, or consent of instructor