Dear Colleague,
Here follows a survey on doctoral education
in design from John DeMao of the Center for
Design Studies at Virginia Commonwealth
University.
The purpose of this survey is to give a broad
international overview of doctoral education
in design. The survey is divided into two
parts. The first is an institutional survey to be
answered by a member of the faculty or the
administration. The second part is addressed
to doctoral students, to learn more about the
experience and views of doctoral candidates.
Prof. De Mao will publish the results in an
issue of ZED / A Journal of Design. The results
will also be made public on the Center web site,
and they will be posted to this list.
There is very little comparative information on
doctoral education in design that allows us to
learn about the situation at many schools in the
many nations where we work. This is a great
opportunity for learning and research. I hope
that you will respond to this survey, and that
you will ask one of your doctoral students to
do the same.
Thank you,
Ken Friedman
--
Doctoral Education in Design
An Institutional Survey
--
The next issue of ZED / A Journal of Design, published by the Center
for Design Studies, will be devoted to an exploration and discussion
of the reality and relevancy of doctoral education in design. ZED 8 /
Doctoral Education in Design will include an international survey of
existing programs as one of its components. Our research indicates
that you have such a program. We would like to include your program
in our survey and I would appreciate your time in completing the
following survey or forwarding to the appropriate individual.
Also, we would very much like to hear from one of your doctoral
students. We are planning to run a series of short student essays
dealing with motivations, expectations, and experiences regarding
doctoral study.
These questions are divided into three components, a pragmatic
description, a more exploratory, subjective (as well as objective)
description of content and intent, and a section for current doctoral
students aimed at gauging their reaction to doctoral study. We are
attempting to give the reader factual information for reference but
also exposure to what the "experience" of doctoral study at each
institution might entail.
We would appreciate a response by March 25, 2002.
Please respond to:
[log in to unmask]
Results of the survey will be posted publicly on the Center for
Design Studies web site and to the lists where the query has gone out.
Thank you for your willingness to address these issues. Your insights
will be of great benefit to academics and professionals interested in
the issues surrounding doctoral education in design and to other
potential candidates considering a decision to enroll.
We will send you a copy of the completed publication as thanks for
your participation.
Thank you.
John DeMao Jr.
--
Institutional questions
--
Data
Institution
Department
Program
Year Established
--
Address
Phone
Fax
Email
Web
--
Number of Ph.D. faculty teaching in doctoral program
Number of full-time faculty teaching in doctoral program
Number of adjunct faculty teaching in doctoral program
Number of students in doctoral program
Number of completed Ph.D.s
What are the entrance requirements?
Outline of course of study
- Research Methods
- Studios
- Seminars
- Languages
- Electives
- Other
- Dissertation
Average length of time in study
Can any or all of the degree be done as a part time student?
Can any or all of the degree be done while not in residence and/or by
distance learning?
Theoretical bias
Mission statement or intent
Selected dissertation titles with abstracts
--
What was the reason for the establishing the doctoral program?
Please describe the philosophical framework within which the doctoral
program operates.
What specific strengths exist within the doctoral program at your institution?
What differentiates it from other doctoral programs in design?
How important to study, in the program, are the influences of
cross/multi/inter disciplinary connections?
In the program, is there a differentiation between practice-based
doctoral study and research-based doctoral study? If so, how and why?
What abilities, qualities, and values, does the program attempt to
nurture and develop in its students that will aid them in making
meaningful contributions to the academic and/or practicing
professions?
--
[Please ask one of your doctoral students to answer these questions]
Doctoral Student Questions
Thank you for your willingness to address these issues. Your insights
will be of great benefit to academics and professionals interested in
the issues surrounding doctoral education in design and to other
potential candidates considering a decision to enroll.
We will send you a copy of the completed publication as thanks for
your participation.
John DeMao Jr.
--
Please consider the following questions and formulate your response
as a short account of your feelings:
Why did you undertake doctoral study?
Please comment on your perceptions of the nature of the studies to
which you have been exposed. (for example, pedagogical method, rigor,
intensity, difficulty)
Have your studies differed from your expectations? If so, how? If
not, to what do you attribute this outcome?
What do you hope doctoral study will allow you to contribute to
academic or professional practice that would not otherwise have been
possible?
What has been the value of doctoral study to you on a personal level?
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