Master of Design Studies
The post-professional MDesS program serves students with specialized interests to pursue advanced studies in fields including design history and theory, building technology; sustainability, urban and land planning and development; and real estate and project management. For the academic year of 2008/09 these programs have been enhanced with new content, and restructured into five focused areas of study. A new concentration area 'Sustainable Design' has been added. The areas of study complement the traditional elements of the GSD curriculum – architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and urban planning – and allow students to design a cross-disciplinary course of study that enables a high level of individualization and specialization.
Martin Bechthold, Sanford Kwinter, Program Directors
Concentration Areas
We are currently offering five different concentration areas. These interdisciplinary areas of study are designed to reflect the diversity and evolving interests of the students participating in the MDesS program, as well as the changing nature of professional practice and scholarly research in the field of design. For more information feel free to visit us in Gund Hall, 48 Quincy Street, 3rd floor, or contact the program administrator at mdes@gsd.harvard.edu.
History and Theory
In the History and Theory concentration, the history of modern and contemporary architecture and urbanism is emphasized, as are new methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of architectural culture.
Real Estate and Project Management
Real Estate and Project Management focuses on both private and public real estate development, including finance, project management, regulation and permitting, and other aspects of implementation.
Check out the Harvard Real Estate Development Club and the MDesS Project Management Hub Website.
Sustainable Design
Sustainable Design focuses on design strategies and technologies employed in the creation of ecologically balanced, comfortable and energetically efficient environments.
Technology
The Technology concentration focuses on advanced materials and systems, digital design and manufacturing and robotics, design computation, and product development processes.
Check out the Building Technology Site.
Urbanization and Housing
Urbanization and Housing examines the conceptual approaches, techniques and measures for successful city-making, including land planning and housing design.