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College of Arts, Media and Design

Design

Master's

Northeastern's MS in Design prepares you to solve complex problems through a project-based curriculum grounded in research, creativity, and human-centered practice.

Program curriculum Explore College of Arts, Media and Design
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Program Format
On ground
Time Commitment
Part time, Full time
Duration
12 Months
Entry Term(s)
Fall
Meets F1 visa requirements
Yes
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Program overview

Design for a changing world

Design thinking and practice impact virtually every professional and societal context. Northeastern’s Master of Science in Design focuses on design as a method for solving complex problems, building your leadership skills, and preparing you for a broad range of careers.

You’ll engage in project-based coursework spanning design research, process, and methods, human-centered design, human-computer interaction, visual cognition, advanced prototyping, and emerging technologies, including AI, AR/VR, and data-driven methods.

You can specialize your degree by choosing a concentration in experience design, information design and data visualization, or interaction design. Students in all concentrations work together, fostering a cross-disciplinary exchange that is integral to design in a rapidly changing world.

Specialize in one of three industry-aligned concentrations:

Experience design: Develop holistic, human-centered design interventions across multimodal experiences.

Information design and data visualization: Prepare to communicate complex data through rigorous visual and computational methods.

Interaction design: Investigate how humans engage with objects, environments, and systems, developing your capacity to design meaningful exchanges between people and technology.

 

  • Engage in a one-year design program that emphasizes professionally oriented outcomes.
  • Graduate prepared to apply design thinking across a broad range of professions and fields.
  • Gain a pathway to apply for our PhD in Interdisciplinary Design and Media, where you can pursue higher-level research.
  • Tailor your learning path with a choice of concentrations.
  • Stay ahead of rapid advancements in technology, industry, and society—understanding how each impacts the practice and profession of design.

Our graduates have gone on to companies and roles including:

  • Amazon (UX Designer)
  • American Express (Product Designer)
  • American Institutes for Research (Data Visualization + UI Designer)
  • The Associated Press (Data Visualization Developer)
  • CVS Health (UX Researcher)
  • Esri (Product Designer)
  • Fidelity Investments (Director, UX Design)
  • Financial Times (Digital Designer)
  • GM Financial (Data Science Engagement Analyst)
  • Google (Product Designer/User Experience Designer)
  • JP Morgan Chase & Co. (UX Research Lead)
  • Mad*pow (Creative Director)
  • Moderna (Principal UX Designer)
  • Pinterest (Product Designer and Researcher)
  • PlayStation (Senior Data Visualization Engineer)
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Experience Designer)
  • Valour (Service Designer)
  • Visa (Data Visualization Designer)
  • Vorn (Vice President, Client Experience and Strategy)
  • Zoom (Product Manager)

Admissions

Apply to the program

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world professional experience in your area of interest. Apply to take your career to the next level.


Fall Term

Priority deadline for scholarship consideration:February 1
Final deadline for international applicants out-of-country: June 15
Final deadline for international applicants in-country: July 1
Final deadline for domestic applicants: August 1

  • Application form

  • Application fee

  • Resumé

  • Personal statement

  • Transcripts from all institutions attended

    • The Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) is a required assessment of all transcripts and documents from non-U.S. accredited post-secondary education institutions. (Review the FCE requirements by country.)

  • Three letters of recommendation

  • Portfolio

  • TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo exam scores for international applicants

Program objectives

Prepare for success

Apply design thinking across a broad range of professional and societal contexts.

Focus on problem-solving design concepts

Learn to use design principles and tools to address real-world challenges—applying research and creativity to meet human needs.

Master research methods and systems thinking

Drive effective design solutions through a deep understanding of audience values, goals, and motivations.

Apply iterative processes

Learn to create cycles of feedback and learning to build, evaluate, and develop innovative prototypes and solutions.

Turn complex ideas into visuals

Combine analytical methods with design principles to translate complex ideas into compelling graphic forms and visual narratives.

Connect with us

Want more information?

We’re here to answer your questions about this program, the application process, and more. Complete the form below to receive additional program details and speak with a member of our enrollment team. 

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Cost of attendance

Tuition and financial aid

  • $67,520
    Tuition in USD

Estimated Total Tuition

This is an estimate based on the tuition rates for Academic Year 2026-2027 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time. Select programs at select campuses offer additional scholarships of up to 25% off the listed price for domestic students studying on campus. For more detailed information, please visit Student Financial Services.

For students interested in pursuing financial assistance or educational loans, additional educational costs, known as Cost of Attendance (COA) components, can be included in the calculation of aid and loan eligibility. Components may include food, housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, and the cost of obtaining a first professional licensure. You can find comprehensive details on the Student Financial Services website. Please keep in mind that COA can vary significantly depending on academic program, enrollment intensity, and individual circumstances.

There are many ways to pay for your education, including scholarships, financial aid, and more. Connect with a financial counselor to learn about your options and make your dream a reality.

Visit tuition & financial aid

Admitted, full-time master’s students are automatically considered for CAMD scholarship funding as part of the graduate program application review.

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