MFA in Design

Virtual open house UC Davis Graduate Program in Design: December 9, 12–1pm PST. RSVP here.

Please join us for a virtual open house to learn more about the UC Davis Graduate Program in Design. This two-year program encourages an interdisciplinary research-based approach, allowing students to benefit from the extensive resources available at a top tier public university. Our curriculum guides students in developing their research and creative practices, focusing on contemporary issues related to design in history, theory, and practice. Through a series of carefully designed core courses, students progress alongside their cohort while simultaneously advancing their individual thesis work. The MFA program culminates in a widely publicized thesis exhibition hosted at the Manetti Shrem Museum as well as with a written thesis, which is included in a thesis archive. During their time in the program, students are exposed to thought leaders in design through events such as the Alberini Family Lecture Series, the Research in Design Lecture Series, and other events. Graduate students are also supported in their efforts through mentorship and grants to present their thesis work at internationally recognized conferences and exhibitions.

The Design MFA offers a generous number of Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions for 10–20 hours per week that cover tuition and health insurance (for candidates applying by the January 15, 2025 priority deadline). Some highlights of the program include state-of-the-art makerspace, shops, labs, critique and studio spaces; travel and production stipends and fellowships; interdisciplinary learning across the university; deeply engaged and highly active faculty; teaching opportunities.

UC Davis is ranked first in the nation for campus sustainability by UI Green Metric (2022). It is ranked first in the nation for diversity, inclusiveness, and internationalization by QS University Rankings (2021), and ranked sixth among the nation’s top public universities by US News and World Reports (2024).

The expansive scope of our program is evident in the wide array of career paths our graduates pursue after completing their studies. These paths encompass roles both within and outside the design industry. Several recent graduates have secured tenure-track positions at universities worldwide while others have embarked on careers at top tier museums, or in technology related fields, as well as at leading research and design related organizations.

Please email any further questions to the Graduate Program Coordinator, Rachelle Agundes: ragundes [​at​] ucdavis.edu.