MFA in Transdisciplinary Design

Announcing Parsons School of Design MFA in Transdisciplinary Design virtual admission information session. Join the MFA in Transdisciplinary Design (TD) program directors from Parsons to learn more about this outstanding degree program.  Discover why Parsons is ranked the #1 design school in the United States by QS World University Rankings and see if our MFA program is the right fit for your educational goals.

At each virtual session, you’ll meet program directors and admission staff, have the opportunity to ask questions and more! Sessions are offered in December. RSVP Online.

Transdisciplinary Research and Practice at Parsons
The Transdisciplinary Design MFA at Parsons is a two-year, 60-credit STEM-designated program centered on critical inquiry, collaborative action, and transformative practice. Positioned at the intersection of social sciences, art, and design, the program fosters exploration and reflection, enabling practices to evolve with the world’s complexities. As we see it, Transdisciplinary Research and Practice engages exploratory forms of the social and political sciences, leveraging participatory and experimental design- and artistic-based research. These approaches are agnostic to medium and practice formats and can contribute to myriad career profiles including art, design, and social practices; research; consulting practices; organizing; activism; change strategies; and other efforts for transformation toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable society and greater planetary health.

The program, without parallel in the United States, provides a distinctive learning experience that seamlessly combines practical and theoretical discourses. It focuses on nurturing gestures to confront complex social issues, encouraging both collective and shared leadership, and advancing reflective practices that refine individual perspectives and skills, all aimed at collaborative endeavors for collective liberation. Together, students, faculty, and partners collaborate to enhance and broaden their skills in crafting image-oriented narratives, strategic propositions, aesthetic explorations, and more. These competencies are further strengthened by other ways of knowing and being, achieved through active engagement with situated and traditional knowledge, the land, the self, and one another.

Recent studio experiences are outlined at CollectiveFabulation.com.

The program is accredited as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Master’s program in the United States, offering our graduates the opportunity for a 36-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa extension. This extension is a gateway to unparalleled practical experience and professional growth after graduation, significantly enhancing career prospects in the US.

Request information: Learn more by joining our mailing list.

Submit your admission application: Admissions applications are open for the fall 2025 semester, with studies beginning in August 2025. The priority application deadline is January 5. No prior art or design experience is required, and applicants are accepted from a variety of backgrounds. Portfolio submissions are considered through a very expanded lens. All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships, with no separate application required. 

Parsons School of Design offers highly ranked programs in nearly every art and design discipline, along with a range of minors and electives offered through Parsons’ setting within The New School, a major research university. With an award-winning faculty of professional artists, designers, and scholars, Parsons gives students access to industry connections for internships and career opportunities. Located in New York City and Paris and equipped with world-class studios and innovative making spaces, Parsons is the premier school for aspiring artists and designers seeking a progressive, forward-thinking education.