Metadata
Title
UC Davis Graduate Studies
Category
courses
UUID
77ef522e4ac24bcbbb4d43f8ff19b83d
Source URL
https://grad.ucdavis.edu/programs/gdes
Parent URL
https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/departments-programs-degrees/design/design-mfa/
Crawl Time
2026-03-18T03:55:31+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Source: https://grad.ucdavis.edu/programs/gdes Parent: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/departments-programs-degrees/design/design-mfa/

Design

About the Program

Learn More About the Program

Visit the Program

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The M.F.A. in Design at UC Davis is a two-year program that encourages interdisciplinary approaches through research and practice aligning with social and environmental responsibility. We offer graduate students a unique opportunity to work with faculty in the Department of Design and across departments in one of the nation’s top public research universities. Design faculty expertise includes design theory, exhibition, fashion, history, information, interactivity, interior architecture, immersion, lighting, product, textiles, time-based, visual communication, wearables, and more. Students are encouraged to build connections across campus to expand perspectives and deepen understandings. Students’ progress through core courses alongside their cohort members while advancing their individual research. Core courses are augmented by graduate-level independent and group studies and upper-division undergraduate level electives. The M.F.A. program culminates in a written- and project-based thesis publicized in a major graduate exhibition. The program is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and public engagement.

Degree Type

Departmentally-Based Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

M.F.A. Plan I

Lead Dean

College of Letters and Science

Degree Requirements

2013

2006

Administrative ByLaws

2000

Major Code

GDES


Admissions and Fellowship Information

Admission Requirements

UC Davis General Admission Requirements \ Program Admissions Requirements

Admission Deadlines

General: Jan 15, 2026\ Space Available: Apr 1, 2026\

Internal Fellowship Deadlines

Prospective Student Fellowship: Jan 15, 2026\ Continuing Student Fellowship: Jan 15, 2026

Admissions Actions

Request Admissions Info

Apply for Admission


Program Contact Information

Primary Program Contacts

Graduate Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator\ Rachelle Agundes \ ragundes@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Program Chair

Department Chair\ Simon Sadler \ (530) 752-2004 | sjsadler@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Program Chair\ Brett Snyder \ blsnyder@ucdavis.edu

Department Chair\ Jae Yong Suk \ jysuk@ucdavis.edu

Additional Contacts

Program Contacts

Advisor: Admissions and General\ Brett Snyder \ Design \ blsnyder@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: Admissions and General\ Jiayi Young \ Design \ jdyoung@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Studies Contacts

Internal Fellowship Analyst\ Heidi West \ (530) 754-9473 | hewest@ucdavis.edu

Senior Academic Advisor\ Brittney Solar \ bsolar@ucdavis.edu