COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Design (MDes) at San José State University is a 60-unit terminal graduate program offered by the Department of Design with specializations in Animation and Experience Design. The program is located in Silicon Valley, providing students direct exposure to leading technology companies, creative industries, and innovation-driven environments. It is designed to combine advanced design theory, professional practice, and hands-on studio work, preparing students for leadership roles in design, media, and technology sectors.The curriculum is structured into three main components: core curriculum, specialization courses, and a culminating experience. The core curriculum (36 units) includes foundational graduate-level study in design thinking, contextual research, professional writing, and iterative proposal development. Students take courses such as professional writing in design, graduate seminars, contextual studies, and multiple stages of research development including pre-proposal and proposal preparation. A significant portion of the core involves repeated special study courses that allow students to develop and refine independent design work over time.Students then complete 20 units in either Animation or Experience Design. The Animation track emphasizes technical and creative production skills such as visual storytelling, sound design, post-production, interactive media, synthetic imagery, and emerging animation technologies. This specialization prepares students for careers in animation, visual effects, and digital content creation. The Experience Design track focuses on user-centered design, research methodologies, data-driven design, and emerging technologies, along with professional practice and studio-based experience design projects. This prepares graduates for roles in UX/UI design, interaction design, service design, and related fields.The program concludes with a 4-unit master’s project, where students demonstrate advanced design expertise through a comprehensive, independent creative work. Overall, the MDes program integrates creative exploration, technical skill development, research, and professional practice to prepare graduates for advanced careers in design, animation, and experience innovation industries.