Digital Art and Design: Graduate Programs

In this M.F.A. program, we integrate a historical perspective within the context of emerging technologies blended with a critical relationship to art via theory, technology, and practice. Our mission is woven into the mission of New York Institute of Technology, providing career-oriented professional education and access to opportunity for all qualified students. We support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world.

Our M.F.A. fosters creativity and curiosity in convergent technologies in the arts. Our focus is to support students in the creation of their work and to help students create comprehensive documentation of their work at New York Tech. We will encourage students in this studio research environment to create original works of art and design.

It is not enough to be technically proficient in the creation of art and design; nor is it enough to be theoretically engaged without studio practice. It is a critical perspective that mediates these two sensibilities in an advanced degree. This criticality manages our rich technological environment but allows it to be governed by the arts and aesthetics. To use technology in the arts is to work within a physical philosophy that is at once concrete and abstract, theoretical and embodied. To use computers, with the intent to make art, is to combine physical philosophy into an intuitive system, a unique, non-repeatable content—a work of art or design.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

See below for information on how to transition from a New York Tech Master of Arts (M.A.) program to the M.F.A. Department of Digital Art and Design.

Graphic Design and Media Innovation

The Graphic Design and Media Innovation program prepares graduate students to engage complex problems and creative research in design content, print design, web design, interactive design, exhibition design, and interface design. This creative research will result in the actualization of innovative design solutions to real-world design problems.

Our M.F.A reflects a shift in focus towards research and design for interactive applications, particularly in media. Courses cover topics that are current and relevant to this evolving discipline and aligns the curriculum with industry needs. This will include extensive preparation of professional workflow from concept logistical development, logistical planning, technical development, and final production of the design thesis project.

Thesis design production-based projects will be presented in a final exhibition that will include: a visual exhibition of an ambitious design solution, a written critical evaluation of the thesis project, and a comprehensive book that includes the process and documentation of the realization of the thesis project. Graduates will also be expected to make a successful oral presentation of their final thesis to their thesis advisor.

Transition Requirements to M.F.A.

Any student with an earned M.A. from New York Tech may transition into the M.F.A. in Digital Art and Design program with the following conditions:

1. 18 required M.F.A. thesis credits must be completed as listed below:

• ARTC 801/802/803: Graduate Critique/Thesis Orientation, 3 credits
• ARTC 851/852/853: Thesis Proposal, 3 credits*
• ARTU 862: Thesis Production I, 4 credits
• ARTU 872: Thesis Production II, 4 credits
• ARTC 871/872/873: Thesis Paper and Exhibition, 2 credits
• ARTB 751: Professional Critiques, 2 credits

* ARTC 852 Thesis Proposal is waived for transitioning UX/UI Design and Development program students.

2. 8–10 credits* of electives recommended by the M.F.A. faculty advisor from ARTA, ARTB, ARTC, ARTH, and/or ARTG series, above 600 level.

* UX/UI Design and Development program students must complete 15 credits of electives.

Digital Art and Design: Undergraduate Programs

A distinguished faculty of practicing artists and designers expose the student to a meaningful and rigorous academic experience that fosters creative exploration, critical thinking, refined craftsmanship, and professional development as they prepare for their art and design careers. Admission is competitive. Digital Art and Design applicants are required to submit a portfolio of previous artwork in which samples are evaluated for art, design, and conceptual thinking skills.

All curricula are designed to increase student awareness of the entire field of visual arts. Prior to specialized study, each area requires the same first-year foundation curriculum, which establishes principles of artistic concepts through emphasis on color, design, drawing, motion, time, and visual presentation. In addition, foundation courses provide an art historical and theoretical context. This is followed by a focused course of study that allows students to refine their crafts in the areas of animation, graphic design interactive/game design, and motion graphics.

The Department of Digital Art and Design’s facility promotes the synthesis of technological tools and artistic expression. In the classroom and art media labs, students use state-of-the-art hardware, as well as a wide variety of two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and graphics software applications. Advanced tools, including motion capture, gaming, 3-D printing, and emerging technologies, are considered among the most advanced in the metropolitan area.

In addition to receiving an academically rich course experience, the student of digital art and design will be introduced to practical concerns related to the professions of computer graphics and graphic design. This takes place through the integration of industry-driven content into the classroom in the forms of real-world projects, internships, site visits, and industry presentations. Digital Art and Design students’ academic research is further enhanced with multidisciplinary, practical, and global experiences in the context of New York Tech’s diverse regional and international communities.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Digital Arts

Today, digital art is a much sought-after field of study due to its expansive use in a variety of visualization applications throughout the world. Without the foundations in the principles of design, studio practice, and a portfolio of critiqued work, the application rarely produces professional results.

Our goal is to help students understand the relationship of design and technology. This allows the student to develop the ability to create and compose content that communicates ideas in an effective manner for both general and specific markets. Successful presentations will educate, inform, motivate, entertain, persuade, challenge, and inspire audiences while transcending the medium of delivery.

The digital arts major will take courses in areas including game design and interaction design experiences, animation, 3-D modeling, character design and development, digital sculpture, motion capture, motion graphics, and visual effects, and storyboarding.

Digital Arts with Game Design Concentration

This concentration will use an interdisciplinary approach—bringing together elements of animation, graphic design, and UI/UX as well as computer science, architecture, behavior studies, psychology, and education—to prepare students for the emerging technologies in game design.

These technologies continue to evolve, and the need for interdisciplinary approaches that combine technology, art, and design in an applied setting becomes increasingly important. As the game design industry expands, professionals and employers are looking for students with a focus that encompasses the standards and knowledge that a concentration like this would achieve.

Students completing this concentration will become familiar with new creative and expressive ways of applying game design fundentals to digital art and of applying digital art to game design, learning to use emerging technologies to create games as forms of dital art. The concentration will leverage a network of collaborators from academica and the design and gaming industries to prepare students for opportunities as digital designers with technical art skills within the game design field.

Graphic Design

Graphic design as an industry has become a significant growth area worldwide. With the rapid changes taking hold in the way business and advertising are being conducted today, it is no wonder that experts have targeted graphic design as the profession to manage and deliver the volume of information that is exponentially produced and consumed.

The new graphic designers must be able to design and direct a multitude of media without being lost in the avalanche. The graphic design sequence of courses prepares our students to accept the challenge by integrating and interpreting the language and syntax of visualization within emerging technology. This knowledge and skill has become the current entry-level requirement of the industry. New York Tech students will be well prepared at their first employment interview with portfolio in hand and on a web page.

The graphic design major will take courses in areas including advertising, currency, editorial, illustration, information graphics, branding, layout, motion graphics, packaging, typography, and web/interactive design.

Graphic Design, Minor

What is a minor in graphic design and why is it important?

Graphic design has emerged as an important asset in many industry sectors, including digital arts, communications and media production, architecture, business, computer science, and engineering. In these various contexts, design enhances communication through sophisticated and entertaining visual formats. Contemporary examples include social media and web platforms, which utilize animated graphics, typography, background, color palette, and layout to effectively present information. Entrepreneurs and product designers develop an ideation process in order to translate an object’s functionality into a distinctive, memorable, and pleasing user experience. The success of a presentation—whether in a business environment or classroom—depends on a sophisticated presentation incorporating motion graphics, typography, and stylized look or feel.

Technological advancements including augmented reality and rapid prototyping present further opportunity for innovating the way that a product is delivered, sold, and experienced. Through the HIVE (Home of Innovation, Visualization, and Exploration), graphic design students will have access to advanced visualization tools to push the possibilities of any design goal.

The Minor in Graphic Design is designed to provide students from across the university visual communication strategies, digital manipulation skills, and fundamental knowledge of industry standards, technologies, and terminologies, along with creative thinking and problem solving. This minor is in line with the New York Institute of Technology mission of offering career-oriented, professional education.

Upon successful completion of the Minor in Graphic Design, students will be able to:

1. Apply principles of visual organization to information in the context of their discipline
2. Present visual content in effective and aesthetically pleasing ways
3. Generate media that will help explore, develop, and refine their communications
4. Demonstrate diverse knowledge and skills required to perform professionally in an evolving creative work environment

The Minor in Graphic Design is open to all majors. Candidates do not need to present a portfolio to show proficiency in Adobe programs. The minor will consist of 15 credits made up of the four core courses* and one elective.

* Courses from other New York Tech majors can be considered acceptable substitutes for the minor’s required courses. For the substitution(s) to be considered, the student must earn at least a grade of “C” in the course considered for the substitution. Students who wish to request a course substitution should contact the Department of Digital Arts and Design chairperson.

UX/UI Design and Development, M.A.

UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface) Design and Development is emerging as a crucial qualification in various industry sectors, including emerging technology (AR/VR/MR), voice , AI/ML entertainment (gaming, motion pictures, etc.), technology, finance, insurance, automobile, military, digital arts, communications, media production, architecture, business, science, medicine, computer science, engineering, and web and mobile app design.

Technological advancements including augmented reality (AR) present further opportunity for innovating user experiences. The success of the digital experience depends on sophisticated interactive design, which is implemented using state-of-the-art hardware and software techniques. The work of UX/UI designers and developers will continue to expand as the technology develops and companies increase their digital presence.

In conjunction with our diverse, committed faculty, the Department of Digital Art and Design possesses a facility that is unique and makes New York Tech stand out. Through the HIVE (Home of Innovation, Visualization, and Exploration), students have an opportunity to work with an impressive array of cutting-edge technologies that rivals other institutions. The HIVE provides access to advanced visualization tools to push the possibilities of any UX/UI design goal.

The Master of Art in UX/UI Design and Development is designed to offer students visual design strategies; digital development skills; and fundamental knowledge of industry standards, technologies, and terminologies, along with creative thinking and problem solving. The degree is in line with New York Institute of Technology’s mission of offering career-oriented, professional education.

The M.A. is oriented toward artists and non-artists who are aiming to be designers of interactive experiences. This program will provide students with a master’s-level understanding of how to design and develop a range of user interfaces within a variety of contexts. These competencies are increasingly important in an expanding variety of fields emerging from interdisciplinary studies and industries.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

School of Architecture and Design

Degrees Offered

The School of Architecture and Design offers degrees through three departments: Architecture, Digital Art and Design, and Interior Design.

Several architecture degrees are offered: a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology (B.S.A.T.) and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology with a Concentration in Construction Management (B.S.A.T.+CM), a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.), a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), a Master of Science in Health and Design (M.S.HD), and Master of Science in Architecture programs in Computational Technologies (M.S.ACT) or Urban Design (M.S.AUD).

In Digital Art and Design, six degrees are offered, as well as one minor: Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degrees in Digital Arts, in Digital Arts with a concentration in Game Design, and in Graphic Design; a Master of Science (M.S.) in Digital Product Design; a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Graphic Design and Media Innovation; a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in UX/UI Design and Development; and a minor in Graphic Design.

The Interior Design department offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design (B.F.A.). Additionally, it offers a track within the B.F.A. leading to acceptance into the School of Management's Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program with a specialization of Design Management.

The B.Arch. is recognized as a first professional degree and is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design (B.F.A.) is a professional degree accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The M.Arch. is recognized as a first professional degree and is also accredited with NAAB.

About the School of Architecture and Design

Architecture has the functional task of creating built environments for human activities. As an expression of human values, it must address the interrelated physical, social, political, economic, and cultural issues of our time. The curriculum reflects this range of inquiry. Design is an intellectual and social enterprise, as well as an art form. It requires the integration of liberal ambition and technical expertise. Pedagogically, the design studio sequence provides a project-based, experiential learning environment that allows students to apply knowledge from other areas of the curriculum.

The school maintains the emphasis on design experimentation and applied-based learning within the curriculum, prepares students for effective participation in the profession, and for rendering service to the public while contributing to the continuous and sustainable development of the field. Students define their own goals and career paths based on the knowledge acquired in the classroom, tested through the varied projects and dimensional scales in the design studios, technology-construction and history-theory sequences, and other project and visualization-based courses in the program, and approached with an attention to the local conditions with the understanding of a diverse and inclusive global perspective.

The School of Architecture and Design supports professionalism and excellence in its programs, based on its focus on research and design pedagogy. New York Institute of Technology is an ideal place to foster innovation and to advance discovery. This is consistent with the vision for New York Tech to be a place where students learn to become critical and creative thinkers, combining the mindset of critical humanists with the design thinking of engineers and artists.

Rapidly advancing technology is transforming the world around us in ways that are seen and unseen, many that are beyond the limits of our imagination. By encouraging confrontations between ethical judgement, critical thinking and ever more powerful tools of design and production, we seek to empower our students to take ownership over driving their careers and the profession. By enhancing student and faculty research opportunities, we hope to generate new pedagogical models.

The development of interdisciplinary fields of study, supported by collaborations with other units, departments, and programs at the university, will prepare students for leadership roles, and to participate in the rapid transformations occurring in academia and the profession, particularly with respect to the increasingly global issues of natural and built environments. Technology-based curricula with interdisciplinary courses offer strong quality and unique educational experiences fostering environmental awareness, sustainable solutions, and social responsibility. The B.Arch. and B.S.A.T. curricula are committed to interdisciplinary fields of study. The curriculum is organized so that the third year of study offers a variety of topical specializations with access to a broad range of available electives, including ones outside of the School of Architecture and Design, and in collaboration with a variety of academies, institutions, and communities around the world.

Interior design as an art and a profession has greatly changed. In the past, a career in interior design was understood primarily as the act of decorating an existing space. It has evolved into a profession that is far broader and encompassing. Today's interior designers are trained to enhance the quality of working and living environments. This includes aesthetics in addition to functionality, efficiency, and safety. Many interior designers today are part of larger design teams including architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and others working in tandem to create exciting environments. Their work professionally allies and interrelates with architecture and architectural technology.

In digital art and design, we enable creativity and discovery and help students become visual artists and communication designers, storytellers, and entrepreneurs. Through curricular innovation, the use of cutting edge technologies and under the guidance of accomplished faculty, students can explore new territories, experiment with new methodologies and tools, rise above disciplinary boundaries, and become the thinkers and makers of the next generations.

The integration of coursework between the interior design program and the architecture program at the School of Architecture and Design facilitates a collaboration between interior design and architecture students that will serve graduates well when they enter the workplace. All undergraduate students in the School of Architecture and Design are required to complete two semesters of design fundamentals (AAID 101 and AAID 102 or DSGN 102), horizontally coordinated with two semesters of visualization (AAID 140 and 240) and two semesters of history and theory (AAID 160, ARCH 161, or DSGN 160) prior to advancing in their respective, discipline-related design studio sequences.

Bachelor of Architecture, B.Arch.

Students interested in the architecture program at the School of Architecture and Design (SoAD) at New York Institute of Technology can apply directly to the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program through the submission of a creative portfolio. A two-year common core curriculum also shares the first-year AAID sequence with interior design students. This curriculum includes design studios, visualization, and architectural history courses, as well as liberal arts courses such as English composition, math, physics, behavioral science, economics, fine arts, and social science.

Completion of the B.Arch. degree will allow you to proceed with the sequence of internship and professional steps that lead to licensure and certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. The B.Arch. also prepares you for New York state licensure and reciprocal licensure in other states.

Design fundamentals studios, during the first year, introduce the student to the basic principles of 2-D and 3-D design through a series of composition, planning, and introductory design problems. In the second year, progressively more demanding challenges, in addition to significant building design and analysis exercises, are undertaken with a better understanding of planning and site. Students accepted into the five-year B.Arch. program are required to complete six additional semesters of design studios. In the third year, students are required to solve architectural problems involving small but increasingly more complex building programs. Comprehensive building design programs requiring inventive structural and technical systems, as well as urban and community design, are emphasized in the fourth year. In the fifth and final year of the program, students undertake a terminal thesis project, which including research and design components, serves to demonstrate a cumulative grasp of all the factors that influence the design of a complex work of architecture.

The Bachelor of Architecture in the School of Architecture and Design is widely respected by the professional community for its course offerings in the areas of design, building technology, and digital fabrication. Technical competence is cultivated by exposure to an array of course offerings that cover all aspects of building materials, structural and environmental systems, as well as mechanical and electrical systems. Construction management is introduced in the comprehensive upper-level courses that focus on professional practice and construction supervision, as well as integrated computer technologies in the construction industry.

Additional Information

All work completed in fulfillment of course requirements or in conjunction with a student’s coursework shall be the property of the School of Architecture and Design. The school may waive this right at its discretion. Students reserve the right to gain access to materials for the purpose of making copies and reproductions.

The School of Architecture and Design exercises a policy of student redistribution in design studio sections that meet at the same scheduled time period in order to promote equality and diversity in the learning experience. Redistribution is based on the student’s prior experience with design faculty members and their previous academic performance.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Summer Study Abroad

The School of Architecture and Design has a variety of summer study abroad programs, and also offers studio trips, design workshops, collaborative programs, and exchanges with other institutions. These programs are offered under the direction of one or more full-time faculty members. The school offers one to three of these diverse study abroad programs each summer depending upon student interest and faculty availability. Thus far, the university has offered programs in Japan, China, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, the Netherlands, Israel, Finland, and India.

These programs put students and faculty in direct contact with prestigious international academic institutions, students, architects, and various cultural contexts. This provides students with first-hand knowledge of the diversity and impact of global architecture on communities and cities. Summer study abroad course credits can be applied to a student’s specific curriculum and field of study. The summer programs are open to students enrolled in any degree program offered by the School of Architecture and Design.

NAAB Accreditation Statement

NYIT School of Architecture and Design’s Bachelor of Architecture (five-year) program is accredited by the NAAB, the National Architectural Accreditation Board. The following statement is included in the catalog, pursuant to the requirement of the NAAB:

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission; however, the pre-professional degree is not by itself recognized as an accredited degree.

New York Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Design offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

• BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE (160 undergraduate credits)

Interior Design, B.F.A.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Interior Design Program of the School of Architecture and Design at New York Institute of Technology is to prepare graduates who are globally engaged, environmentally sensitive, and have acquired the intellectual tools, artistic sensibility, and hands-on technical proficiency for high-level practice and interdisciplinary engagement.

The program has been in existence for over half a century. Its long-term future is based on the integration of cutting-edge technological tools with rock-solid professional skills. These foundational components were established under the strong, influential leadership of Hans Schroeder, the department’s first chair.

The Department of Interior Design is recognized as one of the leading CIDA-accredited programs offering outstanding career preparation within the unique context of a school of architecture and design. The program offers its students comprehensive expertise in interdisciplinary practice models, and is supported by the leading edge of professional practice and emerging new technologies.

The Offerings

There are two distinct offerings within the program. The first track consists of 130 credits towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Interior Design. The second track is a 4+1 option, a 30-credit Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) within the School of Management, which is a supplemental degree to the Interior Design, B.F.A. In the second track, the program provides a curriculum structure for students to take 500-level graduate courses, recognized by the School of Management towards their M.B.A., while they are enrolled in the B.F.A. undergraduate program.

Students attend, and faculty teach, at the New York City campus. All students admitted to the Interior Design Program begin their studies with a foundation year of design, visualization, history, and theory, along with the required Discovery Core courses. Combined cohorts of architecture and interior design students take these courses together, providing Interior Design students with the opportunity to integrate within the School of Architecture and Design and interact with peers in allied programs.

Direct admission into the first year of either track requires a minimum combined SAT score of 1080 (critical reading and math only) or ACT of 21. Students failing to meet this requirement are permitted to matriculate with an undeclared degree status and take select courses which foster the exploration of architecture and design pathways to demonstrate academic success in a college setting. Completion of the first semester with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 allows the undeclared student to register for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design or the 4+1 track.

The Interior Designer of Today

As the interior design profession has gained prominence and professional stature, being charged with the execution of important public safety and welfare functions, the designer is recognized as an integral member of the professional team alongside architects and engineers. This expanded role places increased pressure on Interior Design professionals and therefore on schools to maintain exacting standards and accreditation with councils charged with ensuring the knowledge and expertise required for this demanding profession. The interior designer not only creates human environments which enhance the function and quality of public and private spaces, but also the expression of human values—by providing a context for human activity, improving the quality of life, and increasing productivity, all while protecting the public’s health and safety.

The Interior Design program prepares students for the rewarding challenges of designing for the 21st century. The program focuses on the relationship between human performance and environment through an innovative mix of studio design projects, profession-specific coursework, community-oriented projects, and internships in the field. Complementing these experiences, the program also offers study abroad and multiple, interactive ventures with furniture, media, textile, lighting, and other material manufacturers. New York City is a major metropolitan area with significant centers of design, showrooms of products, practitioners’ studios and offices, as well as access to iconic public spaces. The alternative locations serve as a "living" classroom, deepening the student experience.

Students are introduced to, and work with, professionals through office and project site visits. To enhance student learning, the program reaches out, not only locally and regionally, but also globally. New York Tech's Interior Design program was one of 18 schools from around the world invited to participate in the celebrated Salone Satellite exhibition in Milan, Italy, one of the world’s most exclusive design and furniture fairs.

The Curriculum

The curriculum includes coursework that covers all aspects of professional interior design. Advanced courses in interior design cover such topics as materials, color, digital modeling and rendering, animation, CNC fabrication, 3D printing, BIM, computer-aided drawing (CAD), building codes, history of interior design and architecture, furniture design, lighting, business procedures, and special projects. The curriculum is sequential, with the knowledge that the skills and design sensibilities gained at each level directly affect succeeding levels as students advance through the program.

A special aspect of the program is that many faculty members are practicing professionals in the fields of interior design, architecture, industrial design, graphics, and other related professions. This cross-disciplinary approach mirrors real-world interaction and relationships. As the professions of interior design and architecture reference each other more and more, this aspect becomes a critical and important distinction for both programs.

The cultural diversity and broad life experiences of our student cohorts are integral to the program. To ensure opportunity for students with diverse backgrounds, portfolios are only voluntarily submitted for review (not required) as part of the admission process. However, all students are required to submit an evaluation/portfolio for review, and have a 2.75 cumulative index or a 3.0 average in interior design coursework after completion of the second semester of their second year. Acceptance of the evaluation/portfolios is required prior to admittance to the third year of study. Transfer students who are applying for interior design, architecture, or fine arts credits must have a portfolio review with the department to determine their position in the program.

Students work closely with faculty advisors who serve as academic and professional mentors throughout their years at New York Institute of Technology. To further refine professional development, students are required to participate in an internship. To be eligible, students must have sophomore or higher status and at least one semester in residence with a 2.0 or better GPA. The internship requirement is for a minimum of 256 hours and affords the student the opportunity to gain practical experience, increase professionalism, develop a basic understanding of the work environment, and sharpen career focus.

From Study to Professional Practice

In the final year of study, students develop a capstone thesis, which serves to showcase their skills and accrued knowledge in the design program. They develop and research a program, select a site, and conceptualize and design an interior environment. The research, documents, and images that result are presented to a professional jury of practitioners and professors.

Scholarship opportunities specifically for interior design students include the Brendalyn Stempel Scholarships (selected by the donor and available to students entering their fourth year of studies) and the ELF awards through the local ASID chapter and awarded through the department each year. In addition, our students have applied for and been recipients of the National Donghia Scholarships, IIDA, and NEWH scholarships.

The 4-year Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design and the 4+1 B.F.A.-M.B.A. put the student firmly on a professional career path. Upon graduation and two years of interior design work experience (half of which may be possible to achieve while in school), U.S. graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Council of Interior Design Qualification exam. Passage of this exam, in conjunction with one additional year of work experience, allows for application to New York State to be licensed as a CID, Certified Interior Designer. Other states have similar certification and licensing requirements. The interior design program at New York Tech has been continuously accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation since March 1984. The 2019 CIDA visit resulted in a six-year professional level accreditation through 2025.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Master of Science in Architecture, Urban Design

The M.S. in Architecture, Urban Design (M.S.AUD) two-semester post-professional program focuses on the intersection of urban forms, applied technology, climate resilience, ecosystems, and socio-cultural aspects of cities. The M.S.AUD is a program at the forefront of urban design research focused on issues of urbanization through the exploration of social, cultural, technological, and environmental domains. Our graduate program confronts the challenges of urban design in the context of 21st-century cities and regions. The program focuses on the following areas to investigate scenarios for future cities and urban innovation:

• Interscalar forms of urbanization (urban, metropolitan, regional, global)
• Climate resiliency, sustainability, and climate change
• Socio-cultural aspects of cities
• Urban technology

The graduate program is located in the heart of New York City, drawing from world-class faculty, public and private organizations, and active professionals leading global practices based in the metropolitan area. The urban setting encourages students to combine theory with experience by living and working in a variety of areas and conducting field study in and around New York City. A study abroad program investigates urban design scenarios in global contexts and it has been integrated into the design studio sequence.

The program prepares graduates to succeed in this interdisciplinary field by providing opportunities for case studies to test and apply new insights, theory, and designs to contemporary and future challenges. Students learn to apply a range of design tools, including digital modeling for urban design, data-driven urban processes, resilient and sustainable strategies, and environmental performance indicators, along with social and cultural aspects of cities. There is an emphasis on the consideration and critique of the historical, physical, social, political, and philosophical context shaping settlements and regions.

The intersection of urban forms, sustainability, technology, and socio-cultural aspects is at the forefront of urban design research, which defines the focus of the advanced urban design studios. The design studios are organized to integrate the following theme:

• New York City: The contemporary metropolis after relentless urbanization. Leveraging New York City as a research platform in the design studio, graduate students explore formal urban design precedents while engaging with leading NYC and global stakeholders.
• Urban Climate Lab: Students research the intersection of urban form, low-carbon cities, and climate to prepare future practitioners confronting a rapidly urbanizing world threatened by climate change.
• Global Megacities: Students integrate urban and regional design applied approaches to metropolitan region and global contexts.

The full-time program requires students to enroll in 15 credits per semester, with limited exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Courses may be taught in a team format, depending on project type, intended product, and the relationship established with public agencies, civic organizations, and research funding; individual design trajectories are leveraged within the curriculum as well.

The graduate program in urban design is a post-professional master’s degree for those holding a first professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or planning, with an emphasis on physical design of the built environment.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Master of Architecture, M.Arch.

The Master of Architecture Program prepares students for professional leadership with advanced study in architectural design, technology, theory, and research. As the boundaries of architectural practice shift and technology evolves, our graduates gain critical perspectives to offer design leadership that will contribute to an increasingly sustainable built environment. This path of study culminates in the granting of the professional M.Arch. degree.

M.Arch. candidates study with a distinguished faculty of scholars, professors of practice, and visiting professors who bring unique focus, expertise, and interdisciplinary approaches to our program. Our students may also conduct advanced study in collaboration with the School of Architecture and Design’s master of science programs in Architecture, Urban Design; Architecture, Computational Technologies; or Architecture, Health and Design.

We prepare our graduates to enter today’s design and construction fields with uniquely experimental and innovative approaches to the challenges of architectural practice—from those at the scale of individual structures and their components, to complex institutions, multi-use projects, and whole communities—with deep understanding of the extended contexts within which we operate.

As the building professions increasingly rely on specialized platforms and fabrication processes, the critical role of architects in society will be to provide the skills and techniques to contribute to, and the perspective to lead, the interdisciplinary teams that realize built projects.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Architectural Technology, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology (B.S.A.T.) is a non-professional degree offering that permits the successful student to gain a license to practice architecture in the state of New York but does not make the degree holder eligible for NCARB certification. Should the successful B.S.A.T. graduate later seek to gain a first professional degree in architecture, they could pursue a first professional B.Arch. or a first professional M.Arch.

Design fundamentals and first-year design studios introduce the student to the basic principles of 3-D design through a series of composition, planning, and introductory design problems. In the second year, progressively more demanding challenges, in addition to significant building design analysis exercises, are undertaken. In the third year, students are required to solve architectural problems involving small but increasingly more complex building programs, and urban and community building design programs requiring inventive structural systems are emphasized.

In the fourth and final year of the B.S.A.T. curriculum, students are required to complete a capstone project, where all aspects of a building design and architectural technology are fully explored and integrated into one comprehensive exercise.

Those students who choose to undertake the B.S.A.T. program may wish to consider the opportunity to concentrate their studies in construction management. Upper-level courses in areas such as contract management, construction supervision, and real estate fundamentals make up the offerings of the B.S.A.T. with a concentration in construction management.

The School of Architecture and Design additionally offers an accelerated path to the M.Arch. Track II professional degree for undergraduate students wishing to begin their graduate studies during the final two years of their Bachelor of Science degrees, thereby reducing the course load in the M.Arch. program.

Although design studios form the core of the experience at the School of Architecture and Design, complementary avenues of study and inquiry operate as essential aspects of the program and the training of students. Courses in architectural history introduce students to the history of the built domain from the earliest times to the present; methods of historical building design analysis and interpretation are introduced to students through the study of great architectural monuments and cities; and architectural history is introduced not only as a chronology of building development but also as a body of knowledge, an anthology that serves as a tool in the design process. In addition to survey courses, the school offers history seminars in areas such as architectural theory, building technology, and urban planning. A coordinated sequence of drawing and computer courses provides students with the skills to visualize and document design ideas through advanced media and tools for digital visualization and rendering.

The School of Architecture and Design is widely respected by the professional community for its course offerings in the areas of building technology. Technical competence is cultivated by exposure to an array of course offerings that cover all aspects of building materials, structural systems, and mechanical and electrical systems. The management of the construction process is covered by comprehensive upper-level courses that focus on the procedures of professional practice and construction supervision as well as contemporary use of computers in the construction industry. The technology faculty, as active members of the construction community, bring real-world experience to coursework and maintain an up-to-date bridge between the curriculum and changes in professional practice.

Two degrees in the area of Architectural Technology are offered:

• Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology, Construction Management Concentration

Additional Information

All work completed in fulfillment of course requirements or in conjunction with a student's coursework shall be the property of the School of Architecture and Design. The school may waive this right at its discretion. Students reserve the right to gain access to materials for the purpose of making copies and reproductions.

The School of Architecture and Design exercises a policy of student redistribution in design studio sections that meet at the same scheduled time period in order to promote diversity and collaboration in the learning experience. Redistribution is based on the student's prior experience with design faculty members and their previous academic performance.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Summer Study Abroad

The School of Architecture and Design has a variety of summer study abroad programs, and also offers studio trips, design workshops, collaborative programs, and exchanges with other institutions. These programs are offered under the direction of one or more full-time faculty members. The school offers one to three of these diverse study abroad programs each summer depending upon student interest and faculty availability. Thus far, New York Institute of Technology has offered programs in Japan, China, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, the Netherlands, Israel, Finland, and India. These programs put students and faculty in contact with international students and architects while immersed in another culture, enabling them to understand firsthand the range, diversity, and power of living architecture as individual buildings or as entire cities and spaces. Summer study abroad course credits can be applied to a student's specific curriculum and field of study. The summer programs are open to students enrolled in any degree program offered by the School of Architecture and Design.

Master of Science in Health and Design

The Master of Science in Health and Design program approaches design and health from an ecosystem and an embodied perspective, investigating our built environment and the impact on humans in order to derive a holistic understanding down to key factors determining an individual's health. It informs a learner's future agency that is built upon a transdisciplinary platform which empowers one to create adaptive environments, dynamic tools, regenerative materials or circular products that have social and ecological benefits and enhance health and wellbeing for all.

We want to empower people to improve their lived experiences through design.

The program facilitates students and experts to collaborate in research on inclusive design and purpose driven projects that investigate the impact of design on health, environment and healthcare. Health is essential to a population's economic, cultural and social future. Our purpose is to facilitate broader access to care, wellbeing and provide better health to everyone.

The curriculum invites students to imagine how we can go beyond a traditionally symptom driven definition of health and care to a broader understanding of the originating factors that determine an individual's health over a life span. Approaching health as an ecosystem, we explore new research territories for health and design by questioning disciplinary practices and boundaries, un-learning processes and overcoming stuck mindsets. We discover modes that build a student's competency in creating healthy environments and products, which are becoming preventive and therapeutic.

Our faculty are exploring with students new ground in three systemic contexts of building community resilience towards future pandemics or natural disasters: health systems, urban systems and material systems. Projects are oriented towards propositions of new spatial, material and medical prototypes, and their social, cultural and emotional effect on the health of people and communities. By experimenting at the overlaps of the disciplinary connections between the health sciences and design, the goal is to develop and apply new approaches to designing the qualities of space in general from a health framework point of view, and subsequently to influence care spaces for treatment, convalescence, and recovery.

This program aims to focus its research interests, curriculum, and pedagogy on the deep influence of the interactional, experiential, material, and environmental qualities of our designed spaces upon the health, wellness, and fitness of our bodies and minds. In it's approach to these objectives, this program centers on people and explores potential applications of emerging materials and technologies, rather than focusing on solving problems through tried and tested formulations. Ultimately, a new form of speculative interdisciplinary design practice may arise, targeting innovation through the cross pollination of various disciplines and arenas of practice.

This master of science program brings together educators from architectural and interior design, UX-UI interface designers, medical technology experts, human factors engineers, data and visualization consultants, industrial and product designers, lighting designers, programmers, physical computing and technology entrepreneurs, and a range of contributors from health sciences, including doctors, nurses, and other experts such as occupational therapists, mobility specialists, etc.

We believe that only as a diverse and inclusive team we can address health from both a systemic and an embodied perspective, targeting aspects of the global environmental crisis or mental and physical disabilities through advanced design, technological, and material solutions.

Students in the program will:

1. Understand, critically reflect upon, and overcome stuck tendencies and prejudices in how health and disease are framed, stated, researched, funded, and how it can be differently addressed through design
2. Build connections and apply knowledge from a range of disciplinary sources towards an advanced design method in which health in its broadest sense acts as the organizing frame for design research and practice
3. Understand how to evaluate materials based on health and environmental concerns, and design products with intrinsically preferable attributes throughout their life cycles
4. Understand the socio-technical models for healthcare redesign, and how best to evaluate their impact with regards to patient experience and products by understanding the system point of view
5. Understand and leverage from an embodied perspective the advantages of digital technology from software and data to wearables technology in the health and design fields

The M.S. in Health and Design program will contribute to the intellectual and professional strengths of New York Tech in its commitment to transdisciplinarity, social purpose, and a culture of technology as it relates to models of healthy living and the design of regenerative environments.

In this light, the School of Architecture and Design strives to engage innovation via technology through the collaborative exchange between various professional and disciplinary domains of expertise across the medical and design fields. This program aims to provide career-oriented professional education to our students, creating opportunities for graduates in their professional destinations, and contribute to the benefit of the larger world in a renovated approach to health and design.

Graduating students are applying for leadership positions in areas such as:

• Design consulting firms as health design strategists
• AEC and architecture firms as health and care specialists
• Healthcare device manufacturers as product and project consultants
• Large health care insurances and health data startups as health service design experts
• Health institutions and municipal planning offices as health and design planners

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Master of Science in Architecture, Computational Technologies

The Master of Science in Architecture, Computational Technologies focuses its teaching and research towards propositions of new spatial built architecture which is designed through innovation in computer-based representation and fabrication systems. The program’s objectives for output are to develop new emerging technologies, such as computational systems of spatial representation, and robotic systems for interactivity, and robotic systems for construction including new materials in order to activate through built architectural prototypes at full scale, new spatial conceptions, ecological environmental issues, and virtual and physical augmented human interactivity.

This program aims to focus its research interests, curriculum, and pedagogy upon spatial, material, and environmental qualities of the designed spaces, expanding notions of inhabitation, ecology, interactivity, computation, and robotics:

• Computational Design
• Robotic Interactivity
• Robotic Fabrication
• Materials

Through full-scale applied research, which expands conventional aesthetic design agendas, the program intends to critically integrate the history and theory of representation, computation, and technologies. The program critically revises architectural history from contemporary lenses, and theorizes new possibilities for architecture through advancements in both computation and fabrication.

In the context of new technologies rapidly challenging cultural models, an important question is how to reformulate the typical relationships between technology and culture. Our program focuses on research and investigations of materials and construction systems defining architectural building components, including digital robotic fabrication, and physical computation systems (robotics). Expanding design authorship to the parameters informing design may lead to paradigmatic transitions towards new forms of architecture.

Ultimately, the output of the program will be a range of full-scale applied research projects, including: augmented interactive virtual reality spaces, interfaces, plug-ins, and software research and development that determine architecture spatial representations—from full-scale built architectural prototypes and spaces, to new ecological materials, and the research and development of robotic machines that determine construction systems. The program will expand the transdisciplinary experimental field through applied research integration and expand various forms of specialized knowledge within various domains including architects, engineers, material scientists, bioengineering, ecologists, media artists, interactive designers, computer scientists, data scientists, and other fields of knowledge. Students in the Master of Science in Architecture program will study these issues in design studios, labs/workshop, and core and elective courses cumulatively activating evidence-based applied research to measuring and testing its output design.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Download Our Program Brochure

Students in the program will:

1. Learn history and theory of systems of representation and technology
2. Integrate science, technology, ecology and architecture
3. Learn and advance skills in computational design by integrating data science (API) and computer science (AI, machine learning, artificial neural networks through TensorFlow, Python programming + Rhinoceros Grasshopper plug in, simulation, optimization); robotics through physical computation (Raspberry Pi, sensors, interactivity, VR, AR, MR) and robotic fabrication (Python + Kuka KRL (GH PRC)); and materials design (simulation, optimization, robotic materials, 4d printing)
4. Innovate through Big Data (survey, simulation), including research and development on systems of representation and interfaces (virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, simulations, algorithms, plug-ins, software development, interactive applications, machine learning, and AI)
5. Integrate of a range of multiple disciplines, expanding their domains of expertise into transdisciplinary fields through robotic fabrication for interactive spaces-environments (ecology and health), prototypes and full scale projects, including research and development on computer aided machinery, sensors, 3D printing, computer numeric control (CNC) machines, and robotics integrating an artistic approach to architecture applying scientific research through evidence based design.
6. Conduct research and development in architecture technology through experimentation with materiality, including programmable materials, composite materials, ecological materials, bio-materials, and 4d printing
7. Be leaders and visionaries for the expansion of possible futures of architecture and design by identifying how to inform reality real time and open up new forms of practice

In alignment with the university’s mission statement, the M.S. in Architecture, Computational Technologies will help leverage the strengths of the vision, goals, and objectives of exploring the interdisciplinarity of technology, and how architecture can integrate computational design systems and fabrication with engaging collaborative exchanges between various professional and disciplinary domains of expertise. The proposed program will address emerging new technologies across architecture, engineering, art, computation, robotics, and the sciences through applied experimental research in built architectures.

Digital Product Design, M.S.

The M.S. in Digital Product Design program is crafted to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge for success in digital product design. Our curriculum focuses on creating and managing digital products, with an emphasis on emerging and future technologies and the principles of user-centered design (UCD), design thinking (DT), human-computer interaction (HCI), the Internet of Things (IoT), prototyping, wireframing, usability testing, information architecture, and design research.

Moreover, students will delve into cutting-edge technologies, including machine learning, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), voice interfaces, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), through real-world projects. Upon completion, students will excel in aligning digital products with business needs, enhancing marketability, and meeting user demands, emerging as innovative problem solvers in digital design.

In essence, our program strives to equip and empower students with the skills and knowledge essential for excelling in digital product design in a digital ecosystem that supports industry, commerce, and education. The program focuses on providing students with expertise in various aspects of digital product design, including user-centered design principles, emerging technologies, and effective product management strategies. Completion of this degree program will prepare graduates to actively contribute to the creation of innovative and user-centered digital products across diverse industries.

Program Objectives

By the conclusion of the program, students will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to establish connections and apply their understanding of user-centric design and ethical innovation principles.
2. Attain advanced knowledge in innovative technology integration and the adoption of emerging technologies, including AR/VR and voice interfaces.
3. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in product development, growth design, entrepreneurship, and market expansion.

Students in the program will attain advanced knowledge in integrating innovative technologies such as Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), voice interfaces, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into digital product design, enhancing the functionality and user experience of products. Through a combination of theoretical coursework and hands-on projects, students will develop the skills needed to create, manage, and innovate digital products that align with business needs and user demands, emphasizing emerging technologies, design innovation, and design thinking. Building upon the diverse and multidisciplinary nature of New York Tech, the department aims to foster collaboration and joint research, drawing expertise from various disciplines into the design process.

Graduates of the program will be poised to pursue careers in a dynamic technology sector, including roles as product managers and digital product designers. Through a focus on product management; integration of technologies, strategic growth, and market expansion; and proficiency in product development and entrepreneurship, students will be prepared to excel in creating innovative and user-centric digital products, contributing to industry advancement, and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Curriculum Requirements for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts

Curriculum Requirements for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

Curriculum Requirements for M.F.A. in Digital Art and Design – Graphic Design Concentration

SUSPENDED Curriculum M.F.A. in Digital Art and Design – Fine Arts and Technology Concentration

Curriculum Requirements for Minor in Graphic Design

Curriculum Requirements for Master of Arts in UX/UI Design and Development

Curriculum Requirements for Bachelor of Architecture

Curriculum Requirements for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design

Curriculum Requirements for B.S. in Architectural Technology, Construction Management Concentration

Curriculum Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology

Curriculum Requirements for Master of Science in Architecture, Urban Design

Curriculum Requirements for Interior Design, B.F.A., Design Management M.B.A. Track

Curriculum Requirements for M.Arch., 60-Credit Track

Curriculum Requirements for M.Arch., 90-Credit Track

Curriculum Requirements for Master of Science in Architecture, Computational Technologies

Curriculum Requirements for Master of Science in Health and Design

Curriculum Requirements for Master of Science in Digital Product Design

Curriculum Requirements for Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Media Innovation

Curriculum Requirements for B.F.A. in Digital Arts, Game Design Concentration