Design (M.Des.)/Public Administration (M.P.A.)
The Master of Design and Master of Public Administration (M.Des. and M.P.A.) dual-degree program—the first of its kind in the nation—prepares students to effectively address dynamic and complex civic and social challenges with rigor, depth, and imagination.
Students pursue two graduate degrees, one with the Institute of Design (ID) and one with Stuart School of Business, as they learn to move fluidly between strategic thinking and creative doing and to leverage the strengths of both.
Through the M.P.A. program’s applied approach, students develop their knowledge and skills in public and nonprofit management, analytics, policy analysis, strategic planning, and effective implementation strategies in the civic space.
At ID, students acquire emerging design competencies suited for work in the public sector, including:
Embracing Complexity: Understanding and articulating the context and systems surrounding a problem, creating a shared view of a challenge, converging on an approach, and activating a set of interventions
Cultivating Possibilities: Unlocking collective creativity, considering diverse interests, and building understanding—all while activating new ways for communities to come together and envision a path to an intelligent future
Driving Impactful Change: Making an evidence-based case for action and policy change; successfully moving stakeholders to action with data-driven insights and prototyping skills
In hands-on projects and internships in the global city of Chicago, collaborations in Illinois Tech’s inspiring and supportive community, and their individual work, students in the M.Des. and M.P.A. program apply design methods, theory, and knowledge to real-world challenges and opportunities, transforming ideas into realities in the civic and nonprofit sectors.
Producing sharp insights, tangible options, and actionable directives, they graduate able to substantially impact their colleagues and constituencies and to be leaders in their field
Intakes
- Jan
- May
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Institute of Design graduates have a greater than 90 percent placement rate and report high job satisfaction. ID career services include structured programs like recruitID and careerID, as well as an active and engaged alumni network and robust events and programming, such as the annual Design Intersections conference. Partnerships with organizations across Chicago and beyond give ID students a range of experience, building their resumes even before graduation.
The Stuart School of Business offers a dedicated Career Management Center (CMC) exclusively for its students, hosting onsite recruiting events, résumé reviews, mock interviews, information sessions, and networking events. The CMC, along with Stuart faculty and alumni, have developed strong networks to help students secure internships at a wide range of governmental agencies, organizations, and companies in the Chicago area.
ID graduates hold positions of influence in companies and design firms such as Amazon, Apple, BCG, Doblin, EY, Fjord, Google, IDEO, INSITUM, Logitech, McDonald’s, McKinsey, Motorola, Microsoft, Salesforce, SapientRazorfish, SC Johnson, Steelcase, and Verizon.
Stuart M.P.A. graduates lead in organizations such as the American Cancer Society, City of Chicago, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Transit Authority, Chinese American Service League, Federal Aviation Administration, Lincoln Park Zoo, Metra, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and the State of Illinois.
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Illinois Tech requires a four-year bachelor's degree conferred with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0/4.0 (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution for regular admission. Individual departments may have different requirements, however.
India
Four-year bachelor’s degree in any field; three-year bachelor’s degrees must be conferred in First Class with Distinction from an NAAC Grade “A” Indian institution; other three-year bachelor’s degrees must be accompanied by a two-year master’s degree. (Note: profession qualifications and postgraduate diplomas completed after a bachelor’s degree are not considered sufficient for admission
Provide Illinois Tech an official copy of the English proficiency Duolingo English Test, TOEFL or IELTS score report. The TOEFL code to send your scores to Illinois Tech is 1318. Duolingo English Test can be submitted directly by indicating Illinois Institute of Technology.
TOEFL iBT: 80
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 115
International applicants who are interested in attending Illinois Tech, and who meet academic and financial requirements but do not meet the minimum English proficiency requirements, may be offered conditional admission.
For further enquiry please contact to our PSA cousellor.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Masters/PG Degree
- Duration: 02 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
66636 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 100 USD