Harvard University Graduate School of Design Advanced Studies Program Master in Design Studies Policies and Procedures

Introduction The purpose of this manual is to describe the policies and procedures related to the program requirements stated on the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) website. Please read it carefully, and also refer to the catalog posted in PDF format on the MDesS program I-site. Your advisor is aware of program requirements, but it is your responsibility to make sure these are completed. If you have any questions, please check in at the ASP office in room 334 in Gund Hall.
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Basic Requirements The formal academic requirements for this program are described on the GSD website and should be an integral part of your planning the first weeks of school and beyond. A summary of the requirements is provided here for your reference. Degree Requirements A candidate who enters the program will be recommended for the Master in Design Studies degree upon satisfactory completion of 48 units of academic work. Each student is typically required to complete a minimum of 12 units in his or her area of study from an approved list of courses published each term for each of the primary areas noted below. Each student is also required to complete a substantial research study in his or her area, either via a thesis or an approved 4 unit course that has a research component and culminates in either a scholarly paper or an equivalent project involving independent research. No more than 12 units from the total of 48 may be from independent study courses and no more than 16 units from non-GSD courses. Applicants granted advanced standing on admission are expected to complete 32 units, 8 units in his or her area from the approved list of courses for his or her area, and complete a thesis, research paper or project as described above. No more than 8 units from the total of 32 may be from independent study courses and no more than 12 units from non-GSD courses. None of the required units may be fulfilled by courses credited toward another degree. Residence Three terms of full-time study in residence is required for students entering into the program during the 2013-2014 academic year. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, qualified candidates with extensive academic or professional experience may be eligible for one term of advanced placement on admission, enabling them to complete the program in two terms. Many MDesS students opt to split their 2nd year of the program completing their course credits across 2 semesters rather than one. Students are not allowed to take more than 5 classes or 20 credits in the second year. If 20 credits are exceeded a tuition fee will be added to the students term bill. If a decision is made to split the guidelines set down from the GSD registrar must be strictly adhered to and all forms must be turned in by the appropriate dates.

Satisfactory Progress Please see the Registrars page on the GSD website for policy on grades. Note in particular that: For courses taken outside the GSD, passing grades below B-or satisfactory will be considered equivalent to a GSD low pass. Please also review information about deficiency units under Satisfactory Progress and Termination. The grade UNSAT is a failing grade. Program Organization Program Committee and Program Directors The Masters of Design Studies is administered by Pierre Belanger and Kiel Moe, who are the codirectors of the program. They are assisted by the administrative director Barbara Elfman and ASP program coordinator Maria Moran. The directors and administrators have their offices in Room 334 of Gund Hall. Each MDesS student is assigned an academic area advisor. You will rely mainly on them for advice and direction, but you should keep the MDesS administrator aware of your plans. You will need to petition the MDesS council for a waiver of any rule. Both the MDesS directors and administrator are well versed in the rules of the program and are happy to be consulted about them. There is a MDesS program council that votes as a group on decisions concerning the policies of the program. They meet approximately 3-4 times a year and waivers may need to go before the council if the decision requires a vote. Academic Advisor Each area concentration of the MDesS program is overseen by one or two faculty members. You will meet them during the first week of school. You should think carefully about your course selection and discuss any questions at this meeting. The program allows you a great deal of flexibility to tailor your courses to your needs. It is also helpful to talk to students who are returning for their third semester. The area faculty advisor is the person to ask academic questions and who can advise you about your thesis, project or scholarly paper that is part of your requirement for graduation. At times this same faculty member may be your thesis or scholarly paper advisor, but not always. It is important to discuss in your second semester with the advisor your plans for fulfilling the requirement. You will be asked to fill out a form that should be handed in to the ASP office with the details of what you will be doing and who will be your advisor. Orientation During the first week of school you will attend orientation. This is an important time to learn about how things run at the GSD. It is the time to ask questions and learn about the various resources provided by CRG, Loeb Library, Building services and the program office. Please dont forget to fill out the information sheet and turn it in to the ASP office.

MDesS Research Requirement

As a graduation requirement MDesS students have to complete an independent research component in their last semester of study. This document outlines the requirements and expectations. There are multiple ways to complete the research requirement, and concentration areas default to different modes. Depending on the area of concentration the research requirement can be met through a thesis,

a scholarly paper, or a final project. The following listing shows the default requirements by area of concentration: History and Philosophy of Design Technology Energy and Environments Thesis Urbanism, Landscape, Ecology Art, Design and the Public Domain Scholarly Paper Final Project Scholarly Paper/ thesis (highly recommended) Thesis

Real Estate and the Built Environment Scholarly Paper Critical Conservation Thesis/final project/Scholarly Paper Risk and Resilience Thesis/Scholarly paper It is important to understand the difference between three modes of independent research. A thesis implies coming up with a research area, problems and related questions, and devising a methodology that allows the desired understanding to emerge. It should be an independent idea that will contribute to the understanding of a question in a particular field. A scholarly paper is an in depth research paper that takes a question posed as part of a course, and looks at it in a deeper context than what is expected in a term paper. A final project is typically an art-related investigation that pursues a pertinent issue through a combination of artistic and theoretical, written means.

Scholarly Paper
The scholarly paper is done in conjunction with a course taken at the GSD, and, compared to a term paper, consists of a longer, more in depth research paper. The course should be a class that requires a term paper of length that will be graded by the professor. The student must go and discuss with the faculty member early in the semester his/her intention of taking the course, and ask if the professor would read and grade a longer, more in depth research paper that would fulfill MDesS requirements. If the faculty member agrees, he/she must sign off on the research requirement form (attached at the end of this document). The student is responsible for writing a paper by the end of the semester and receiving a grade and a sign off on a standardized front sheet from the professor to fulfill both the course and MDesS graduation requirement. On rare occasions, and with special permission from the area coordinator, students may write a paper for a class taken at another Harvard Graduate school. Example: a student takes a seminar from Michael Hays and has a twenty page term paper due at the end of the semester the student must go to Professor Hays and request that he/she writes a forty to fifty page paper that goes into much more depth about the subject matter. Professor Hays agrees and signs off that he will read and grade a scholarly paper. The student writes the paper and turns it in at the time the term paper is due. After reading the paper, Professor Hays signs off the front sheet and the student prepares a cd to meet the ASP department expectations and turns it into the ASP office by the day before the degree vote for a March or May graduation.

On occasion, a student will write a term paper for a course and decide that he/she wants to continue the research into the following semester. The student will then need to go to the faculty member and ask if they may do an independent study to continue working on the research paper. If a faculty member agrees, the student will fill out the same scholarly paper form as well as an independent study form. The professor will then sign off on the document at the end of the semester as well as giving a grade for the independent study. A CD must be given to the MDesS administrator that has the scholarly paper in a pdf format that can be printed on 8.5X11 paper using 11 size font that is consistent and easy to read throughout the document. There should be 1 margins. There should be a cover sheet with Title, Name, Date and Advisor printed out in hard copy that has been signed by the student and faculty member accepting the document as completion of the research requirement. A template for this document can be found at the end of this document. The copy will be printed and housed in the Loeb Library Submission Dates The student should agree with the advisor upon a date for submitting final manuscripts for review and comment, e.g., two weeks before final submission dates, so that there is time for suggested revisions. All signed off scholarly papers must be submitted to the MDesS office on a cd prior to the degree vote meeting. An email will be sent to you announcing the degree vote meeting date a month in advance.

Final Project
The Final Project will consist of a theoretical/position component, and of a practical/experimental component. The scope of each of the two components will be determined according to the students preference, and considering the specific character of the project in consultation with the area coordinator and the advisor. In exceptional cases the final project may be solely based on (expanded in scope and ambition) a theoretical component. A theoretical, written component is required for all final projects. The final project is equivalent to 8 units of coursework Theoretical/Position component A written document presenting the original contribution to, and original argument for your artistic/design/research project defended within the context of current discourses in relevant disciplinary fields. The theoretical argument for the project must be presented in the context of: Relevant present day artistic and design practices and their specific methodologies Relevant theoretical and critical discourses (including your elaborations on relevant pro and contra positions) The relevant historical tradition

Practical/Experimental component

This component involves an original artistic/design project conceived, developed and publically presented in the form of an exhibition, installation, performance, action or intervention in a physical or/and electronic space. Public presentation is a crucial part of the final project and is required. The second requirement of the Final Project is a printed presentation as publishable document (that contains the theoretical argument and a graphic and textual presentation of the practical/experimental component).

Submission Format and Dates A CD must be given to the MDesS administrator that has the written part of the final project in a pdf format that can be printed on 8.5X11 paper using 11 size font that is consistent and easy to read throughout the document. There should be 1 margins. There should be a cover sheet with Title, Name, Date and Advisor printed out in hard copy that has been signed by the student and faculty member accepting the document as completion of the research requirement. A template for this document can be found in forms on the MDesS web page. The copy will be printed and housed in the Loeb Library. For ADPD students, a DVD of an exhibition, installation, performance, action or intervention should also be included along with a written component. The student should agree with the advisor upon a date for submitting final manuscripts for review and comment, e.g., two weeks before final submission dates, so that there is time for suggested revisions. This must be submitted to the MDesS office prior to the degree vote meeting. An email will be sent to you announcing the degree vote meeting date a month in advance.

Thesis
An MDesS thesis involves research that is independently pursued by a student under the direction of a faculty member who has agreed to become the thesis supervisor and who will ultimately approve the completed thesis document. The thesis document must conform to certain guidelines (see below). A thesis is equivalent to 8 units of coursework. Securing a Thesis Advisor Securing a thesis supervisor is the responsibility of the student. In general, it is suggested that the student initially prepare a brief statement (e.g., no longer than one page) that succinctly outlines the proposed thesis topic and research methodology in a form that can be quickly perused by a potential thesis advisor. The student should also become familiar with the scholarship or research interests of several different potential faculty advisors. Faculty members are much more likely to be excited about sponsoring a student when faculty and student interests are similar. A faculty supervisor may or may not suggest certain conditions before accepting a student to work on a particular topic, e.g., that he or she take a particular course or that an independent study course focusing on thesis preparation be taken before the actual thesis semester.

Keep in mind that not all faculty members may wish to supervise thesis students, or a faculty member may already have taken more thesis students than they can manage. A student needs to have only one faculty member to formally oversee the thesis, although in some areas the advisor may suggest that at least one other faculty member serve as a reader and discussant. Formal Thesis Proposal Once a student has received the general agreement of a faculty member to serve as a supervisor, the student should begin preparation of a more extensive and detailed thesis proposal. It is suggested that students, in the course of developing their thesis proposal to schedule an individual consultation with a member of the Reference staff of the Frances Loeb Library to aid in the preparation of their literature review, research sources and bibliography. While the exact form of the proposal is to be decided upon via discussions with the advisor, the proposal should generally include the following in brief form: A statement describing the key issues and questions to be addressed by the thesis. Major and secondary questions should be identified. A succinct literature review as needed. A statement of how the thesis fits into the context of relevant theory or on-going research An outline of the research hypothesis or point of view. A statement of the research methodology to be used. A description of data sources, case studies or other specific research sources. A description of the proposed thesis product. A bibliography of relevant works in the field.

This proposal should be submitted to the faculty advisor by the beginning of the semester that the student wishes to pursue the thesis. Conduct of Thesis The student and faculty advisor should set up a series of at least three meetings (minimum) during the course of the semester. By the mid-semester meeting the student is advised to have a detailed table of contents for the final document in hand for discussion. By the last meeting the student should have substantially completed all research and be engaged in the process of writing the final document. There must be a midterm review with the advisor and a second faculty member before the announced midterm deadline and a signed form must be turned into the ASP office.

Form of Final Thesis Document A CD must be given to the MDesS administrator that has the thesis in a pdf format that can be printed on 8.5X11 paper using 11 size font that is consistent and easy to read throughout the document. There should be 1 margins. There should be a cover sheet with Title, Name, Date and Advisor printed out in

hard copy that has been signed by the student and faculty member accepting the document as completion of the research requirement. A template for this document can be found in the policies and procedures on the MDesS web page. The copy will be printed and housed in the Loeb Library. Dates The student should agree with the advisor upon a date for submitting final manuscripts for review and comment, e.g., two weeks before final submission dates, so that there is time for suggested revisions. All signed and bound theses must be submitted to the MDesS office prior to the degree vote meeting. MDesS students will present their thesis with the rest of the master programs at the GSD in January and May. General Information Leave of Absence A leave of absence of up to two semesters may be approved after the first year of study. Please note that a student must be registered for the semester in which he/she will graduate. Financial Aid If you receive financial aid from the GSD you will be required to submit updated financial aid forms in early January of the first year to verify your financial status for the second year. Students with questions about term bills and issues surrounding financial aid should see Keith Gnoza, Director of Financial Assistance, student services. Office Space Office space is determined each year by the physical needs of all faculty, staff and students. MDesS students have space at 42 Kirkland Street if working with a research lab as well as library carrels in the Loeb library. There are lockers located in the basement of 40 Kirkland for storage. You will need to provide your own lock and should remove it at the end of the day. There is a gallery on the first floor of 40 Kirkland that has regular exhibitions. You can sign up to propose an exhibition. http://40kirklandgallery.com/ . There will be classes and meetings conducted on the first floor of 40 Kirkland, noise level should be respectful. The house is located in a neighborhood and we want to be considered good neighbors. There is a space in the basement of 40 Kirkland for making things, but there is to be no use of chemicals or solvents in the house as there arent any ventilation systems. If you need to build or make something, you should go to the workshops in the basement of Gund Hall.

VPN MDesS students will be charged $7.00 a month for VPN. If you wish to sign up for VPN you must go to the Computer Resource Group on the fifth floor of Gund Hall and ask to be signed up. You can have it charged to your term bill or write a check for the use of it. Printing and Copying There are copiers and printers located in many places for use by the MDesS students. To copy, you will need to use Crimson cash. There will be a swipe card function on the machine.

ASP Office Among the variety of aspects of your life at the GSD, the program office is an important part of the information loop, it is also is the first place to go to begin to solve a problem. To schedule a meeting with one of the Directors or Barbara, it is best to contact Maria Moran at mmoran@gsd.harvard.edu . Barbara oversees the MDesS, PhD and DDes programs. During busy times of the year, it is helpful to schedule a time to meet with the administrator if it is more than a quick question. Maria Moran is the coordinator in the ASP office and can answer many of the general questions. In connection with arranging use of space at GSD or problems pertaining to physical building questions, Building Services should be notified. You can submit work orders and room reservations online at http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/inside/building_services/ . Computer Resources should be contacted for any computational or related technical issues. http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/inside/computer_resources/manual/welcome/ When you arrive at the GSD you will be given an information sheet to fill out during orientation. This is a very important tool for the program to be able to reach you. Please update over the years as addresses and phone numbers can change.
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Regalia and Afterwards At your commencement, you are required to wear a rented cap and gown and Harvard masters hood. These are all available at the Harvard Coop and you will find all the information about commencement on a special web site that will be set up prior to the big event. Students finishing the program in January will be encouraged to come back in May to walk with their class. We want to keep in touch after you have completed your studies. Consider signing up via post.harvard.edu for a Harvard alumni life-long email. You will also have access to Crimson Compass as an alumnus which allows you to get in touch with Harvard alumni around the world. It is also very helpful if you fill out the exit interview form provided by the ASP administrator.

Harvard University Graduate School of Design MDesS Information Sheet SECTION I Name: ___________________________________________________________ Area of Concentration: _______________________________ Sex: _______Citizenship: _____________ Visa Status: _______ Year Entered Program: _____________________________ Advanced Placement: ___yes___no Previous Degrees/Institutions: ______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Please list home contact information

GSD Email: ______________________________________ Permanent Email: _________________________________ Local Address: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________ Permanent Address: ________________________________________________________

Harvard University Graduate School of Design MDesS EXIT INTERVIEW

SECTION I

Name: _________________________________ Advisor: _________________________________ Field: ______________________ Sex: _______ Citizenship: _____________ Visa Status: _______ Month/Year of MDesS: _____________________Year Entered_____________________________ Previous Degrees/Institutions/Dates:__________________________________________________ Thesis, Project or Scholarly Paper Title:_________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Thesis Advisor: ____________________________________________________________________

SECTION II

Do you have post-graduation employment? Yes / no

[If no, skip to SECTION III]

If yes, please list position title: _________________________________________________________ Please complete the following contact information: University or Employer _____________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ Phone__________________________________ Email____________________________________
SECTION III

Please list home contact information, if available. Email______________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ Phone_________________________________

The Department congratulates you on your accomplishment and encourages you to keep us informed of any changes to the above contact or employment information. Thank you.

MDesS Research Requirement Approval Form Please fill out the following form no later than March 252014 and bring the completed copy to the ASP office in room 334. It is imperative that you talk with the faculty member supervising your work prior to completing this form as to what you propose to do to fulfill your research study requirement Name:_________________________________________________________ Area of study:___________________________________________________ E-Mail:_________________________________________________________

Tentative Title:_________________________________________________

Context of Study:

___Scholarly Paper Course________________________ _____________________________ Signature ___GSD 9204 Independent Thesis

_____________________________ Faculty Thesis Advisor

____________________________ Signature___

___GSD 9205 Special Project

____________________________ Faculty Project Advisor

_____________________________ Signature

Petition

Date__________________________

Name____________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________ Phone_________________________________ Change in rules requested:

Reason for Change (Attach any additional explanatory material):

Comments of Advisor:

Signature of Student___________________________ Date________________________ Signature of Advisor___________________________ Date_______________________ ASP Committee Decision___________________________________________________ Date________________________

Models for Design Exploration in Architecture By Jane H. Doe Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, University of Texas, 1999 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Design Studies Technology Concentration At the Harvard University Graduate School of Design January 2013 Copyright 2010 by Jane H. Doe
The author hereby grants Harvard University permission to reproduce and distribute copies of this thesis document, in whole or in part for educational purposes.

Signature of the Author Jane H. Doe Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Certified by Kiel Moe Assistant Professor of Architecture Thesis Advisor

Accepted by
Pierre Belanger Master in Design Studies, Co-Chair Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture

Kiel Moe Master in Design Studies, Co-Chair Assistant Professor of Architecture

Models for Design Exploration in Architecture By Jane H. Doe Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, University of Texas, 1999 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Design Studies Design and Technology Concentration At the Harvard University Graduate School of Design January 2011 Copyright 2011 by Jane H. Doe
The author hereby grants Harvard University permission to reproduce and distribute copies of this final project, in whole or in part for educational purposes.

Signature of the Author Jane H. Doe Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Certified by Timothy Hyde Associate Professor of Architecture Thesis Advisor

Accepted by

.
Kiel Moe Master in Design Studies, Co-Chair Assistant Professor of Architecture

Pierre Belanger Master in Design Studies, Co-Chair Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture

Models for Design Exploration in Architecture By Jane H. Doe Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, University of Texas, 1999 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master in Design Studies Design and Technology Concentration

At the Harvard University Graduate School of Design January 2011 Copyright 2011 by Jane H. Doe

The author hereby grants Harvard University permission to reproduce and distribute copies of this scholarly paper, in whole or in part for educational purposes.

Signature of the Author. Jane H. Doe Harvard University Graduate School of Design Certified by Timothy Hyde Associate Professor of Architecture Scholarly Paper Advisor Accepted by
Pierre Belanger Master in Design Studies, Co-Chair Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture

.
Kiel Moe Master in Design Studies, Co-Chair Assistant Professor in Architecture