FAQ

For a description of the portfolio requirement, please refer to the admission requirements.

The styles of portfolios submitted to the program are as diverse as the students themselves, so we encourage you to be thoughtful in the way you approach the documentation of your work. We are interested in the context of your work and the questions that fuel it, not just representations of the work itself. If you do not have a background in visual or design fields, we encourage you to include documentation that helps us understand how you work and how your work might involve design.

Many students ask whether they have to demonstrate that they are transdisciplinary designers already. The answer is no. We expect that most of our applicants will have focused on a single field of academic and professional development. It is fine for your portfolio to show the strength of that work alone. But also let us know, through your Statement of Purpose, how you see your work evolving while in the program and what questions or ideas you are seeking to explore.

The program enrolled its first class of students in fall 2010.

We enroll a class of approximately 25 students each year, which means that we have a total cohort of approximately 50 students (first and second year) in the program at any one time.

Our students vary widely in age, ethnic background, and work experience. They have come from places such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Guatemala, Germany, Japan, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and across the United States. They range from recent college graduates to professionals who have been working for 20 years. There is no typical student; the diversity of our students is part of what makes our program so exciting.

Yes. You are encouraged to explore possibilities for elective courses across the entire university, including The New School for Social Research (social sciences), the Schools of Public Engagement (media studies, policy, humanities, and leadership and management), the College of Performing Arts, and other programs at Parsons. The opportunities are vast and exciting.

Yes. You can work as a research assistant during your first and second years in the program. During your second year, you can also apply to become a teaching assistant. The availability of positions is not guaranteed, though most students who want to work or teach are able to do so.

Yes. Many of our students do. However, we do expect that the program will be your first priority. We recommend, as a guideline, that students limit their outside work to 10-15 hours per week. International students may be limited to on-campus work by the terms of their visas and should contact International Student Services for further assistance and information.

Because we believe that we can address complex challenges only through teamwork, many of our studio projects and many other assignments in our curriculum, including the thesis, are collaborative—though some work is individual. We have developed an innovative format for the thesis, in which students work collaboratively on projects but also develop an individual methodology or approach.

Yes. In many instances, students collaborate with external partners on studio courses and thesis projects. These organizations range from for-profit and nonprofit companies to governments, NGOs, social movements, and other initiatives and communities of practice. We also have independent study projects that students can take on with external organizations.

Yes. The Admission office hosts information sessions, webinars, and campus tours throughout the year. Additionally, we participate in the Graduate National Portfolio Day event (which takes place in late October) and Grad Expo Open House (which takes place in mid-November).

We invite students who visit throughout the academic year to make an appointment to discuss the program, sit in on a class, and chat with current students. This does take some planning, and we recommend that you make appointments at least two weeks in advance to get the most out of your visit by meeting with the program leadership and sitting in on classes. To schedule a visit, contact John Bruce, program co-director of MFA Transdisciplinary Design, at [email protected].