The Design Science Ph.D. degree course requirements are:
- 9 credits Group A (“core” courses)
- 15-18 credits Group B (“specialization” or “breadth and depth” courses)
- 12-18 credits Group C (research courses)
- 1 credit Group D (other additional requirements)
Personalization of the Design Science degree is accomplished through the selection of students’ Group B courses. Because the Design Science program facilitates the personalization of interdisciplinary design degrees, no two degrees typically look alike.
While the ability to craft one’s own degree to a large extent is an inherent strength of the program, some students find it challenging to identify courses if they do not allocate adequate time to think about their goals and interests, and identify suitable courses prior to registration. Students are advised to start thinking about their course plan once they are admitted to the program, and to recognize that they will need to put more effort into selecting their courses than if they pursued a degree in a more traditional discipline.
Students will meet with the Graduate Coordinator prior to registering for courses, and will review their course plan together. Students are expected to complete this course planning doc and the accompanying plan of study before meeting with the Graduate Coordinator. During the initial advising meeting with the Graduate Coordinator, students will review registration processes and deadlines, including backpacking, add/drop dates, and the importance of registering early. Guidance will be given on selecting backup courses for high-demand offerings and instructions on how to handle waitlist situations. The meeting will include a review of the student’s course planning doc and plan of study, ensuring disciplinary breadth, and alignment of their academic plan with career goals with their student-specific specializations. Students will be encouraged to refer to the Canvas Design Science Student Center and the PhD handbook there for key resources.
Group A Courses – Core Courses (9 credits)
Group A courses are the required course component of the Design Science degree. Students are required to take 9 credit hours of “core” Group A coursework.
Design Science students in the AY25-26 cohort are required to take the following Group A courses:
- DESCI 599-001 Design Science: Fundamentals, Methods, & Applications; 3 credits (offered WN26)
- One of the following courses:
- MECHENG 557 Front End Design; 3 credits (offered FA25)
- DESCI 599-022 Foundations of Design Theory; 3 credits (offered WN26)
- DESCI 790 Design Science Colloquium; 1-2 credits for a total of 3 credits split between 790 and 791 (students can choose how they want to split the 3 credits between these two courses) (offered FA25)
- DESCI 791 Design Science Seminar; 1-2 credits for a total of 3 credits split between 790 and 791 (students can choose how they want to split the 3 credits between these two courses) (offered WN26)
- Ph.D. students are required to take these during their first two years, but its strongly encouraged to complete them in Year 1.
- With DESCI program pre-approval, students may also opt to take additional semesters of DESCI 790/791 in order to maintain a strong cohort and foster professional development.
- Students entering with a completed U-M DESCI M.S. will have already met this Group A requirement, but must still meet the remainder of the program credit requirements below.
Group B Courses – “Specializations/Depth” or “Breadth” Electives
(totaling 15-18 credits)
Group B courses are the elective, student-selected component of the Design Science degree. Students are required to complete a minimum of 15 credit hours through Group B coursework.
Specializations/Depth coursework:
Students are expected to create two “specializations” by taking at least two courses related to each of those specializations. These specializations should support students’ short- and long-term career goals and interests, and are what make students’ Design Science degrees truly unique. Sample specializations can be found here.
Specializations/Depth coursework:
Breadth coursework:
Students are expected to take courses from at least three different “disciplines” as part of their required degree coursework for a total of 9 credits. One way we define “discipline” is by the school or college that offers the course, e.g., SI 622 would represent the discipline of Information Sciences, and ME 555 would represent the discipline of Engineering.
| Requirement | Description | Credits |
| Specialization #1 | Two or more courses that you identify and select from among the 19 schools and colleges to form the basis of your first student-defined specialization (part of the depth requirement) | ≥6 |
| Specialization #2 | Two or more courses that you identify and select from among the 19 schools and colleges to form the basis of your second student-defined specialization (part of the depth requirement) | ≥6 |
| Total Group B Credits | At least three courses need to be from three different schools and colleges (part of the breadth requirement) | ≥15 |
Group C Courses – Research Coursework (12-18 credits)
Students are expected to be engaged each term in Design Science research with their advisors, especially in years two and beyond. These credits are flexible and may occur with one or mor advisors, with the student registering in the appropriate advisor section each term. These courses are:
- DESCI 900: First year students should register each semester for a total of at least six credits in their first year
- DESCI 990 Dissertation/Precandidate: students in their second year should register for at least six credits each semester until they achieve candidacy
- DESCI 995 Dissertation/Candidate: as a candidate, students should register for at least 8 credits each semester
Group D – Other Additional Requirements
Responsible Conduct of Research Training (1 credit)
Doctoral students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship Training (information about the required modules can be found here). RCRS must be completed before the end of the student’s first semester.
Mentoring Plan:
Faculty advisors and students must complete the MORE mentoring plan or other mentoring plan documentation and submit to Design Science Program Director
Doctoral Research Expectations:
Students are expected to spend 30+ hours/week on research if they are appointed as a 50% GSRA which includes:
- 20 hrs – 50% GSRA appointment (under advisor)
- ~10 hrs – DESCI 990/995
- Additional time as needed to make general progress toward the completion of their doctoral research