BSSD / MFA in Design for Responsible Innovation: 4+2 Program
The BSSD/MFA 4+2 program allows students completing the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design (BSSD) degree to complete the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design for Responsible Innovation (DRI) on an accelerated timeline. The 4+2 program is highly selective, the majority of successful applicants to the program have a 3.5 GPA or higher, and will demonstrate extraordinary evidence of preparedness for the MFA program. BSSD students must plan early to complete prerequisites. Junior BSSD students may apply to participate in the program. Degree Requirements and Sample Schedule in the Course Catalog.
DRI Course Requirements Prior to Senior Year
To apply for the BSSD/MFA 4+2 program, BSSD students should take following Design courses prior to senior year:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 140 | Introduction to Art | 3 |
| ART 151 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART 222 | Typographic Practice | 3 |
| ART 270 | Design Methods | 2 |
| FAA 102 | Design Beyond Boundaries | 3 |
| ARTD 299 | Special Topics in Design | 2 |
| ART 310 | Design Thinking | 3 |
Admissions Process
- Applications for the 4+2 Program are due from BSSD students by January 15th of their Junior year.
- Applicants will prepare a packet containing the following items:
- Cover Letter: Please prepare a cover letter that includes your name, UIN, and University of Illinois email address, and that clearly states that you are applying to the 4+2 program.
- Statement of Purpose: Invited students then provide a statement of purpose (SOP) to the Graduate Coordinator for DRI (Professor Stacey Robinson staceyr@illinois.edu ) by January 15. The SOP (1,500 words maximum) should convey information about the student’s background, personal experience, and motivation for pursuing an MFA degree at the University of Illinois.
- Resume: Please attach a current resume of no more than 2 pages in length.
- Work Examples: applicants should attach 15 – 25 examples of professional work products. These products may have been produced by you as part of a class assignment, internship, or other professional engagement. The selected work examples should be reflective of your preparedness to undertake graduate-level study in the senior year of your BSSD degree.
Students will be notified by Graduate Coordinator for DRI by March 15th of their junior year if they have been accepted into the 4+2 program. Admission to the 4+2 program does not guarantee admission to the MFA program, although applicants are accepted into the 4+2 program based on the high likelihood that they would be admitted to the MFA program.
4+2 Plan of Study
The 4+2 program is split into two components – the senior year of the BSSD program, and the MFA program years.
BSSD Senior Year
A BSSD student admitted to the 4+2 program will have completed one of the MFA studio courses in junior year, ARTD 451 Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy. The student is expected to enroll in the first-year MFA core courses in their senior year, although they are not yet admitted to the MFA program. Typically, a 4+2 student will take FAA 430 BSSD Capstone Seminar (3 hours) and FAA 431 BSSD Capstone Studio (5 hours), as required by the BSSD program, plus three first-year MFA core courses:
BSSD Senior Year
A BSSD student admitted to the 4+2 program will have completed one of the MFA studio courses in junior year, ARTD 451 Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy. The student is expected to enroll in the first-year MFA core courses in their senior year, although they are not yet admitted to the MFA program. Typically, a 4+2 student will take FAA 430 BSSD Capstone Seminar (3 hours) and FAA 431 BSSD Capstone Studio (5 hours), as required by the BSSD program, plus three first-year MFA core courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTD426 | Product Innovation | |
| Or ARTD 420 | Disability Design | 3 |
| ARTD 444 | Typographic Systems | 4 |
| ARTD499 | Special Topics in Design | 4 |
| Free Electives | (selected with approval of advisor to complete degree requirements) | 13-14 |
MFA program years
The MFA core courses meet the BSSD requirements for 11 credit hours of BSSD major electives and/or credits toward the Art and Design minor. In the fall and spring semesters of the senior year, the BSSD Program Coordinator will collect feedback on 4+2 student performance from their course instructors and will determine if the student has made adequate progress in the BSSD program.
At the end of the senior year, the 4+2 student is qualified to graduate with the BSSD degree, having met all the requirements of that program. In the senior year, 4+2 students wishing to complete the MFA degree will formally apply to the MFA program, by submitting a full application package including recommendations, and transcripts. Students who follow this program will be eligible for a minor in Art and Design regardless of their admission to the MFA program as a 4+2 student.
MFA program years
Once admitted to the MFA program, a 4+2 student must take 40 additional hours of graduate studio and support courses. These include the ARTD 599 MFA Thesis Studio course (4 credits), 4 semesters of the ARTD 595 MFA Design for Responsible Innovation Studio course (16 total credits), ARTD 599 Thesis writing (4 credits), ARTD 551 Design for Responsible Innovation Research Impact (4 credits), ARTD 570 Design for Responsible Innovation Research Methodology (4 credits), additional graduate elective courses under supervision of their advisor (8 credits). All information can be found on the MFA in Design for Responsible Innovation (DRI) page in the School of Art & Design website.