Frequently Asked Questions
Students can enroll in individual program courses or can enroll in 2-4 courses per semester
Check the calendar for enrollment periods and course offerings.
You will meet with an Admissions Advisor who will provide you with an academic plan for your degree or certificate program. Your courses will become available to you beginning on the semester start date. While all courses are set up by week, students can progress at a pace that best supports their learning but must meet and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (see Catalog for policy). The University of Arts & Design delivers its curriculum through the Canvas learning management system. Students receive log in information through their email on the semester start date. To earn academic credit, students must submit their final assignment by the last day of the semester.
The acceptance and transfer of credits earned at the University of Arts and Design is at the discretion of the receiving institution.
The University of Arts and Design is registered as a postsecondary institution in the State of Utah and is exempt in the following states. The University welcomes prospective students who reside in the following states to apply to its master’s degree and certificate programs:
Both Certificate & Degree Programs
Arizona
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Degree Program Only
Colorado
Certificate Program Only
Delaware
If you are not in one of these states, please join the waitlist for updates. It takes time for licensing to become available in all states for a post secondary institution and we will keep you updated. You can join the waitlist here:
To earn a Master of Arts in Design Business degree, students must earn 36 semester credit hours for all required core and elective courses.
Each semester credit hour estimates that students will spend 45 hours completing coursework. Generally, students should expect to spend 15 hours of academic engagement (e.g., lectures, discussions, tests) and 30 hours of preparation (e.g., projects, case studies, and assignments). Students will complete twelve 3-semester credit hour courses to complete 36 semester credit hours and earn a Master of Arts in Design Business. To graduate, students must. take the courses outlined in Semester B, C, D, and E. Students who have not earned a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design degree must complete the courses listed in Semester A in preparation for the Master of Arts degree. This allows students coming from any field of student to achieve this degree.
How is the Master’s degree different from the Design Certificate Program?
The primary distinction between undergraduate and graduate coursework lies in the breadth of knowledge, the sophistication of execution, and the depth of critical thinking. The undergraduate work focuses on foundational skills (more specific knowledge set), understanding early business creation (execution), and understanding use of the products they are creating. In contrast, the graduate program amplifies creation of multiple components of a working creative business (breadth of knowledge), development of strategic skills (sophistication of execution), and in-depth analysis of effective and ineffective practices (depth of critical thinking).
The undergraduate certificates focus on foundational technical skills in software, an understanding of creative business practices, and the development of initial execution skills in design, art, and business. The coursework reflects this through the initial first semester of courses including Design Foundations on Fire, Introduction to Photoshop & InDesign, and Introduction to Illustrator. Students are able to choose to learn how to create marketable products from a range of classes. Finally, a single-semester capstone project assists students in understanding how to execute the initial steps of starting a business.
In contrast, the graduate coursework focuses on creating a working business. This is done through creative coursework that focuses on creating marketable products, analyzing a creative business as it is built, and learning how to adapt in a changing marketplace. This is done through a minimum of two capstone classes which include 30 weeks of product creation, selling, and marketing. Students are expected to take more product based coursework than the undergraduate program to help them have more adaptable skills in an ever changing marketplace. Higher level skills are also developed in courses like Entrepreneurial Strategies for Creatives and Accounting for Creatives where critical thinking skills are achieved through in-depth case studies, strategic planning exercises, and real-world business simulations.
The University of Arts & Design is registered as a postsecondary institution in the State of Utah and is exempt from state licensure in select states where it can enroll and serve students.
Accreditation is a long process and the University plans to pursue accreditation once its meets eligibility requirements, which can take multiple years.
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