Design Certificate vs Master’s Degree in Design Business
At the University of Arts and Design, our curriculum was built with a clear purpose: to help students learn how to build their own creative businesses. We realized that simply teaching the theory wasn’t enough. That’s why our curriculum focuses on learning by doing. Each semester, we balance the coursework with a ratio of one business class to two design or art classes, ensuring students get practical experience while mastering both business and creative skills.
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All studies culminate in one or two capstone classes, which serve as a guided practicum in running a business. This is where the distinction between the two programs lies. If you’re trying to decide which is better for you, read on.
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 Certificate
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.
Master of Arts Degree
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.
Both programs are meant to help budding artists and designers learn how to build amazing products, understand markets to sell in, and develop business practices that are practical and useful. Our university features an outcomes-based education.
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