In today's rapidly evolving landscape, design is no longer confined to single disciplines. It's about connecting the dots, synthesizing diverse perspectives, and creating holistic solutions that resonate. The University of Baltimore's Master of Arts in Integrated Design empowers you to become a visionary leader, capable of bridging the gaps between creativity, technology, and business.
More About Tuition & Fees
• UBalt offers regional, in-state tuition for select out-of-state areas.
Design. Write. Integrate. Master these essential skills and become a leader in today's ever-evolving communication industry.
Embark on an exhilarating journey with our 36-credit Master of Arts in Integrated Design program! This cutting-edge program fuses theory and practice, blending conceptual thinking, design, professional writing, and research across a multitude of media. Since its groundbreaking inception in the late 1970s, our dynamic curriculum has continually evolved, empowering students to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing realms of design and communications. Prepare to ignite your creativity, master the art of adaptation, and become a trailblazer in the fast-paced world of design!
You’ll focus on the four pillars of visual communication:
Your courses will help you develop complementary skills in design and writing across multiple platforms, and build a solid foundation in research, creative process, professional writing and design principles and strategies.
Read Full StoryMichael's work always sets a high standard for conceptual development, professional craft, unique perspective, and all-around delight.
Applicants who do not meet all of these qualifications may, with the approval of the program's admission committee, be accepted if there is space available.
Application deadlines:
Applications received after the deadline dates will be considered depending on availability of space, strength of your credentials and sufficiency of time for processing.
Send all materials by email to documents@ubalt.edu or by mail to the University of Baltimore Office of Graduate Admission, 1420 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201.
For more information about graduate admission, please contact the Office of Admission at gradadmission@ubalt.edu or 410.837.6565.
The portfolio demonstrates your design skills to the program director. Show your best work, whether many pieces or just a few. The director will use it to determine any prerequisite courses you may need.
Your design work should demonstrate your aptitude with some if not all of the following: typography, color theory, composition, and image manipulation. Additionally, it is critical that you provide context your design word, including information about 1. why the piece was created (e.g. classroom project, client or job work, or self-initiated), 2. what decisions you made, 3. the software or processes you employed, and 4. your role, especially if it was a group effort.
The format should be an assembled PDF document with images scaled to 72 dpi.
We'd love to see examples of your nonfiction writing aimed at a specific audience. This could be a college paper, a newsletter article, a press release, or any other professional writing you've done. Recent samples are preferred, but older ones are perfectly fine too. The goal is to showcase your writing skills. One or two pieces will do the trick!
Your statement of interest should explain why you want to enroll in the M.A. in Integrated Design program. Highlight your experience, how the program will help your career, and what you can contribute. Remember, this is also a writing sample, so showcase your skills and abilities.
The M.A. in Integrated Design program combines professional writing and graphic design. We ask that candidates have a background in at least one of these areas. If you have writing experience but lack graphic design skills, we will require courses to help you gain the necessary background.
Our Digital Design Studio is Mac based. Before classes start, familiarize yourself with the Mac operating system. You should also know how to use Adobe Creative Suite programs—InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. If you're not familiar with these, you can learn through community college, adult education programs, or self-study. Adobe has numerous free tutorials on how use their software online. Additionally software such as Inkscape, Gimp, or the Affinity suite of design products offer similar interfaces on which to learn the basic skills in design. You don't need to own the software; our fully equipped graphics lab is available for your projects during your time at UBalt.
Our Digital Design Studio uses Apple Macintosh computers, preferred by many graphic designers. However, the M.A. in Integrated Design program has no hardware requirements. Cross-platform transfers (Mac to PC or vice versa) can present issues. While lab assistants can offer some help, managing these difficulties will be your responsibility.
We offer a limited number of graduate assistantships, mainly in the Digital Design Studio. If you're proficient with the Adobe Creative Suite or similar professional design software, you can apply. Out-of-town students often find jobs in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area. With graphic design or writing experience, you can likely find a job in your field.
We accept up to 12 transfer credits. To transfer, the course must be a relevant graduate course, approved by the program director, with a grade of B or better. Transfer credits cannot substitute for required courses. To transfer credits, consult the program director and provide course descriptions or syllabi along with your transcript. Generally, you are expected to take all courses at UBalt once you begin the program.
Our full-time faculty are scholars, graphic and interaction designers, media critics, writers, filmmakers, and videographers who, like the program itself, combine intellectual, academic and professional pursuits into successful practices. In addition, our adjunct professors come from Baltimore’s creative community to share their expertise in writing, graphic design and business practices.
