Overview

The Design Criticism (MAD-Crit) at the University of Illinois at Chicago is committed to empowering a new generation of idea activists for the discipline.

Key Features

Revolving around intensive writing seminars and publication workshops, the ambition of the program is unabashedly operative: i.e., it is driven by the practice of writing and the demand to inject argument immediately into diverse media of communication. This operative orientation is accelerated by being situated within a School of Architecture focused on contemporary design, and through the program's overlapping coursework with the MArch and MS programs, such as participation in its research studios and publications.

Today, architecture and its corollary design fields have become increasingly compelled toward academic and professional specialization. While producing important scholarly and technical advances, this context has undermined if not obliterated the potential role for those invested in design culture as public intellectual. The MAD-Crit program aims to recover this generalist role that has been lost in the proliferation of doctoral programs and software niches.

Taking advantage of its location in a major American metropolis and at public research university, the MAD-Crit program is particularly well-situated to solicit and expand the audience for design criticism and reposition the significance of design in public discourse. Moreover, as the product of design competitions are increasingly gravitating to books and arguments, the program understands criticism broadly to include proactive design propositions. At UIC, criticism serves as an invitation for new practices rather than a retrospective calling out of existing ones; it is a platform for future production.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Architectural Theory and History

Pro-seminar I: Design Criticism

Pro-seminar II: Publication and Graphic Argumentation

Writing Tutorial

Topics in Architectural Theory and History

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-15 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2027-02-15 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

56 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Chicago, United States

Disciplines

Design View 455 other Masters in Design in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

6.5

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Baccalaureate Field of Study: No restrictions. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in any field may apply.

Letters of Recommendation: Three required, preferably from individuals acquainted with the applicant’s recent academic, professional, or creative work. Letters from professors who can assess the applicant’s academic abilities and potential for graduate school are the most useful. Letters from employers are also acceptable.

Personal Statement

GRE scores are now optional for fall 2021 applicants, though applicants are still encouraged to submit scores when possible.
Personal Statement: A 500-word statement should address the reasons for applying to a graduate program in design criticism, particularly the UIC School of Architecture;

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

27306 USD / year

≈ 27306 USD / year
Out-of-State

27306 USD / year

≈ 27306 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13102 USD / year

≈ 13102 USD / year

Additional Details

+$2,201 Semester Graduate Tuition Differentials

Living costs

Chicago

United States

1297 - 2491 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

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Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Design Criticism.

Available Scholarships

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About

Overview

Key Features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Chicago

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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