MADISON—The new University of Wisconsin–Madison accelerated Master of Science in Design + Innovation gives new meaning to collaboration. Combining expertise from five schools and colleges with team-based interaction, the program promises to offer students a breadth of highly desired skills.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the program promotes creative thinking and an ability to solve complex problems,” says UW–Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank. “The program will draw upon top-notch faculty from five disciplines and use our state-of-the-art facilities.”

With applications open now, the MS in Design + Innovation is a 12-month, face-to-face program resulting from a partnership between the College of Engineering, the Wisconsin School of Business, the School of Human Ecology, the Art Department in the School of Education, and the iSchool in the College of Letters and Science. The first cohort will start the program in May 2020.

Students will experience a dynamic course of study to include plenty of time in the UW Makerspace, a place on campus “where limits don’t exist.” A hub for inventing and designing new products, the Makerspace offers an expansive library of technology and equipment along with a lively and welcoming community. Students will also have access to other vibrant labs, studios and entrepreneurial resources across campus.

“Students can come in and dabble in all five areas of study — engineering, business, design, data, and art — but they can also dig deeper in any one of those areas to complement experience they already have,” says Michelle Kwasny, academic director of the MS in Design + Innovation. “We’re looking forward to showing students all the amazing design resources available to them through this program.”