About This Program

Ready to merge your passion for healthcare with the science of design? Explore our STEM-designated and innovative Master of Healthcare Design degree, which emphasizes evidence-based design and interdisciplinary collaboration. Gain skills for crafting patient-centered spaces that redefine healing. With immersive studios and research opportunities, this degree propels you towards a rewarding healthcare design career. Start your transformative journey today. Join us! Read more...

Contact Information

• Sara Bayramzadeh | sbayramz@kent.edu | 330-672-0936

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in architecture or interior design degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Goal statement
• Portfolio of design work that clearly delineates the role played by the applicant in team projects
• Three letters of recommendations, with one letter from a non-academic source
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: January 15
• Spring Semester
  • Application deadline: June 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements
HCD 60000	HEALTHCARE DESIGN STUDIO	6
HCD 60092	PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE	1
HCD 60100	HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WORKSHOP	3
HCD 60101	HEALTHCARE DESIGN WORKSHOP: CULTURE AND ETHICS	3
HCD 63001	EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN IN HEALTHCARE	2
HCD 63002	HEALTHCARE FACILITIES	2
HCD 63003	ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND MATERIALS IN HEALTHCARE	2
HCD 63004	ENVIRONMENTS OF CARE AND PATIENT POPULATIONS	2
HCD 63005	PATIENT SAFETY AND SYSTEMS THINKING	2
Major Elective, choose from the following: 1		3
ARCH 55640	DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OLDER ADULTS
EHS 50109	LABORATORY SAFETY AND HYGIENE
EHS 53012	OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
EHS 53014	BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH
EHS 62018	ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
HPM 62016	PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
HPM 63003	HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS
HPM 63004	PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS
NURS 60014	LEADERSHIP IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT
NURS 60020	LEGAL AND REGULATORY MANAGEMENT FOR NURSE ADMINISTRATORS
NURS 60024	HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION, STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR
SBS 64634	SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS
Directed Electives 2
Culminating Requirement
HCD 61099	MASTER’S PROJECT RESEARCH	3
HCD 62099	MASTER’S PROJECT STUDIO	6
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		35

¹

The normal path of study for this degree is 35 credit hours. For students with strong qualifications in a related degree and/or experience, the required elective may be waived by the program director and admissions committee.

²

Students may work with the coordinator of the program for additional elective choices.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Major GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
-	3.000

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Note

Normal time to graduation is two years. However, students who start in the spring semester may complete the degree in three semesters. Students may also take an accelerated path to complete the degree in one year.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Recognize and employ expert knowledge, guidelines and regulations in healthcare design and delivery.
2. Design effectively in support of safety, quality and efficiency in healthcare.
3. Design empathetically to improve human-centered design experience for healthcare providers, patients and support communities.
4. Employ and translate research into innovative designs.

Full Description

The Elliot Master of Healthcare Design degree is a STEM-designated, post-professional degree and one of the very few in the nation focusing on the design of healthcare facilities. Program faculty empower students to use design as a powerful tool to advocate for safety, satisfaction and efficiency for all stakeholders, from patients to caregivers. As a member of the AIA's Design and Health Research Consortium, the M.H.D. degree exemplifies interdisciplinary innovation.

Kent State University prides itself in offering a leading healthcare design program grounded in innovation, translational research and scholarship — preparing outstanding professionals whose passion in human-centered design will transform the future of the healthcare design industry.

The M.H.D. degree stands out as a distinguished post-professional endeavor dedicated to shaping healthcare facility design. With its STEM designation, the program leverages scientific principles to equip emerging professionals as future leaders in healthcare design, emphasizing both empathic and evidence-based approaches.

This program's strength lies in its comprehensive curriculum, blending design, research and experiential learning. Through a holistic journey, students gain vital healthcare knowledge, refine design skills and acquire research skills, which are crucial for crafting innovative spaces prioritizing safety and satisfaction for patients, staff and caregivers. Moreover, the program's flexibility is showcased through a broad curriculum, offering elective courses from various disciplines such as public health and nursing. With completion timelines ranging from one to two years, students can tailor their academic path to suit their needs.

The culminating experience within the program is the completion of a master's project, where students develop their visions by designing a healthcare environment of their choice. Inspired by evidence-based design principles, students are trained to conduct research and integrate that into their design processes. This experience is enriched by highly qualified faculty and external practice-based mentors.

A core mission of the program is to enrich students' networks with professionals in the field and expose them to real-world projects that broaden their perspectives. Testament to the program's excellence, its graduates are sought after by premier healthcare-focused architecture and design firms, receive prestigious awards and recognition on an international level and present and publish in scholarly outlets.