Business for Design, Creative Technologies, Design, Design Research, Graphic Design, Service Design, Design Thinking, Integrated Design, Mobile Media Strategic Design and Management (MS) / Design Business (Grad Certificate), Strategic Design and Management (MS)
Strategic Design and Management MS
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Contact Us
thinkparsonsgrad@newschool.edu
212.229.5150 (U.S. only)
Program Contacts
Sharon Counts, Director
Matt Robb, Associate Director
Related Links
This program can now be completed online: Applications are being accepted for the fall 2026 program start!
Bringing together design thinking, management, and applied social sciences, the graduate program in Strategic Design and Management at Parsons responds to the need for businesses and organizations to address complex 21st-century economic, environmental, and social challenges. Methods from studio practice such as ideation, ethnographic research, prototyping, and service design are used to devise approaches to business and social innovation in global contexts. You gain critical design-based skills while developing sophisticated perspectives on organizational management and strategy, financial and environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership.
Program Highlights
Studio-Based Approach
Collaborate and experiment in a hands-on studio focusing on management and organizational strategy in which you think and design creatively, visually, and boldly.Real-World Relevance
Gain experience in designing and managing organizations in our studio courses led by our industry-innovating faculty and engaging with leading-edge organizations in business, nonprofit, and public sectors.Global Focus
Apply creativity and design methods as tools for problem solving and leadership in future-oriented, socially engaged organizations in a variety of global contexts, sectors, and industries.Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Access ELab for design-led entrepreneurial research and enterprise development support, including an alumni mentorship program and fellowship, incubator, and accelerator options.Applicant Profile
This STEM-designated program is ideal for early- to mid-career professionals seeking to enhance their existing capabilities with design strategy skills and to cultivate next-generation organizational practices. Strong preference is given to applicants with at least two to three years of work experience.Engage with Our Centers, Institutes, and Labs
Connect with researchers and practitioners through our Centers, Institutes, and Labs across The New School by taking part in their programs or applying for assistantships.
- DegreeMaster of Science (MS)
- FormatFull-time; on campus or online (EST schedule)
- Credits36
- Duration2 years
- Other program statusSTEM-designated
Curriculum
Our curriculum—now available online in a synchronous format (EST)—exposes you to innovative methods for designing, managing, and improving organizations to better meet the needs of diverse stakeholders worldwide. Seminars provide you with a social and scientific grounding in design, management, and economics. In studio courses, you apply evidence-based knowledge to real-world projects, preparing you for jobs in the private, nonprofit, or public sector. Elective courses offered throughout the university enable you to gain specialized knowledge in an area of personal or professional interest.
Career Paths
Graduates are well positioned for careers in business, sustainability management, innovation, nonprofit and social enterprise, strategic and service design, and entrepreneurship in a wide range of industries, organizations, and professional fields. Students
who are already working can apply their learning to become "intrapreneurs" in their current workplace or advance into novel and emerging roles such as chief change officer, chief innovation officer, or lead design thinker.
Explore Our Community
Discover what our students, alumni, and faculty are doing in NYC and worldwide.
Student Work
Business for Design, Design Research, Entrepreneurship, Service Design, Design Thinking, Systems Strategic Design and Management (MS) / Design Business (Grad Certificate), Strategic Design and Management (MS)
Service Design, Design Thinking, Systems Strategic Design and Management (MS) / Design Business (Grad Certificate), Strategic Design and Management (MS)
Creative Technologies, Design Research, Design Thinking, Integrated Design, Systems, Theory Strategic Design and Management (MS) / Design Business (Grad Certificate), Strategic Design and Management (MS)
Design Research, Entrepreneurship, Product Design, Service Design, Design Thinking, Systems Strategic Design and Management (MS) / Design Business (Grad Certificate), Strategic Design and Management (MS)
Strategic Design and Management (MS) / Design Business (Grad Certificate), Strategic Design and Management (MS)
Parsons faculty represent a broad range of disciplines and areas of expertise. They include leading practitioners and scholars in specific fields and those with interdisciplinary backgrounds—all with a commitment to helping students develop creative approaches to complex real-world challenges.
Beyond the Classroom
Research Labs
Research is integral to the Parsons learning experience, and students and faculty work together to challenge existing paradigms and advance emerging scholarship and practice. Explore the thematic research laboratories housed at Parsons and throughout The New School.
Industry Engagement
Connect to the organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs driving global creativity and commerce. In classes, internships, and extracurricular projects, you gain marketable problem-solving skills in sectors ranging from government and nonprofits to tech and creative industries.
Internships
New York City’s thriving creative industry and cultural institutions are part of your Parsons education. Our Career Services Office is enmeshed in the art and design industries and can help you advance your career with industry-oriented internships.
Funded Opportunities
Funds are earmarked for graduate travel, research, and work to support your study. Opportunities include paid teaching assistantships, research fellowships and assistantships (including ones offered throughout The New School), ample student employment, and other grants available to U.S. domestic and international students alike.
Making & Academic Resources
Enjoy access to extensive resources including New School libraries, computer labs, archives, and studios, along with Parsons’ state-of-the-art Making Center, facilities offering a broad array of tools to support your creative and academic growth.
Related Programs
Global Executive (MS)
A global executive version of the MS Strategic Design and Management program, designed for professionals with at least five years’ work experience, is also available.
Graduate Minors
