Industrial Design Master of Fine Arts Degree
Overview for Industrial Design MFA
Why Study RIT's MFA in Industrial Design
Project-Based Practice: Explore design theory, design history, and human-centered design; conduct unique research that furthers your understanding of the industry and society; and gain hands-on experience in technical competence, analytical thought, sustainability, and transdisciplinary collaboration.
A Hub for Design and Prototyping: Experienced the full capabilities of the seven makerspaces inside the SHED, RIT’s 209,000-square-foot facility that features an abundance of tech, resources, materials, and workspaces for prototype design and development and interactive design installations.
Develop In-Demand Skills: Learn design history and research, studio courses involve extensive design work with respect to sustainability, design process, the meaning of artifacts, and critical analysis. Engage with three-dimensional software for modeling and fabrication.
Collaborate and Create: Share labs, fabrication spaces, and studios spaces with graduate students from architecture, graphic design, integrative design, and more.
Form, function, and experience tell a story of considered design and the best possible outcome. The industrial design master's will enhance your career success by further developing your knowledge in design processes and technology. This project-based program allows you to explore design theory, design history, and human-centered design. You will conduct unique research on various topics of interest, which will further your understanding of the industry and society. As you conclude your studies, you will obtain hands-on experience in technical competence, analytical thought, sustainability, and transdisciplinary collaboration, all key to fueling your career.
RIT’s Master’s in Industrial Design
The industrial design MFA is for career enhancement or redirection. The educational experience is project-oriented, requiring research into design methods and technologies. Cross-disciplinary collaboratives provide an experiential dimension.
The first year of study includes seminar courses in design history and research, which are common to all graduate students in the School of Design. In addition, studio courses involve extensive design work with respect to sustainability, design process, the meaning of artifacts, and critical analysis. Additional course work using three-dimensional software for modeling and fabrication fills out the program.
In the second year students conduct research and develop a thesis project, which is presented in a graduate thesis exhibition or presentation, and is documented in a written thesis report.
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Discover how graduate study at RIT can help further your career objectives.
On-Campus Open House | November 20
Virtual Admissions Webinars | Recordings Available
Virtual Academic Sessions | Recordings Available
Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
| Industrial Designer | Product Designer |
Cooperative Education and Internships
What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Your art and design co-ops will provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Cooperative education, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities are encouraged for graduate students in the MFA in industrial design.
Creative Industry Days
Connect with Design Industry Leaders
RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Days, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. Creative Industry Days are a series of events that allow you to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and full-time employment positions.
Featured Work and Profiles
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Medical Device Designs
RIT students in the Industrial Design (BFA and MFA) and Graphic Design programs showcased the power of industry partnership as they worked with medical technology company Stryker to design home...
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Pyaha
Andrea Gonzalez Traditional Paraguayan textiles were used to create a small tableware collection for typical dishes.
Read More about Pyaha -
RIT partnership with Autodesk
Alex Lobos RIT industrial design BFA and MFA students collaborated with Autodesk to design the Autodesk MultiMeasure, a compact device that debuted at Autodesk University 2025. The global software and technology...
Read More about RIT partnership with Autodesk -
Rectilinear Form
FDTN 131, 3D Design I Rectilinear Form: Balancing Dominant, Subdominant, and Subordinate Elements | This exercise asks students to concentrate on studying the subtle relationships between dominant, subdominant, and...
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Industrial Design MFA Student Work Reel
Students in RIT's industrial design MFA program enhance future career success through further development of knowledge in innovative design processes and technology.
Read More about Industrial Design MFA Student Work Reel -
Think Space: Past Forward Competition
Marissa Tirone
Read More about Think Space: Past Forward Competition
Curriculum for 2025-2026 for Industrial Design MFA
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
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Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is available on-campus only.
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full‑time | Fall | February 1 priority deadline, rolling thereafter | No |
| Part‑time | Fall | Rolling | No |
Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.
Application Details
To be considered for admission to the Industrial Design MFA program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete an online graduate application.
- Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
- Entrance exam requirements: None
- Submit a portfolio. View portfolio requirements.
- Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, etc.), if required. Details are below.
English Language Test Scores
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.
Duolingo (DET): 130
IELTS: 6.5
LanguageCert Academic: 74
PTE Academic: 60
TOEFL: 88
International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Deaf and hard-of-hearing test takers with significant hearing loss do not need to take the listening and speaking sections for the TOEFL and IELTS. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.
How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application
Cost and Financial Aid
An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.
A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree
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