Syllabus - Master's Programme in Innovation and Design

Outcomes

Innovation and Design is an international master's programme within the Mälardalen University third-cycle study area Innovation and Product Realization. The aim of the programme is for students to develop more in-depth knowledge of innovation and design and thus prepare for the planning and leading of design and innovation processes.

Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the degree programme the student shall:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of innovation and design, including broad knowledge within the area as well as substantially deeper knowledge within certain parts of the field, and also a deeper insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate in-depth methodological knowledge of innovation and design.

Aptitudes and Accomplishments

On completion of the degree programme the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability, critically and systematically, to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, problems and situations even with limited information,
• demonstrate the ability, critically, independently and creatively, to identify and formulate problems, to plan and carry out, using adequate methods, advanced assignments within given timeframes, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge and also to evaluate this work,
• demonstrate the ability, in national as well as international contexts, to clearly account for and discuss, orally and in writing, the conclusions arrived at and the knowledge and arguments that form the basis of these in dialogue with different groups, and also
• demonstrate such skills as are required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in some other advanced activity.

Ability to Evaluate and Assess

On completion of the degree programme the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability, in Innovation and Design, to make assessments with regard to relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects, and also demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society and the responsibility of human beings for how this is used, and also
• demonstrate the ability to identify his/her need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for his/her own knowledge development.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English, and the course literature is in English.

Contents

The Master's Programme in Innovation and Design is an interdisciplinary education based on the two first-cycle subjects information design anf innovation technology. In the courses included in the programme, students will work with innovation and design from different perspectives regarding technology, the social sciences, the humanities and the arts, which are brought together to promote opportunities for innovation and design processes in interdisciplinary projects which to some extent take place in cooperation with the surrounding society.

In the first year, students acquire more in-depth knowledge within the main field of study, innovation and design, by defining and identifying challenges. Students are expected to be able to position themselves in the subject area and master the processes and models applied in the main field of study, for example regarding the planning, management and realization of innovation and design projects, as well as techniques for innovation and design processes. In addition, students will learn to apply research methods that are of relevance in the main field of study. Students are expected to be able to motivate and problematize the choice of theories and methods for the collection and analysis of data.

In the second year, advanced courses in innovation management and information design are given, as well as an in-depth project methodology course. Semester 3 is adapted to enable studies abroad for those students who wish to exchange with another university. Finally, students are expected to carry out an independent degree project, which includes the critical and creative identification and formulation of research questions and the completion of qualified tasks with adequate methods and within given time frames.

Year 1
Innovation and Design:
Challenges in Innovation and Design, 15 credits
Early Phases of Innovation and Design, 7.5 credits
Research Methods in Innovation and Design I, 7.5 credits
Human Centered Design, 7.5 credits
Research Methods in Innovation and Design II, 7.5 credits
Project Management in Innovation and Design, 7.5 credits

Innovation Technology:
Innovation and Creativity Management, 7.5 credits

Year 2
Innovation and Design:
Project Methodology for Innovation and Design, 15 credits
Thesis for the degree of Master in Innovation and Design, 30 credits

Innovation Technology:
Foresight and transformative innovation, 7.5 credits

Information Design:
Information design and complexity, 7.5 credits

University degree

The degree programme is so designed that the studies will lead towards fulfilment of the requirements for the following degree:

• Degree of Master of Science in Innovation and Design

If the programme contains elective or optional components, or if a student chooses not to complete a certain course, the choices made can affect the possibility of fulfilling the degree requirements. For more information about degrees and degree requirements, consult the local degree regulations which are published (in Swedish only) on the university website.