Sports Product Design (MS)
The Department of Product Design offers a master’s degree in Sports Product Design, a two-year program based in Portland, Oregon.
The Master of Sports Product Design prepares designers to be key members and leaders of multidisciplinary development teams within the more than 800 sports product companies located in Oregon and beyond. The program focuses on research and innovation methods, design tailored for the athlete, product materials and sustainability, marketing and branding through the study of sports-specific design techniques, along with human physiology and biomechanics.
Students who graduate from this program will be capable of making strong contributions to the sports design culture of Oregon and the world at large.
The Department of Product Design undergraduate and graduate programs are recognized as Human-Centered Technology Design STEM degrees. Students earning a MS in Sports Product Design are beneficiaries of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) designation. STEM designation also allows international students on F-1 visas to be eligible for an additional 24-month OPT extension.
Admission
Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree and demonstrate a combination of education and relevant experience to begin work immediately designing products manually and digitally. This is typically demonstrated through formal transcripts, but applicants are also required to submit the following:
- Resume/CV.
- A 300-word statement regarding applicant work, internship or personal experience related to sports product design.
- A 300-word personal statement describing interest in the sports product design program and how the applicant sees themselves influencing the industry through their work.
- A portfolio of creative work (a maximum of 20 pages and 5 megabytes) showcasing problem-solving in the design process, drawing and prototyping skills, and storytelling, serving as a demonstration of the candidate’s design abilities.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty members outside of the UO Department of Product Design.
- GRE is optional.
- TOEFL score.
Applications are reviewed beginning on January 15 of each year and undergo rolling review for admission until the cohort is complete (up to 20 students). Incoming students begin the fall term immediately after acceptance.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Create industry-competitive Sports Apparel.
- Create industry-competitive Sports Footwear.
- Create industry-competitive Sports Equipment.
- Create a project appropriate for contemporary introduction to the Sports Product industry as assessed by innovation, fabrication, financial viability and user need.
Master of Science in Sports Product Design
The Master of Sports Product Design is a two-year program intended for students already equipped with conceptual problem-solving abilities, knowledge of materials and production, strategies for emotional product resonance and relevance, and entrepreneurial skills (typically, but not always, acquired in an undergraduate program in product design or its equivalent).
Degree Requirements
The curriculum is divided into three categories, per NASAD requirements for terminal graduate degrees:
- A minimum of 65% of the total credits for the degree in studio studies.
- A minimum of 15% of the total credits for the degree should include academic studies concerned with visual media.
- At least 10% of the total program should be reserved for elective credits.
Studio Studies. A minimum of 65% of the total credits for the degree shall be in studio. As part of this requirement, institutions are responsible for maintaining title/content consistency.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPD 684 | Research Methodology and Innovation Process Studio | 6 |
| SPD 650 | Sports Product Materials and Manufacturing | 4 |
| SPD 685 | Sports Product Design Studio I | 6 |
| SPD 686 | Sports Product Design Studio II | 6 |
| SPD 687 | Sports Product Design Studio III | 6 |
| SPD 601 | Research: [Topic] | 1-6 |
| SPD 688 | Innovative Project Strategy Development Studio | 6 |
| SPD 689 | Collaborative Creation and Launch Studio | 6 |
| HPHY 631 | Human Performance and Sports Products | 3 |
| HPHY 632 | Human Biomechanics and Sports Product Design | 2 |
Academic Studies. A minimum of 15% of the total credits for the degree should be in academic studies concerned with visual media. Course assignments should be made with careful consideration of (1) the scope and objectives of the student’s program, and (2) the content of studies completed at the undergraduate level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPD 515 | Soft Goods Technologies | 4 |
| SPD 525 | Digital Creation Technologies | 4 |
| SPD 503 | Thesis (Thesis) | 1-6 |
| SPD 604 | Internship: [Topic] | 1-6 |
| SPD 605 | Special Problems: [Topic] | 1-6 |
| SPD 606 | Practicum: [Topic] | 6 |
Elective Studies. Elective studies are important since they provide opportunities for students to follow specific areas of interest related to their areas of specialization or their prospective careers. It is strongly recommended that at least 10% of the total program be reserved for electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPD 606 | Practicum: [Topic] | 1-6 |
| PD 510 | Experimental Course: [Topic] | 1-6 |
| MGMT 625 | New Venture Planning | 3 |
Professional Connections
Industry partners for Sports Product Design provide special opportunities for students, fulfilling a number of critical roles as part of the learning environment of this program: instructors, advisors, guest reviewers, lecturers, mentors. Some examples of recent partners include Intel, Leatherman, Logitech, Nike, and Under Armour.