Introduction and Program Mission
The Healthcare Design Initiative integrates evidence-based design, sustainable science, leadership training, and best practice benchmarks for planning healthcare facilities into a transdisciplinary graduate education program. The comprehensive initiative includes multiple tracks for studying healthcare design and healing environments at the graduate level. The program also includes a study abroad component, as well as involvement with an award-winning, student-produced magazine of research and trends. The graduate degree programs consist of a Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Healthcare Design and Healing Environments, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Environmental Design and Planning with a concentration in healthcare and healing environments.
Unlike any other program in the United States, the emphasis of ASU’s program is on understanding the healing experience from the patient’s and user’s perspectives. Students analyze facility-related components that cluster into eight functional work units: Programming (long-range planning), Facilities Analysis (physical and environmental), Space Management/Planning, Financial Analysis, Interior Planning and Design, Human Factors, Codes, and Strategic Planning.
This multidisciplinary approach combines key principles of architecture and interior architecture, nursing and healthcare innovation, leadership and management, human health services, communication studies, and behavioral sciences. Students are mentored by local healthcare design consultants. Additionally, they are teamed with nursing students to work directly with real clients and forward-thinking healthcare research centers.
Upon graduation, students may pursue advanced positions in the following arenas:
- Leadership and decision-making positions in the healthcare design industry
- Strategic planning for large healthcare systems and corporations
- Facility programming for elite consulting firms
- Innovative collaboration at research centers
- Experts for leading healthcare manufacturers and vendors
- Medical planning for architectural and planning firms
Program Strengths
- Interdisciplinary education through multiple supporting ASU partners, including the College of Nursing & Health Innovation and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and several of its academic units — Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Urban design.
- Patient/nurse-centered education, research, and interaction
- Focus on evidence-based research and sustainable science
- Real clients and practitioners
• Mentorship and outreach programs
- Global perspectives through study abroad programs
If you are interested in studying Healthcare Design at ASU, please contact hhe@asu.edu or call 480.965.7007.
If you are interested in joining the Healthcare Design Advisory Board, please see details here. |
