Florida International University (FIU) has launched a new Doctor of Design (DDes) degree program that aims to "prepare architects for global leadership careers in design investigation, industry, applied research and related emerging technology fields."

The program is set to begin during the Spring 2021 semester and will be housed within FIU’s Department of Architecture, which is itself located within the school's College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts. According to FIU, the new degree is one of only five post-professional DDes programs nationwide. The program will be led by FIU Professor Neil Leach.
 
“FIU’s climb as one of the nation’s top research universities is fueled by programs of the future such as this new Doctor of Design that involves experiential learning leveraging state-of-the-art technology,” said FIU Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Furton. “We expect that graduates of this program will reach the highest levels of their profession and contribute to the body of design knowledge through scholarship, research and innovation.”

The program will be set up on a 60-credit track that will be offered "primarily online and will support research in architecture," according to FIU. The program's remote focus is geared toward helping working professionals benefit from the program, though it will feature a two-week in-person residency component and will also be available as a fully in-person program once the COVID-19 crisis recedes. According to FIU, the program will cover "the application of the latest computer tools to the design, visualization and fabrication of the built environment."

Courses for the degree will be "designed to provide learners with a theoretical framework of the digital impact on architectural design and fabrication and also focus on emerging technologies, including robotics, digital fabrication, sensing and advanced visualization tools (virtual and augmented reality)."