Master of Healthcare Design

The Elliot Master of Healthcare Design (MHD) Program at Kent State University is a post-professional degree and one of the very few focusing on the design of healthcare facilities. The MHD program equips students with the knowledge and skills required to design spaces that are conducive to safety, satisfaction, and efficiency for all end users, including patients, staff, and caregivers. Upon graduation, our alumni are employed in healthcare-focused architecture and design firms. Kent State University's Healthcare Design program is also a member of the AIA's Design & Health Research Consortium.

Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D., M.Arch.

Coordinator and Elliot Professor, Healthcare Design Program

Contact: sbayramz@kent.edu

WHO SHOULD ENROLL

The Master of Healthcare Design (MHD) suits those who want to pursue a career in healthcare design industry, which involves design of hospitals, clinics, and other environments of care. Recently graduated students in architecture or interior design, as well as early- or mid-career architects, interior designers, and design practitioners can utilize this program to hone their design and research skills for a variety of healthcare facilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Holding a professional degree in architecture or interior design from a NAAB or CIDA accredited program or an equivalent degree from a non-US institution.

CURRICULUM

To graduate, a minimum of 35 credit hours must be completed. The program may be completed in three or four semesters, as appropriate. The coursework consists of design studios, applied research, and real-world practice experience. A list of courses and program requirements can be found in the program catalog.   

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand and translate research literature into real-world design practice
• Design effectively in support of safety, quality, and efficiency in healthcare
• Apply expert knowledge and skills in the design of healthcare environments as well as environments for special populations

WHY MHD AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

Kent State University is strategically located near Cleveland, Akron, and Pittsburgh with access to some of the key players in the healthcare industry, such as Cleveland Clinic. The working partnership with these healthcare systems and architecture firms in the region as well as existing facilities and faculty expertise have uniquely positioned the MHD to offer students an enriching experience. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Apply here by submitting the following materials. The applications for Fall 2022 must be received by January 15, 2022.

• Accredited professional degree in architecture or interior design
• Official transcript(s) – a minimum GPA of 3.00 is required.
• Goal statement
• Portfolio of design work that clearly delineates the role played by the applicant in team projects
• Three letters of recommendations (one letter from a non-academic source)
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score.
• GRE not required

For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.

COST

As of Fall 2019:

Ohio Residents: $536 per credit hour

Non-Ohio Residents: $999 per credit hour

For information about the current tuition and fee rates please click here. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

A variety of graduate assistantships, scholarships, research and work opportunities are available to both new and returning graduate students. For more information, please contact the program coordinator or graduate secretary.

graduate assistantships       scholarships

RESEARCH

TOWARD A MODEL OF SAFETY AND CARE FOR TRAUMA ROOM DESIGN

"Toward a model of Safety and Care for Trauma Room Design" is a $2.4 grant project awarded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The project aims to help save patients' lives by improving the design of Level I trauma rooms.

OUR WORK

STUDENT WORK: Visit the www.caedXgallery.com for student work and online exhibitions. 

RESEARCH WORK: Visit our Trauma Simulation Project and Trauma Room Design Summary. 

FACULTY

Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D., M.Arch. | Coordinator and Elliot Professor

Kara Freihoefer, Ph.D., CID, EDAC, LEED ID+C   

John Walkosak

Gina Livingston-Smith, IIDA, EDAC, LEED AP

William Schubert

Phil LiBassi, FAIA, FACHA, NCARB

Caitlin Cashner

Ryan Conover, EDAC, Associate IALD

OUR ALUMNI

Caitlin Raymond, MHD

“Going through this program allowed me to not only further my education and gain more experience in the healthcare field, but also explore my passion of design. The program gave me the opportunity to work with other architects and designers who share my passion of creating a more efficient and effective healing environment. The classes allowed enough flexibility that I could complete the assignments while working and offered many different resources that I could explore on my own. The final master's project allowed me work more specifically on researching a topic I was interested in. I am very glad I was able to complete the master’s degree in Health Care Design at Kent State University.”

Bishal Thapa Chetry, MHD

“I am very grateful to Kent State University’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design for establishing a graduate program solely dedicated to Health Care Design. The program offers a profound understanding of Health Care deeply rooted in interdisciplinary literature and practices. Knowledge acquired is invaluable and will always be treasured throughout my career.”

Marwa Ibrahem, MHD, Senior Healthcare Architect

“The Healthcare Design program at Kent State University provided me with a great background knowledge and theory in the Healthcare field in general and gave me a strong foundation in the field of health care design. The online system of the M.H.C.D. program is a big advantage that allow students to work and live their usual life. Another advantage is that students have multiple options of classes to choose from. Enrolling to this program changed my view of the health care facilities from just a building that provide patients with treatments to a healing environment that provide quality care, improve safety and comfort, and reduce stress.”

CONTACT

Program Coordinator: Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D., M.Arch.

sbayramz@kent.edu, 330-672-0936

SEMINARS

DESIGNING FOR HIGHLY INFECTIOUS CONTAGIONS