MS Strategic Design Leadership at Illinois Institute of Technology

Programme overview

The M.S. in Strategic Design Leadership connects experienced professionals through a work-compatible, part-time format with remote learning and in-person summits that sharpen leadership and expand influence. You’ll learn how to align human needs with business realities—without losing sight of the imaginative leaps that spark innovation and create possibilities.

Faculty: School of Design and Society | Department: Design | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chicago, IL, United States

What you will study

Here are a few interesting courses in the M.S. in Strategic Design Leadership: Modes of Human Experience

Career pathways

Our Strategic Design Leadership alumni hold key positions at top organizations, launch boundary-pushing ventures, and drive meaningful change through design strategy in a range of roles and industries, such as: Vice President of Design; Business Design Leader; Design Strategist & Researcher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-level graduate admission: You must complete the Illinois Tech graduate application , regardless of which graduate program you wish to pursue. Visit our admission website to learn more about what information and documents you need to apply. Ideal applicants for the M.S. in Strategic Design Leadership have 8 years minimum of professional experience, including leadership responsibilities.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms: Fall and Spring.

Fall term: priority deadlines January 31 and April 15; regular deadline July 15 (domestic and international students living in the U.S.) or June 15 (international students living outside the U.S.). Spring term: priority October 1, extended to October 15; regular deadline January 7 (domestic) or November 15 (international). The admissions application fee is $100. GRE is optional for master's applicants.

Chicago-Kent J.D.: no application fee for 2026 J.D. applicants; first-year entry is Fall, with transfer entry in Fall or Spring.

Apply through the official page: https://www.iit.edu/admissions-aid/apply

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities