An interdisciplinary, collaborative approach that builds technical, strategic and leadership skills.
Human-centered design is at the heart of the program, which brings together design, engineering and business perspectives to create new products and experiences. IPD graduates are entrepreneurs, designers, product engineers, product managers, user experience designers and innovation leaders. They are changing the world, one product, one service, one business at a time.
Our product design programs combine the vitality of a start up with the rigor of an Ivy League education; drawing on three renowned schools within the University.
Integrated Product Design offers two degrees, the Master of Integrated Product Design (M:IPD) & the Master of Science in Engineering in Integrated Product Design (MSE:IPD). A Certificate in Integrated Product Design is offered for students who are pursuing other graduate degrees at Penn.
Discover your ideal program.
Programs
| M:IPD
The M:IPD is intended for applicants with design, business or engineering backgrounds who wish to deepen their current skill sets while building broader skills in the other disciplines. |
MSE:IPD Degree
The MSE:IPD is intended for students who possess an undergraduate degree in engineering. The degree emphasizes technology and manufacturing processes, including coursework in advanced CAD/CAM and mechatronics. |
IPD Certificate
The certificate in Integrated Product Design makes a focus on product design feasible for students who are interested in the field from a wide range of disciplines. |
Who It's For
| M:IPD
Students from design, engineering or business backgrounds |
MSE:IPD Degree
Students from engineering backgrounds |
IPD Certificate
Students who are currently pursuing graduate degrees in Design, Engineering or Wharton at Penn |
Number of Courses
| M:IPD
10* |
MSE:IPD Degree
10* |
IPD Certificate
5 |
* Students who do not have the requisite background in the three areas; engineering, design arts, and/or marketing/finance, may be required to enroll in additional Foundational Courses. See Courses for details.
Disciplinary Focus
| M:IPD
Integrates design, engineering and business equally |
MSE:IPD Degree
Primary concentration on engineering with exposure to design and business |
IPD Certificate
Integrates design, engineering and business equally |
Degree
| M:IPD
Masters |
MSE:IPD Degree
Masters |
IPD Certificate
Certificate |
Qualifications
| M:IPD
Degree in design, business or engineering discipline with aptitude for the others |
MSE:IPD Degree
Degree in engineering discipline with aptitude for design and business |
IPD Certificate
Current Penn graduate student in Engineering, Weitzman School of Design or The Wharton School, with GPA of 3.0 or above |
Within each offering there is the opportunity to create an elective curriculum that gives students the opportunity to specialize in one of many fields such as User Experience Strategy, Robotics and Intelligent Products, Healthcare Innovation and Social Impact. View our Sample Tracks for ideas.
IPD students work on a variety of projects throughout their time at Penn. Some are executed over the course of days or weeks; others span two semesters. Some are solo endeavors; others are team exercises. While pursuing their degrees, students work on both design problems that follow their passions and on real world problems provided by our partners in academia, industry, or the non-profit world.