Applicant Profile
The Global Executive Master of Science in Strategic Design and Management program seeks professionals who want to become the game changers of the new economy. Our students are co-productive individuals from diverse backgrounds in business, creative industries,
communications, and commerce with a minimum of five years' work experience or three years' work experience and a demonstrable background in entrepreneurship in any industry. We welcome emerging leaders who are motivated and inspired by the opportunity
to lead change as innovative executives—those who aspire to transform our economic landscape, contribute new business models, and develop new organizational designs and are determined to shift paradigms. We invite applications from those of various
professional and academic backgrounds, experiences, and trajectories who want to not only change and advance on their own professional path but help shape the future of global business through new design management practices.
Application and Financial Aid Deadlines
Application Deadline
The priority application deadline is January 1. We will continue to receive applications on a rolling basis until the final deadline of May 1. Please note that the program begins in July. Fall and spring term admission are not offered for this program.
Financial Aid Deadline
Merit Scholarships:
All admitted students are considered for merit scholarship awards determined by the strength of their applications. Scholarship awards are included in applicants’ admission decision letters. International students
are eligible only for merit scholarships.
Federal Student Aid:
If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, we encourage you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be found at
www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA is available each year on October 1. The New School’s federal school code is 002780. You do not need to wait for an admission decision to apply for federal aid.
Submit your FAFSA by our February 1 FAFSA Priority Deadline.
Application Instructions
The Global Executive Master of Science in Strategic Design and Management is administered through Parsons School of Design's main campus in New York City, with a series of weekend workshops based at our Parsons Paris location. When starting your
application online, please select "Parsons School of Design" in the "School" field (not
Parsons Paris). From there, for the "Program/Major" field, you will have the opportunity to select "Global Executive Strategic Design and Management."
All applicants are required to apply online. Save your work frequently and print a copy for your records. You must complete all required fields and uploads prior to submission.
Any additional supporting documents that need to be sent by mail must include an
Application Materials Cover Sheet. All supporting materials must be received before your application can be reviewed.
See below for additional information regarding submission of transcripts and recommendations.
- In addition to submitting the
online application, applicants can submit an optional portfolio using
SlideRoom.
- Finalize your portfolio at the time you submit your application. This will help prevent any delays in reviewing your application, as we need to receive all required materials before we can place your application under review.
- Once you have submitted the
SlideRoom materials, a confirmation number will be emailed to you. Save this for your records and enter it on the online application when requested.
Required Application Materials
- Application Form: Complete the
online application. All applicants are required to apply online.
- Application Fee: The application fee is $50. The fee is paid through the online application and is non-refundable. There is also a $10 SlideRoom fee..
- Transcripts:
Unofficial Transcripts: Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) in the Educational Background section of the online
application.
- All transcript uploads must be accompanied by a key, a legend, or the back copy of the transcript.
- Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Records from non-U.S. institutions must have grades or marks and contain a copy of the diploma if the degree has been conferred.
- Make sure your name appears on the transcript/record. Scans must be clear and legible.
- Do not mail materials that have been uploaded with the online application or any other materials unless requested by the admission office.
- If you experience trouble uploading your transcript, email
enroll@newschool.edu and give a detailed description of the issue and attach the document in question.
The New School reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admission process. Any fraudulent activity or discrepancies found between uploaded and official transcripts will result in the immediate revocation of admission
and/or dismissal from The New School. Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial.
Official Transcripts: Applicants offered admission will be required to submit official transcripts (as well as official certified translations and evaluations of the transcripts/mark sheets and degree certifications
if the degree was earned outside of the United States) to The New School. Admitted applicants must submit all official transcripts pertaining to their entire academic career.
Your offer of admission will be contingent upon the receipt and verification of these official documents. New students will not be permitted to register for their second semester of study until all official transcripts (including degree-awarding
transcripts) have been received by the Office of Graduate Admission. Transcripts uploaded with the online application do not satisfy this requirement.
By Mail: Official transcripts should have an original signature or a raised university seal, and must be in a sealed envelope that has been signed or stamped by the issuing university’s registrar or records office.
Applicants can either send official transcripts with an
Application Materials Cover Sheet or request that institutions send transcripts directly to The New School. See “Mailing
Address for Supplemental Materials” for our mailing address in the Additional Instructions and Information section below.
Electronic Transcripts (U.S./Domestic Institutions Only): The New School accepts electronic transcripts only from our approved vendors. The New School’s approved vendors, in order of preference, are
- Parchment Exchange
- SCRIP-SAFE International
- National Student Clearinghouse
We do not accept electronic transcripts sent directly by a student or school offices. Note: All international academic credentials must be submitted as indicated in the International Academic Credentials sections below.
International Academic Credentials: All transcripts not written in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation or be evaluated by
World Education Services (WES), or by another member of the
National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation must be prepared for each transcript. In the absence of an evaluation, the Admission Committee
will do its best to render a decision. Please note: In some cases, a review cannot be made without an evaluation, and a committee decision will be delayed. The Admission Office reserves the right to request a transcript evaluation if necessary.
If using WES, visit
www.wes.org for instructions and to begin the application process. The “Required Documents” section will explain what to send. If you request your report online, search for “The New
School” when selecting our institution. WES will send your completed evaluation directly to The New School.
If using another NACES provider, follow instructions for that provider. Mailed evaluations and translations should be sent to the mailing address provided for supporting materials. Applicants forwarding these sealed documents should include
an
Application Materials Cover Sheet.
- Résumé: Submit a brief résumé/curriculum vitae summarizing your academic qualifications, relevant work experience, volunteer/community work, travel, exhibitions, public speaking, or any other relevant experiences as they may relate
to your field of study, including dates and positions held. Please also note any special language or computer skills that you have.
- Statement of Purpose: Please outline your reasons for applying to this program. In what ways will you contribute to the subject matter of the program? How have your specific work experiences in design, business, consulting, or nonprofit
organizations shaped your motivation for this program and the resulting professional goals? You should include a thoughtful description of your background, tentative plan of study or area of inquiry in the field as you now envision it, your professional
goals, and an explanation of how this graduate program will help you realize those goals. If you have not been enrolled as a student in the past five years, please address anticipated opportunities and challenges in pursuing the degree, and future
career expectations upon completion of the program. (500–750-word limit)
- Recommendation Letters: You are required to submit two letters of recommendation from faculty or people with whom you have worked professionally, including at least one from your current supervisor at work. Recommenders can submit
recommendations online; instructions are included with the online application. If preferred, the recommendation form can instead be sent by mail in a signed, sealed envelope. To send by mail, download the PDF recommendation form found in the online
application, complete the personal information, save the form, and forward it to the recommender for completion and submission. Applicants can also send signed and sealed recommendations to the Office of Admission using an
Application Materials Cover Sheet.
- Program Essay: A personal essay of 500–1,000 words must accompany the application. The essay must identify your motivation for study in the program by addressing the following topics in an integrated manner (i.e., do not simply provide
answers to the bullet points, but develop an integrated and flowing argument):
- How have your specific work experiences in design, business, consulting, or nonprofit organizations shaped your motivation for this program and the resulting professional goals?
- Why do you think of yourself as a game changer in your current organization, and why do you think this program will enhance your attributes as an innovator, strategist, or leader in your career?
- What are some specific critical experiences you have had as part of a team or work group that shaped your understanding of the complexities of professional collaboration, organizational reality, and economic irrationality?
- What are three things that you can already tell us about the future importance of design thinking?
- How would you describe this program and your ambition for study in this new field to your friends, family, current employer, and colleagues?
- What specifically excites you about the Global Executive program, with its integrated online study and global experiences in Paris, New York, and Shanghai?
Please note that this essay is not simply a biographical statement, nor is it a writing sample. You will be evaluated on the quality of articulation of your academic and professional preparedness, your consideration of critical issues, and your
inspirational and transformational abilities and attributes.
- Portfolio (Optional): You can submit a portfolio with your application—note that this is optional. The portfolio must be completed in
SlideRoom only and is limited to ten examples of design or management work. The items must be directly related to your motivation for studies in the program and must be integrated
with the topics of your program essay. The visuals should contain enough of an explanation to allow the reviewers to identify your understanding of the design principles, methods, processes, and projects that you chose to represent.
- Test Scores:
GRE and GMAT (Optional): Although it is not required, if you took the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), scores can be submitted to support your application. GRE scores
should be sent electronically. The institution code is 2638. Mail GMAT scores to the Office of Admission with an
Application Materials Cover Sheet. The absence of a GRE or GMAT score will not reduce your chances of gaining admission
to the program.
TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE: All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. The minimum score required for TOEFL (IB) is 92, for IELTS is 7.0, and for PTE is 63. Our
TOEFL institution code is 2638.
The New School does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores for applicants who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction (minimum of three years
attendance). Upon review of your application the Office of Admission may require you to submit an English Language Proficiency test score to further evaluate your candidacy.
Arrange for the testing service to send your test scores directly to The New School using the codes listed above. We accept scores from the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test. For more information, visit
TOEFL,
IELTS, or
PTE.
Applicants also have the option of enrolling in The New School's English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Students must pass Level 6 in order to waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE requirement. Visit the
ESL website for more information.
Applicants to this program may request an interview in place of the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE exams. Please email the program director Melissa Rancourt at
rancourm@newschool.edu to make your request.
- Interviews: Students may be invited for an interview in-person or by phone.
Additional Information and Instructions
- Applying to More Than One Program: In any given term, a student can apply to only one department or program within The New School. Applicants who file more than one application in a given semester will be required to withdraw one
of the applications, and application fees will not be refunded.
- Application Materials: All materials submitted in association with The New School application become the property of The New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.
- Application Status: Applications become complete and ready for review once all required items have been received by the Office of Admission. You can check your application status online at the
Admission Hub.
Allow at least 14 days from the date you submitted your application for items to be matched and shown as received on the Hub. Applicants are responsible for following up with schools and recommenders to confirm that items have been sent.
The Office of Admission will periodically notify applicants by email if their file is missing any documents and again when their file is complete for review. These notifications are sent to the email address provided in the online application.
- Mailing Address for Supplemental Materials:
Parsons School of Design
Office of Admission (PS 300)
79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor
New York, NY 10003