PhD in Comparative Studies - Design, Aesthetics and the Arts in Florida United States | Florida Atlantic University

The Ph.D. in Comparative Studies offers a specialized track in Design, Aesthetics, and the Arts, providing an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach for doctoral candidates to gain expertise both within traditional disciplines and across cultural and academic boundaries. Central to our program is the conviction that design, fine arts, and aesthetic philosophy are best explored through comparative analytical frameworks, incorporating evolving theoretical and methodological perspectives.

This program blends interdisciplinary integration with multidisciplinary comparison. Key focus areas encompass aesthetic philosophy (notably somaesthetics, pioneered by FAU Eminent Scholar and DAA Academic Program Director Richard Shusterman), design theory and philosophy (enhanced by our collaboration with Israel's Shenkar College of Engineering, Design, and Art), visual arts, art history (including digital gaming studies), multimedia, and architectural studies. Students may also pursue specializations in musicology or theater studies.

Designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, the program features a unified core curriculum followed by tailored specialization paths developed with faculty advisors. We emphasize multifaceted examinations of design, aesthetics, and artistic practice, encouraging students to synthesize diverse viewpoints through interdisciplinary methodologies.