Programme

The Master of Science in Engineering Prospective Design (PRODE) is structured to guide your logical progression:
foundations (S1) → methods & innovation (S2) → foresight & research (S3) → professionalization (S4).
Throughout the curriculum, design remains at the core of the programme, with a strong focus on eco-design and sustainability issues.

Programme Objective

The objective of PRODE is to train designers capable of managing an innovation process and integrating all its dimensions.

Technical (materials, processes, feasibility),
Human (uses, stakeholders, change management),
Economic (marketing, strategy, finance, market launch),
Responsible (eco-design, impacts, transitions).

General Curriculum Structure

Duration: 2 years (M1 + M2)
Internships: up to 3 months in M1; 4 to 6 months in M2
Research Thesis: in M2, supported by dedicated courses (preparation, methodology, scientific approach)
Locations: courses delivered at both sites (Mines Saint-Étienne and IAE Saint-Étienne / UJM)

Semester Overview

Semester	Main Theme	What you develop
S1 — Core Knowledge	Consolidate and complete your foundations	Management/engineering foundations + Project tools
S2 — Design & Innovation	Applied innovation methods	Cases, mini-projects, exploration, reasoned scenarios
S3 — Research & Foresight	Build possible futures	Scenarios, systemic approach, thesis commencement
S4 — Professionalization	Apply in real-world conditions	Long internship + professional skills

Semester 1 — Core Knowledge

S1 builds a foundation of knowledge complementary to your initial training. The objective is to provide you with the necessary tools to argue and structure your proposals in upcoming projects.

Keywords: marketing, engineering, materials and manufacturing processes, programming, design, strategy, product launch

What you typically work on:

understanding market issues / positioning / value,
useful basics for dialogue with engineering and production,
initial technical building blocks (materials, processes, programming depending on content),
strategic framing (vision, objectives, constraints, implementation).

Semester 2 — Design and Innovation

S2 allows you to experiment with innovation methods at different stages of a project, through case studies and mini-projects. You develop agile skills, improved analysis, and the ability to integrate complex realities.

Keywords: innovation funding, market research, innovation law, eco-design, digital transition, user-centered design, intellectual property

What you will be better at by the end of S2:

exploring a complex problem and formulating solid leads,
integrating the “business” dimension (market, value, funding),
framing legal aspects (IP, innovation law),
integrating eco-design into the design process.

Semester 3 — Research and Foresight

S3 focuses on foresight: building scenarios in varied contexts, identifying strengths/weaknesses, and proposing levers for improvement. You confront complex issues that require a systemic and multidisciplinary approach.

Projects can be carried out in partnership with engineering students (depending on themes and organizations).

Keywords: multidisciplinarity, foresight, usage scenarios, research, scientific approach

In parallel: thesis commencement
S3 also serves as a framework for establishing a personal scientific approach: research question, method, state of the art, construction of reasoned argumentation.

Semester 4 — Professionalization

S4 corresponds to professional immersion via a 4 to 6-month internship within:

a company (VSE/SME/large group),
a public institution,
or a non-profit organization.

This is the practical application of acquired knowledge and a skill accelerator: professional posture, project management, communication, arbitration, and decision-making.

Keywords: internship, professional experience, company, professional skills

Internships & Thesis

M1 Internship (up to 3 months)

A first experience to test your positioning, strengthen your project practices, and prepare for M2 orientation.

Research Thesis (M2)

A supervised thesis, with preparatory courses: scientific approach, structuring, argumentation, critical thinking.

M2 Internship (4 to 6 months)

A long-term practical situation to exercise responsibilities: framing, coordination, methods, deliverables, value created for stakeholders.

What you will be able to do upon graduation

manage an innovation process (scoping → exploration → scenarios → implementation),
produce solid deliverables (scenarios, arguments, prototypes, recommendations),
engage with key functions: R&D, production, marketing, finance, sales,
integrate eco-design and impact challenges,
build a strategic vision based on possible futures.