Dr. Doug Cooper

Professor

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Biography

Douglas Cooper is the Andrew Mellon Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he teaches drawing and architectural design. His approach emphasizes classical techniques and significantly contributes to drawing pedagogy, influenced by Kimon Nicolaïdes' "The Natural Way to Draw." As an artist and muralist, Cooper's work combines narrative, history, and memory, producing large-scale murals in collaboration with local communities. Notable projects include murals for the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, the Philadelphia Courthouse, and Carnegie Mellon’s Jared L. Cohon University Center, as well as a series depicting the geography and history of Seattle’s King County Courthouse. His murals also serve educational purposes, such as in language instruction projects. Additionally, Cooper has conducted exhibitions in various prestigious art sites, including the Carnegie Museum of Art and international venues. His publications include books on drawing that explore pedagogy and urban landscapes. Beyond his academic and artistic endeavors, he plays a role in community projects like the Rachel Carson EcoVillage co-housing initiative. Doug's upcoming exhibition, "Forbes Field Remembered Places," will showcase his vignettes of Pittsburgh's architectural history, reflecting on his time living near Forbes Field.

Research Interests

Courses

48-121: Drawing 48-356: Color Drawing 62-126: Drawing II 48-355: Perspective

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.