2011-2012 Archived Catalog Information

Candidates for the master’s degree must complete a course of study consisting of 30 to 99 credits, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and a grade of “B” or better in all courses with a course code of 500 or higher. The faculty reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student from a graduate program if in their professional estimation the probability of his/her success is doubtful. Such factors as academic performance, interest, effort, and suitability for the field enter into this judgment.

Applicants possessing undergraduate degrees in the visual arts (other than interior design) can often be exempted from the Foundation Program (32 credits), thus leaving 38 credits of foundational interior design coursework and 30 credits of graduate study (level 700 or higher) to complete. In such cases, completion of the MA in Interior Design will typically require two-and-one-half years of year-round (fall, spring, summer) study.

Those with undergraduate degrees in a field of study unrelated to the visual arts will generally be required to complete 70 credits of Foundation and foundational interior design study, as well as 30 graduate credits (level 700 or higher). Such students should expect to spend three-and-one-half years of year-round (fall, spring, summer) study in order to complete the degree. In either case, part-time study is an option.

Graduate students maintaining a full-time course load may enroll for a maximum of 12 credits.

All graduate students should be aware that the specific courses for which they are permitted to register in any given semester will depend on prior art background, transfer/waived credits, prerequisite requirements, and course scheduling. Therefore, it may not be possible for a student who wishes to take a full course load to do so.

Degree requirements are normally completed within five years after the start of graduate work.

Foundation Courses (32 Credits/10 Courses)

ADF S501 Foundation Drawing I
ADF S502 Foundation Drawing II
ADI S506 Interior Design Communications
ADI S508 Perspective and Rendering
ADI S510 Orthogonal Drawing
ADF S543 Color
ADF S551 2-Dimensional Design
ADF S552 3-Dimensional Design
ADF 581 Ideas of Western Art I
ADF 582 Ideas of Western Art II

Foundational Interior Design Courses (38 Credits/12 Courses)

ADI S601 Interior Design Studio I
ADI S602 Residential Design Studio
ADI S603 Contract Design Studio I
ADI S604 Furniture Design and Detailing Studio
ADI S605 Contract Design Studio II
ADI 621 History of Furniture and Architecture I
ADI 622 History of Furniture and Architecture II 
ADI S634 Introduction to Interior Design Theory 
ADI 642 Interior Codes and Construction
ADI 644Interior Materials and Finishes 
ADI 652 Environmental Systems 
ADI 654 Lighting
ADI S664 Advanced Interior Design Communications 

Master of Arts Courses (21 Credits/7 Courses)

ADI 700  Interior Design Internship  
ADI S772  Construction Documents  
ADI 784  Interior Marketing and Contracts  
ADI 835 History and Theory of Interior Architecture
ADI 840 Thesis Research
ADI 842 Thesis
ADI 844 Thesis Documentation

Electives

ADI S706  Portfolio  
ADI 713  Advanced 3-Dimensional Color  
ADI S805  Form Study and Model Making  
ADI S830  Digital Visualization Studio  
ADI S837  Sustainable Design for Interiors
ADI S866 Environmental Graphic Design 

Professional Track Courses (9 Credits/3 Courses each)

Prior to enrollment in Thesis Research (ADI 840), MA candidatesmust choose one of the following professional tracks:

Healthcare/Institutional Track

ADI S810 Advanced Lighting Design Studio
ADI S815 Advanced Human Factors and Universal Design Studio
ADI S820 Advanced Materials and Methods Studio: Detailing and Structures for Interior Designers

Commercial Track

ADI S810 Advanced Lighting Design Studio
ADI S815 Advanced Human Factors and Universal Design Studio
ADI S820 Advanced Materials and Methods Studio: Detailing and Structures for Interior Designers

Hospitality/Retail Track

ADI S810 Advanced Lighting Design Studio
ADI S815 Advanced Human Factors and Universal Design Studio
ADI S825 History and Style Studio

Residential Track

ADI S810  Advanced Lighting Design Studio
ADI S815  Advanced Human Factors and Universal Design Studio
ADI S825  History and Style Studio

Thesis

The master’s program culminates in a final thesis project, based on an original idea associated with a student’s selected program track. The thesis project explores the idea through the venue of an interior design building project that is focused by an aspect of design theory and aesthetics. Thesis Research (ADI 840), Thesis (ADI S842), and Thesis Documentation (ADI 844) are intended as the final three courses in the master’s program curriculum sequence. Successful completion of Thesis Research is a prerequisite for enrollment in Thesis. Successful completion of Thesis is likewise a prerequisite for enrollment in Thesis Documentation.

Portfolio Review

MA candidates who need to complete Foundation or foundational interior design coursework will be subject to the same policies regarding regularly scheduled portfolio reviews as are undergraduate students.