Goals & Assessment
Master of Arts (MA) Assessment Methods
Master of Arts in Interior Architecture Assessment Methods
The success of the Master of Arts in Interior Architecture Program curriculum is measured in the continued growth of student learning and increased knowledge base. The Program measures that learning most comprehensively through the following methods:
Academic Performance
Candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA with no grade below C- in any graduate course.
Thesis Presentation
The three-semester Thesis sequence of Thesis Research (ADI 840), Thesis (ADI S842) and Thesis Documentation (ADI 844) culminates in the comprehensive thesis presentation to a panel of critics which includes School of Art & Design faculty and outside architecture and design professionals.
Portfolio Reviews
Each spring, all students in the program are required to submit an electronic portfolio of their studio work for review by two faculty members. Feedback is returned to the student by the start of the fall semester. A final exit portfolio review & interview with outside professionals is required in the final semester after passing the Thesis presentation. A written evaluation is provided by the critics.
Surveys
Periodic student surveys are administered by the program to gain feedback on the curriculum and the program sequencing.
Program Course Evaluations
Course evaluations are required at the midterm and end of the semester for all studio and academic courses. Evaluations are reviewed by senior administrative staff, the Program Co-Directors and the faculty member. Action is taken where indicated.
Industry Feedback
The placement of students in internships and, ultimately, in jobs provides the program with valuable feedback as to the skill level of the graduating student. Feedback is provided formally through Internship Evaluation Forms and through the biannual meeting of the Interior Design Advisory Board. Informally, feedback is gathered from students in both their advising sessions with faculty and in their reporting of job placement success.
Competitions
The program encourages, supports financially, and regularly includes interior design competitions in the curriculum. The interior design student body has been the recipient of many top national awards including the IES Lighting Design Competition and the ASID Student Competition, and the IIDA New England Student Awards, among others.
Master of Arts in Graphic Design Assessment Methods
The success of our curriculum content and teaching methods are measured by the continuing growth of student learning and ever-increasing and changing knowledge base. We provide and measure quality through the implementation of the following methods:
Critiques
Critique-based learning in an integral component of our teaching methodology and is incorporated into every studio course in the graduate curriculum. The critique method allows students to gain valuable feedback from faculty and peers on their work in-process and incorporate that feedback into their final design solutions.
Grades
Candidates in the Master of Arts Graphic Design program must maintain a 3.0 GPA with no grade below a C- in any graduate course.
Semester Portfolio Reviews
At the end of each semester, students present their studio work to a panel of critics comprised of Graphic Design faculty from the School of Art & Design and professionals for whom graphic design is an integral part of their occupation. Subsequent to the review, students receive written evaluations of their portfolios detailing areas of strength and those areas needing improvement.
Thesis Reviews
The three-semester thesis sequence of Thesis Research (AGD840), Thesis (AGDS842) and Thesis Documentation (AGD 844) culminates in the comprehensive thesis presentation to a panel of critics that includes School of Art & Design faculty and outside graphic design professionals.
Program Course Evaluations
Course evaluations are required at the midterm and end of the semester for all studio and academic courses. Evaluations are reviewed by senior administrative staff, the Graduate Program Director and the faculty member. When necessary, modifications to course content or teaching methods may be made in order to better meet course objectives and achieve learning outcomes.
Feedback from the Graphic Design Profession
Feedback about students’ skills and the efficacy of the Master’s curriculum is garnered from internship placements and from students and graduates working in the field. Intern Evaluation Forms, which are completed by both students and employers, are used to assess internship placements, the caliber of students’ studio skills and the application of studio content in a professional design setting. Additionally, overall program effectiveness is measured by collecting data on where graduates are employed, the type of work they are producing, their contributions to the field and the awards they receive as professional designers.
Competitions
In conjunction with course projects, students are encouraged (and in some courses required) to enter design competitions from local and worldwide professional organizations. Participation in such competitions is used as a litmus test for gauging the caliber of students’ skills and the effectiveness of pedagogy.