Interior Design BS / Interior Architecture MS

Major: Interior Design and Interior Architecture
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) & Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 226.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
 

About the Program

The BS Interior Design / MS Interior Architecture program offers a first-professional degree in interior design and a post-professional graduate degree for students looking to accelerate their career and/or specialize in an area of interior design. The BS Interior Design program explores the behavioral, technological, environmental and aesthetic aspects of interior design within the context of increasingly more complex design projects. Combined with art and art history and general education requirements, a core of interior design courses is completed along with a 6-month professional co-op. This undergraduate education prepares students to enter the interior design industry.

The MS Interior Architecture program reinforces design fundamentals; advances technical skills and conceptual approaches; allows for specialization in areas such as health/wellness, making/fabrication, or technology/representation; and culminates in a comprehensive thesis research and design project. Students select from a range of studio, seminar, and elective courses to create a program tailored to their professional interest.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, visit the College's Interior Design webpage.

Admission Requirements

Application for the Accelerated Degree Program must be made to the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism and the Office of Graduate Studies after completing 90.0 credits, but no more than 120.0 credits.

Criteria for Admission

  • Overall GPA of undergraduate coursework – 3.2 minimum
  • Overall GPA in interior design studio coursework – 3.5 minimum
  • Portfolio Review – interior studio work and other visual work from other design courses
  • Essay – Address reason for application, attitude towards profession, professional goals and leadership qualities you possess
  • Two letters of recommendation speaking about your work ethic and leadership skills.

Degree Requirements 

General education requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
PHYS 175Light and Sound3.0
PHYS 176Computational Lab for Light and Sound1.0
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
UNIV A101The Drexel Experience2.0
Required Arts and Humanities-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits **9.0
Required Natural Science-students elect a minimum of 3.0 credits ***3.0
Required Social Science-students elect a minimum of 6.0 credits †6.0
Free electives24.0
Art & Design History requirements
ARTH 103History of Art III3.0
ARCH 141Architecture and Society I3.0
ARCH 142Architecture and Society II3.0
ARCH 143Architecture and Society III3.0
Visual studies requirements
VSST 101Design I4.0
VSST 102Design II4.0
VSST 103Design III4.0
VSST 110Introductory Drawing3.0
VSST 203Multimedia: Materials4.0
VSST 301Painting I4.0
VSST 311Sculpture I4.0
Interior design requirements
INTR 160Visualization I: Computer Imaging3.0
INTR 211Textiles for Interiors3.0
INTR 220Visualization II: Orthographic3.0
INTR 225Environmental Design Theory3.0
INTR 241Visualization III: Digital3.0
INTR 245Visualization IV: 3D Modeling3.0
INTR 250Interior Materials3.0
INTR 300Visual Culture: Interiors3.0
INTR 305Visual Culture: Furniture3.0
INTR 322Interior Studio I4.0
INTR 323Interior Studio II4.0
INTR 331Residential Design Studio4.0
INTR 341Visualization V: Methods3.0
INTR 342Hospitality Design Studio4.0
INTR 350Interior Detailing3.0
INTR 351Interior Lighting3.0
INTR 430Commercial Design Studio4.0
INTR 440Health & Wellness ID Studio4.0
INTR 441Furniture Design4.0
INTR 445Contract Documentation for Interior Design3.0
INTR 450Professional Practice3.0
INTR 451Interior Systems3.0
INTR 491Senior Project I3.0
Senior Project II ††
Senior Project III ††
Interior Architecture Requirements
Interior Architecture Studios-Choose 4 from the following:16.0
Graduate Studio A
Graduate Studio B
Furniture Design
Graduate Studio C
Graduate Studio D
Graduate Studio E
Fabrication and Making
Special Topics in Interior Design
Interior Architecture Seminars-Choose 4 from the following:8.0
Studio A Seminar
Studio B Seminar
Studio C Seminar
Studio D Seminar
Studio E Seminar
Special Topics in Interior Design
Interior Architecture Electives - Choose 5 from the following: ±15.0
Material Investigations
Advanced Visual Methods
Interior Systems I
Advanced Digital Methods
Interior Systems II
Technologies of Making
Data Visualization for Design Professionals
Translational Design Research
Civic Engagement & Participatory Methods
City of Systems
Thesis
INTR 694Thesis Programming3.0
INTR 697Thesis - Development3.0
INTR 698Thesis - Documentation3.0
Comprehensive Exam
INTR 699Comp Exam for Interior Design ±±0.0
Total Credits229.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Select 9.0 credits from 100-499 level courses, including T380, T480 in AFAS, ARCH, ARTH, COM, DANC, ENGL, FMST, GST, HIST, INTR, IST, JWST, LANG, LING, MENA, MUSC, PHIL, PHTO, PPE, PBHL, RELS, SCRP, THTR, TVST, VSCM, WGST, WRIT

***

Select 3.0 credits from 100-499 level courses in ANAT, ENVS, PHEV, BIO, GEO, PHYS, CHEM, NFS (must take 100 + 101 to earn credit).

†

Select 6.0 credits from from 100-499 level courses, including T380, T480 in AFAS, ANTH, CJS, CS, ECON, ENSS, ENVS, PSCI, PSY, PBHL, SOC, WGST

††

Shared Coursework – counts for both UG and GR degree requirements

  • INTR 492 Senior Project II =  INTR xxx IA Seminar (GR) - 2.0 credits
  • INTR 493 Senior Project III = INTR xxx IA Studio (GR) - 4.0 credits
±

Select 12.0 credits from 500-700 level courses, including I599, I699, I799 and T580, T680 and T780 in ARCH, DSRE, INTR, URBS

±±

INTR 699 consists of several components: a series of sketch problems, design competitions, professional experience and portfolio review. These must be completed during the two + graduate years.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ARCH 141 Architecture and Society I 3.0
ENGL 101
or ENGL 111
 Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research
or English Composition I
 3.0
MATH 101 Introduction to Analysis I 4.0
UNIV A101 The Drexel Experience 1.0
VSST 101 Design I 4.0
 Credits15
Winter
ARCH 142 Architecture and Society II 3.0
ENGL 102
or ENGL 112
 Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing
or English Composition II
 3.0
UNIV A101 The Drexel Experience 1.0
VSST 102 Design II 4.0
VSST 110 Introductory Drawing 3.0
(UG) Arts & Humanities elective 3.0
 Credits17
Spring
ARCH 143 Architecture and Society III 3.0
CIVC 101 Introduction to Civic Engagement 1.0
ENGL 103
or ENGL 113
 Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres
or English Composition III
 3.0
INTR 160 Visualization I: Computer Imaging 3.0
VSST 103 Design III 4.0
 Credits14
Summer
VACATION  
 Credits0
Second Year
Fall
ARTH 103 History of Art III 3.0
INTR 220 Visualization II: Orthographic 3.0
INTR 225 Environmental Design Theory 3.0
INTR 250 Interior Materials 3.0
INTR 322 Interior Studio I 4.0
 Credits16
Winter
COOP 101 Career Management and Professional Development * 1.0
INTR 241 Visualization III: Digital 3.0
INTR 305 Visual Culture: Furniture 3.0
INTR 323 Interior Studio II 4.0
PHYS 175 Light and Sound 3.0
PHYS 176 Computational Lab for Light and Sound 1.0
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3.0
 Credits18
Spring
INTR 211 Textiles for Interiors 3.0
INTR 331 Residential Design Studio 4.0
INTR 341 Visualization V: Methods 3.0
(UG) Natural Science elective 3.0
(UG)Social Science Elective 3.0
 Credits16
Summer
INTR 245 Visualization IV: 3D Modeling 3.0
INTR 300 Visual Culture: Interiors 3.0
INTR 342 Hospitality Design Studio 4.0
INTR 350 Interior Detailing 3.0
VSST 301
or VSST 311
 Painting I
or Sculpture I
 4.0
 Credits17
Third Year
Fall
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Winter
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Spring
INTR 351 Interior Lighting 3.0
INTR 430 Commercial Design Studio 4.0
INTR 451 Interior Systems 3.0
VSST 203 Multimedia: Materials 4.0
(UG) Arts & Humanities elective 3.0
 Credits17
Summer
(UG) Arts & Humanities elective 3.0
(UG) Social Science Elective 3.0
(UG)Elective 6.0
(GR) INTR IA Elective 3.0
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall
INTR 440 Health & Wellness ID Studio 4.0
INTR 491 Senior Project I 3.0
VSST 311
or VSST 301
 Sculpture I
or Painting I
 4.0
(UG) Free Elective 3.0
(GR) INTR IA Seminar **(INTR 492) 2.0
(GR) INTR IA Elective 3.0
 Credits19
Winter
INTR 445 Contract Documentation for Interior Design 3.0
(UG) Free elective 6.0
INTR 450 Professional Practice 3.0
(GR) INTR IA Elecive 3.0
(GR) INTR IA Studio***(INTR 493) 4.0
 Credits19
Spring
INTR 441 Furniture Design 4.0
(UG) Free Elective 9.0
(GR) INTR IA Studio 4.0
(GR) IA Seminar 2.0
Award BS ID Degree  
 Credits19
Summer
Classified as a Graduate Student  
 Credits0
Fifth Year
Fall
INTR 694 Thesis Programming 3.0
(GR) INTR IA Seminar 2.0
(GR) INTR IA Studio 4.0
 Credits9
Winter
INTR 697 Thesis - Development 3.0
(GR) INTR IA Studio 4.0
(GR) IA Seminar 2.0
 Credits9
Spring
INTR 698 Thesis - Documentation 3.0
INTR 699 Comp Exam for Interior Design 0.0
(GR) INTR IA Elective 6.0
 Credits9
 Total Credits229
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Course Substitutions

  • INTR 491 Senior Project I = INTR xxx Interiors Elective (UG) - 3.0 credits
***

Shared Coursework – counts for both UG and GR degree requirements

  • INTR 492 Senior Project II =  INTR xxx IA Seminar (GR) - 2.0 credits
  • INTR 493 Senior Project III = INTR xxx IA Studio (GR) - 4.0 credits