Interior Architecture and Design MS
Major: Interior Architecture and Design
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 92.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 15.1301
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-1025
About the Program
The graduate program in Interior Architecture & Design offers a first professional Master of Science degree that prepares students of diverse undergraduate backgrounds to become leaders in the field of interior design. We are consistently ranked among the top programs in the country, and in the survey by Design Intelligence of “America's Best Design Schools." As one of the few CIDA accredited graduate programs in the country, our students are on the fast-track to licensure and are highly prepared to enter the professional world of interior architecture and design. Our coursework teaches conceptual, technical, and hands-on approaches in designing a range of spaces. Student work includes public, commercial, residential, and institutional projects in which students learn to transform environments to address aesthetic, social, physical and psychological needs. In conjunction with our integrated studio approach, the program emphasizes independent research culminating in a master's thesis.
Comprised of 92.0 graduate credits, most students complete the MS Interior Architecture & Design program in three years, depending upon individual student backgrounds and the completion of all necessary prerequisites.
Student Background
MS Interior Architecture & Design students come to the program with undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of fields, bringing rich experiences and enthusiasm. The majority of applicants have backgrounds in non-design fields, and approximately 25% are international students. Our students are characterized by their open-mindedness, with a desire and commitment to acquire knowledge through rigorous study and training.
Professional Opportunities
Alumni hold a range of positions at major design and architectural firms; they may be principals of their own interior design firms, work as facilities managers, design consultants, teaching faculty, or in related industry areas. About one-third of the students obtain entry-level employment before graduation from the program; our students have little difficulty finding employment following graduation, and many reach senior positions within five years.
Professional exposure occurs in exchanges with practitioners through professional jurying of all major student projects and in one-on-one thesis advising. As part of the graduate comprehensive exam, students gain professional experience through paid employment, service to the profession, or other professional engagement.
Additional Information
For more information, visit Drexel's Graduate Studies in Interior Architecture & Design webpage.
Admission Requirements
Admission criteria for the graduate program consists of the requirements of the University for graduate admission, plus satisfaction of basic interior design undergraduate coursework. These prerequisites include courses in design, drawing, and art history. For applicants with a background and education in design, many or all of these prerequisites may be waived. For applicants with no background in design, we offer up to 12.0 credits of prerequisite coursework in conjunction with the graduate curriculum.
The prerequisite program typically begins in the summer term with an accelerated sequence of foundational coursework and includes two quarters of undergraduate interior design courses to prepare candidates for the graduate coursework.
A portfolio review or evaluation by the Director of the Interior Architecture & Design program determines what prerequisites have been satisfied. Contact Graduate Studies in Interior Architecture & Design for specific information about prerequisites or to make an appointment for review and evaluation.
Degree Requirements
The full-time graduate coursework combines ten terms of faculty-directed coursework in interior design, including a student-initiated thesis.
The credits that make up the graduate requirement include a visual studies sequence as well as elective coursework in the following areas: interior design seminars on specific topics; advanced studies in art, art history, and interior design; and independent studies. This allows individual flexibility in curriculum design.
| Required Courses *** | ||
| Studios | ||
| INTR 532 | Interior Studio I | 4.0 |
| INTR 533 | Interior Studio II | 4.0 |
| INTR 622 | Graduate Studio A | 4.0 |
| INTR 623 | Studio A Seminar | 2.0 |
| INTR 632 | Graduate Studio B | 4.0 |
| INTR 633 | Studio B Seminar | 2.0 |
| INTR 642 | Graduate Studio C | 4.0 |
| INTR 643 | Studio C Seminar | 2.0 |
| INTR 652 | Graduate Studio D | 4.0 |
| INTR 653 | Studio D Seminar | 2.0 |
| INTR 662 | Graduate Studio E | 4.0 |
| INTR 663 | Studio E Seminar | 2.0 |
| Art History/Visual Studies | ||
| ARTH 530 | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
| INTR 500 | Visual Culture: Interiors | 3.0 |
| INTR 511 | History of Modern Architecture and Interiors | 3.0 |
| VSST 501 | Contemporary Art Issues | 3.0 |
| VSST 502 | Space/Time I | 3.0 |
| VSST 511 | Drawing Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| Construction and Technology | ||
| INTR 501 | Visualization Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| INTR 624 | Material Investigations | 3.0 |
| INTR 625 | Advanced Visual Methods | 3.0 |
| INTR 634 | Interior Systems I | 3.0 |
| INTR 645 | Advanced Digital Methods | 3.0 |
| INTR 654 | Interior Systems II | 3.0 |
| Electives (Select 3) * | 9.0 | |
| Thesis | ||
| INTR 694 | Thesis Programming | 3.0 |
| INTR 697 | Thesis - Development | 3.0 |
| INTR 698 | Thesis - Documentation | 3.0 |
| Comprehensive Exam (Graduate Review) ** | ||
| INTR 699 | Comp Exam for Interior Design | 0.0 |
| Total Credits | 92.0 | |
- *
Select 9.0 credits from 500-700 level courses, including I599, I699, I799 and T580, T680, 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.
- ***
The 92.0 graduate quarter credits do not include any of the required prerequisite coursework. See the Admission Requirements for a list of courses students are expected to have completed prior to beginning their graduate study.
Sample Plan of Study
Note: Only graduate-level courses are eligible for financial aid.
Sample Plan of Study without Required Prerequisites
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | ||||||
| INTR 500 | 3.0 | ||||||
| INTR 501 | 3.0 | ||||||
| VSST 511 | 3.0 | ||||||
| 9 | |||||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| INTR 511 | 3.0 | INTR 533 | 4.0 | ARTH 530 | 3.0 | ||
| INTR 532 | 4.0 | INTR 624 | 3.0 | INTR 622 | 4.0 | ||
| VSST 502 | 3.0 | VSST 501 | 3.0 | INTR 623 | 2.0 | ||
| INTR 625 | 3.0 | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | 12 | |||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| INTR 632 | 4.0 | INTR 642 | 4.0 | INTR 652 | 4.0 | ||
| INTR 633 | 2.0 | INTR 643 | 2.0 | INTR 653 | 2.0 | ||
| INTR 634 | 3.0 | INTR 645 | 3.0 | INTR 654 | 3.0 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | |||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| INTR 662 | 4.0 | INTR 697 | 3.0 | INTR 698 | 3.0 | ||
| INTR 663 | 2.0 | INTR Elective (GR) | 6.0 | INTR 699 | 0.0 | ||
| INTR 694 | 3.0 | (GR) INTR Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 9 | 9 | 6 | |||||
| Total Credits 92 | |||||||
Sample Plan of Study with Required Prerequisites
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | ||||||
| VSST 104 | 2.0 | ||||||
| VSST 105 | 2.0 | ||||||
| VSST 106 | 2.0 | ||||||
| INTR 500 | 3.0 | ||||||
| INTR 501 | 3.0 | ||||||
| VSST 511 | 3.0 | ||||||
| 15 | |||||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| INTR 220 | 3.0 | INTR 241 | 3.0 | ARTH 530 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| INTR 511 | 3.0 | INTR 533 | 4.0 | INTR 622 | 4.0 | ||
| INTR 532 | 4.0 | INTR 624 | 3.0 | INTR 623 | 2.0 | ||
| VSST 502 | 3.0 | VSST 501 | 3.0 | INTR 625 | 3.0 | ||
| 13 | 13 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| INTR 632 | 4.0 | INTR 642 | 4.0 | INTR 652 | 4.0 | ||
| INTR 633 | 2.0 | INTR 643 | 2.0 | INTR 653 | 2.0 | ||
| INTR 634 | 3.0 | INTR 645 | 3.0 | INTR 654 | 3.0 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | |||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| INTR 662 | 4.0 | INTR 697 | 3.0 | INTR 698 | 3.0 | ||
| INTR 663 | 2.0 | INTR Elective | 6.0 | INTR 699 | 0.0 | ||
| INTR 694 | 3.0 | INTR Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 9 | 9 | 6 | |||||
| Total Credits 104 | |||||||
Facilities
The Interior Architecture program is housed in URBN Center, an original Venturi Scott Brown building enhanced by an award-winning retrofit by MS&R Design, including a skylight covered atrium, exposed beams and open spaces. There is a dedicated 24-hour graduate student studio, with storage space, computers, and a small lounge area. We have a materials library that is continually updated with samples from major manufacturers and local design offices and showrooms; two computer labs and in-house printing for the use of our students; a Hybrid Making Lab with laser cutters, 3D printers, a CNC router and small-scale power tools for student use; and a larger shop facility which offers larger wood, metal, casting, CNC, and fabrication equipment.
The URBN Annex houses a black box theater, screening room and the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery. Additional studio and classroom space in the Academic Building and the Design Arts Annex accommodate photography, basic design, painting, sculpture and a full woodworking shop with industrial-quality equipment.
Philadelphia, one of the nation's major design centers, gives interior design students the vitality of the contemporary arts at local galleries; easy access to many museums, libraries, renowned buildings, as well as design centers located in Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C.
Program Level Outcomes
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to enter the profession of interior design
- Demonstrate an innovative and creative approach to problem solving and be discerning when making practical, responsible, human centered and aesthetic judgments
- Demonstrate mastery in expression of a variety of design experiences, approaches and viewpoints
- Demonstrate a responsible attitude and awareness toward the safety and well-being of the public and the profession of interior design
- Demonstrate an awareness of community engagement, diversity and social stewardship of the built environment
- Display a sensitivity to social, community, contextual, cultural, ethical and environmental values
- Investigate exploratory approaches to learning through design based on scholarly research, as a means of contributing to the professional body of knowledge
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze and synthesize research to reflect various philosophies, integrate technology and generate insightful design solutions
- Develop a sophisticated and layered design vision, translate that vision into shared goals and effectively work with others as a leader or follower to achieve these goals.