Interior Design BS / Design MS
Major: Interior Design and Design Research
Degrees Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 229.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0408
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-1025
MS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0105
MS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 04.0401
About the Program
This five-year path allows students to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, enhanced by a Master of Science in Design. Preparing them for a human-centered technology-driven professional career.
The undergraduate 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 creates a unique education at the forefront of design. Through academics grounded in problem-solving design studios, cooperative employment, and a dedicated faculty, the Interior Design program prepares students for leadership positions in the industry. The Interior Design program is consistently ranked among the top programs in the country, and in the survey by Design Intelligence of "America's Best Design Schools."
The BS interior design program is CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) and NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art & Design) accredited.
The Design Master's program creates an arena for advanced students to explore and enhance their skills in design research areas that include Technology, Environmental Design and Health, including Community Based Design. Driven by the interdisciplinary nature of design, the program addresses the future in response to the emerging and complex designed environment. Designers operate in a world of increasing intricacy; this degree gives candidates a greater depth of knowledge and experience in topics relevant to present and future challenges in design.
The program focuses on providing a forum for students to pursue paths of inquiry and investigation within Design, Technology, Environmental Design and Health. This flexible program operates with a core curriculum that is built on, and augmented by, a customized set of electives, and the second year thesis sequence.
Additional Information
For more information about this program, visit the College's Interior Design webpage.
Admission Requirements
Must Apply between 90-120 Credits
Academic Experience: You must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in your major.
Essay: Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing the MS degree from Drexel; your short-term and long-term career plans; and how your background, experience, interest, and/or values, when combined with a Drexel degree, will enable you to pursue these goals successfully. Submitted to Program Director.
Résumé: Please submit a resume electronically. Submitted to the Program Director.
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required. Submitted to Program Director. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit letters by your application deadline and follow up with recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.
Applicants apply in Spring of their Sophomore year and must be approved by both program directors.
Degree Requirements
General Education requirements | ||
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
MATH 101 | Introduction to Analysis I | 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 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
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 electives | 18.0 | |
Undergraduate electives (18.0 credits) | ||
Art & Design History | ||
ARTH 103 | History of Art III | 3.0 |
ARCH 141 | Architecture and Society I | 3.0 |
ARCH 142 | Architecture and Society II | 3.0 |
ARCH 143 | Architecture and Society III | 3.0 |
Art History & Visual Studies requirements | ||
VSST 101 | Design I | 4.0 |
VSST 102 | Design II | 4.0 |
VSST 103 | Design III | 4.0 |
VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | 3.0 |
VSST 203 | Multimedia: Materials | 4.0 |
VSST 301 | Painting I | 4.0 |
VSST 311 | Sculpture I | 4.0 |
Interior Design requirements | ||
INTR 160 | Visualization I: Computer Imaging | 3.0 |
INTR 211 | Textiles for Interiors | 3.0 |
INTR 220 | Visualization II: Orthographic | 3.0 |
INTR 225 | Environmental Design Theory | 3.0 |
INTR 241 | Visualization III: Digital | 3.0 |
INTR 245 | Visualization IV: 3D Modeling | 3.0 |
INTR 250 | Interior Materials | 3.0 |
INTR 300 [WI] | Visual Culture: Interiors | 3.0 |
INTR 305 [WI] | Visual Culture: Furniture | 3.0 |
INTR 322 | Interior Studio I | 4.0 |
INTR 323 | Interior Studio II | 4.0 |
INTR 331 | Residential Design Studio | 4.0 |
INTR 341 | Visualization V: Methods | 3.0 |
INTR 342 | Hospitality Design Studio | 4.0 |
INTR 350 | Interior Detailing | 3.0 |
INTR 351 | Interior Lighting | 3.0 |
INTR 430 | Commercial Design Studio | 4.0 |
INTR 440 | Health & Wellness ID Studio | 4.0 |
INTR 441 | Furniture Design | 4.0 |
INTR 445 | Contract Documentation for Interior Design | 3.0 |
INTR 450 [WI] | Professional Practice | 3.0 |
INTR 451 | Interior Systems | 3.0 |
INTR 491 | Senior Project I | 3.0 |
INTR 492 | Senior Project II | 3.0 |
INTR 493 | Senior Project III | 3.0 |
Design Research requirements-Select one of the following: †† | 3.0 | |
History of Modern Design | ||
Research Methods in Communication, Culture and Media | ||
Research Methods and Assessment of Creative and Innovative Thinking | ||
Research Methods I | ||
Quantitative Methods & Reasoning for Urban Strategists | ||
Contemporary Art Issues | ||
DSRE 620 | Design Problem Solving | 3.0 |
DSRE 625 | Technologies of Making | 3.0 |
DSRE 630 | Data Visualization for Design Professionals | 3.0 |
DSRE 635 | Translational Design Research | 3.0 |
DSRE 641 | Contemporary Design Theory | 3.0 |
DSRE 645 | Design Research Thesis Proposal | 3.0 |
DSRE 650 | Thesis Research and Practicum | 3.0 |
DSRE 750 | Thesis in Design Research I | 3.0 |
DSRE 760 | Thesis in Design Research II | 3.0 |
DSRE 770 | Thesis in Design Research III | 3.0 |
Graduate electives ‡ | 15.0 | |
Total Credits | 229.0 |
- *
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 NFS 100 + NFS 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
- ††
Or other course with advisor approval
- ±
Select 9.0 credits from 500-600 level courses, including I599, I699, T580, T680, in AS-I, CRTV, DIGM, DSRE, ENTP, ENVS, EPI, FASH, IDM, INFO, PBHL, RMER
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
4+1, 1 co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)
Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARCH 141 | 3.0 | ARCH 142 | 3.0 | ARCH 143 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
MATH 101 | 4.0 | UNIV A101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | VSST 102 | 4.0 | INTR 160 | 3.0 | ||
VSST 101 | 4.0 | VSST 110 | 3.0 | VSST 103 | 4.0 | ||
(UG) Arts & Humanities Elective | 3.0 | (UG) Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
15 | 17 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 103 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | INTR 211 | 3.0 | INTR 245 | 3.0 |
INTR 220 | 3.0 | INTR 241 | 3.0 | INTR 331 | 4.0 | INTR 300 | 3.0 |
INTR 225 | 3.0 | INTR 305 | 3.0 | INTR 341 | 3.0 | INTR 342 | 4.0 |
INTR 250 | 3.0 | INTR 323 | 4.0 | (UG) Natural Science elective | 3.0 | INTR 350 | 3.0 |
INTR 322 | 4.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | (UG) Social Science elective | 3.0 | VSST 301 or 311 | 4.0 |
PHYS 176 | 1.0 | ||||||
SOC 101 | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 18 | 16 | 17 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | INTR 351 | 3.0 | (UG) Arts & Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||
INTR 430 | 4.0 | (UG) Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
INTR 451 | 3.0 | (UG) Free electives | 6.0 | ||||
VSST 203 | 4.0 | (GR) Design History or Research Option | 3.0 | ||||
(UG) Arts & Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 17 | 15 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
INTR 440 | 4.0 | INTR 445 | 3.0 | INTR 441 | 4.0 | Student converts to Grad status | |
INTR 491 | 3.0 | INTR 450 | 3.0 | INTR 493 | 3.0 | ||
VSST 311 or 301 | 4.0 | INTR 492 | 3.0 | (UG) Elective | 3.0 | ||
(UG) Free Elective | 3.0 | (UG) Elective | 3.0 | DSRE 641 (counts as UG Free Electives) | 3.0 | ||
DSRE 620 | 3.0 | DSRE 630 (counts as UG Free Electives) | 3.0 | DSRE 645 | 3.0 | ||
DSRE 635 | 3.0 | BS Degree Awarded | |||||
17 | 18 | 16 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DSRE 625 | 3.0 | DSRE 760 | 3.0 | DSRE 770 | 3.0 | ||
DSRE 750 | 3.0 | (GR) DSRE Electives | 6.0 | (GR) DSRE Electives | 6.0 | ||
DSRE 650 | 3.0 | ||||||
(GR) DSRE Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
12 | 9 | 9 | |||||
Total Credits 229 |
- *
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.