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)
 

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 an evidence-based, 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, 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, as noted in Design Intelligence's "America's Best Design Schools" survey.

The BS interior design program is accredited by both CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) and NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design).

The Design Master's program, which is NASAD-accredited, creates an arena for advanced students to explore and enhance their skills in evidence-based design. Particularly in areas that include Human Centered Design, Environmental Design, and Health, including Community-Based Participatory Design. Driven by the interdisciplinary nature of design, the program addresses the emerging and complex designed environment through a lens of research and practice. Designers operate in a world of increasing complexity; this degree provides candidates with 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 the fields of Interiors, 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

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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.

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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)

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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

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Or other course with advisor approval

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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.

*

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.