Interior Design BS / Urban Strategy MS

Major: Interior Design and Urban Strategy
Degrees Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 229
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0408
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-1025

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 Urban Strategy, preparing them to problem solve, and collaborate in the domains of urban planning, design, health, policy, community and economic development.

The Bachelor of Science in 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 MS in Urban Strategy program is a cross-disciplinary, 48.0 credit master’s degree designed to prepare students to become 21st century urbanists equipped to collaboratively and creatively solve complex multi-faceted urban challenges on all levels: locally, nationally and globally. The program boasts a cross-disciplinary curriculum focused on strategy, problem solving, and collaboration in the domains of urban planning, design, health, engineering, policy, community and economic development and sociology.

Admission Requirements

Transcripts: Provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Standardized Test Scores: GRE/MAT test scores are accepted and appreciated, but not required. TOEFL scores are required for international applicants or applicants who earned a degree outside the U.S. (minimum scores: 100/577/233). Scores will be reviewed based on section scores and total scores. IELTS scores may be submitted in lieu of TOEFL scores.

Essay: Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a 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.

Résumé: Please submit a resume electronically

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required. To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information on your application. We advise that you follow up with your recommenders to ensure they received your recommendation request — they may need to check their junk mail folder. 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.

Academic Experience: You must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in your major.

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
Undergraduate electives (18.0 credits)
Shared graduate electives (6.0 credits) - URBS 510 and URBS 610
Visual Studies requirements
Required Art History (ARTH) students select a minimum of 6 credits6.0
ARTH 103History of Art III3.0
VSST 101Design I4.0
VSST 102Design II4.0
VSST 103Design III4.0
VSST 110Introductory Drawing3.0
VSST 201Multimedia: Performance4.0
or VSST 202 Multimedia: Space
VSST 203Multimedia: Materials4.0
VSST 301Painting I4.0
or VSST 311 Sculpture I
Interior Design requirements
INTR 160Visualization I: Computer Imaging3.0
INTR 200History of Modern Architecture and Interiors3.0
INTR 211Textiles for Interiors3.0
INTR 220Visualization II: Orthographic3.0
INTR 225Environmental Design Theory3.0
INTR 232Interior Studio I4.0
INTR 233Interior Studio II4.0
INTR 241Visualization III: Digital3.0
INTR 245Visualization IV: 3D Modeling3.0
INTR 250Interior Materials3.0
INTR 300 [WI] Visual Culture: Interiors3.0
INTR 305 [WI] Visual Culture: Furniture3.0
INTR 331Residential Design Studio4.0
INTR 340Community Studio4.0
INTR 341Visualization V: Methods3.0
INTR 350Interior Detailing3.0
INTR 351Interior Lighting3.0
INTR 430Commercial Design Studio4.0
INTR 441Furniture Design4.0
INTR 442Hospitality Design Studio4.0
INTR 445Contract Documentation for Interior Design3.0
INTR 450 [WI] Professional Practice3.0
INTR 451Interior Systems3.0
INTR 491Senior Project I3.0
INTR 492Senior Project II3.0
INTR 493Senior Project III3.0
Urban Strategy requirements
ECON 616Public Finance and Cost Benefit Analysis3.0
EOH 550Introduction to Urban Health3.0
URBS 510History of Urban Space3.0
URBS 520What is a City3.0
URBS 530Quantitative Methods & Reasoning for Urban Strategists3.0
URBS 610Civic Engagement & Participatory Methods3.0
URBS 620City of Systems3.0
URBS 630Spatial Reasoning for Urbanists, Architects & Designers3.0
URBS 670Thesis I: Research Inquiry & Design3.0
URBS 675Thesis Seminar I1.5
URBS 680Thesis II: Fieldwork3.0
URBS 685Thesis Seminar II1.5
URBS 690Thesis III: Documentation3.0
Graduate Free Electives ††6.0
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 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

††

Select 6.0 credits from 500-600 level courses, including Special Topics (T580 and T680) in AADM, AAML, BUSN, CHP, COM, DSRE, EDPO, ENTP, ENVP, HMP, INTR, PBHL, PLCY, SCTS, URBS

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
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ARTH 1033.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0CIVC 1011.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0UNIV A1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
MATH 1014.0VSST 1024.0INTR 1603.0 
UNIV A1011.0VSST 1103.0INTR 2003.0 
VSST 1014.0(UG) Art History Elective3.0VSST 1034.0 
 (UG) Arts & Humanities Elective3.0(UG) Art History Elective3.0 
 15 17 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
INTR 2203.0COOP 101*1.0INTR 2113.0INTR 2453.0
INTR 2253.0INTR 2334.0INTR 3314.0INTR 3053.0
INTR 2324.0INTR 2413.0INTR 3413.0INTR 3404.0
INTR 2503.0INTR 3003.0(UG) Elective3.0INTR 3503.0
(UG) Elective3.0PHYS 1753.0(UG) Elective3.0(UG) Elective3.0
 PHYS 1761.0  
 SOC 1013.0  
 16 18 16 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEINTR 3513.0VSST 301 or 3114.0
  INTR 4304.0(UG) Arts & Humanities Elective3.0
  INTR 4513.0(UG) Elective3.0
  VSST 2034.0(UG) Natural Science3.0
  (UG) Arts & Humanities Elective3.0(UG) Social Science Elective3.0
 0 0 17 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
INTR 4424.0INTR 4453.0INTR 4414.0Student converts to Grad status
INTR 4913.0INTR 4503.0INTR 4933.0 
VSST 201 or 2024.0INTR 4923.0(UG) Electives3.0 
EOH 5503.0URBS 610 (counts as UG Free Electives)3.0(UG) Social Science Elective 3.0 
URBS 510 (counts as UG Free Electives)3.0URBS 6203.0ECON 6163.0 
 URBS 6303.0BS Degree Awarded 
 17 18 16 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
URBS 5203.0URBS 6751.5URBS 6851.5 
URBS 5303.0URBS 6803.0URBS 6903.0 
URBS 6703.0(GR) URBS Electives6.0(GR) URBS Electives6.0 
 9 10.5 10.5 
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.

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