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: 226
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 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, 45.0 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.

Additional Information

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

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 electives 24 credits total18.0
Undergraduate electives (18.0 credits)
Shared graduate electives (6.0 credits) - URBS 510 and URBS 610
Art & Design History
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
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 680Thesis II: Fieldwork3.0
URBS 690Thesis III: Documentation3.0
Electives
Select 12.0 credits from the following 500-600 level courses (including T580 and T680):12.0
Any AADM (Arts Administration)
Any AAML (Arts Administration and Museum Leadership)
Any (BUSN) General Business
Any CHP (Communityy Health and Prevention)
Any COM (Communication)
Any DSRE (Design Research)
Any EDPO (Educational Policy)
Any ENTP (Entrepreneurship and Innovation)
Any ENVP (Environmental Policy)
Any HMP (Health Management and Policy
Any INTR (Interior Design)
Any PBHL (Public Health)
Any PLCY (Public Policy)
Any SCTS (Science, Technology and Society)
Any URBS (Urban Strategy)
Total Credits226.0
*

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

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.

 
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ARCH 141 Architecture and Society I 3.0
ENGL 101
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
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
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
(UG) Free elective 3.0
 Credits17
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 elecive 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
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) Elective 3.0
(UG) Natural Science 3.0
(UG) Social Science Elective 3.0
 Credits12
Fourth Year
Fall
INTR 491 Senior Project I 3.0
INTR 440 Health & Wellness ID Studio 4.0
VSST 311
Sculpture I
or Painting I
4.0
(UG) Free elective 3.0
EOH 550 Introduction to Urban Health 3.0
URBS 510 History of Urban Space (counts as UG Free Electives) 3.0
 Credits20
Winter
INTR 445 Contract Documentation for Interior Design 3.0
INTR 450 Professional Practice 3.0
INTR 492 Senior Project II 3.0
URBS 610 Civic Engagement & Participatory Methods (counts as UG Free Electives) 3.0
URBS 620 City of Systems 3.0
URBS 630 Spatial Reasoning for Urbanists, Architects & Designers 3.0
 Credits18
Spring
INTR 441 Furniture Design 4.0
INTR 493 Senior Project III 3.0
(UG) Elective 3.0
(UG) Social Science elective 3.0
ECON 616 Public Finance and Cost Benefit Analysis 3.0
BS Degree Awarded  
 Credits16
Summer
Student converts to Grad status  
 Credits0
Fifth Year
Fall
URBS 520 What is a City 3.0
URBS 530 Quantitative Methods & Reasoning for Urban Strategists 3.0
URBS 670 Thesis I: Research Inquiry & Design 3.0
 Credits9
Winter
URBS 680 Thesis II: Fieldwork 3.0
(GR) URBS Electives 6.0
 Credits9
Spring
URBS 690 Thesis III: Documentation 3.0
(GR) URBS Electives 6.0
 Credits9
 Total Credits226
*

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.