Master of Arts in Interior Design

The Master of Arts in Interior Design (MA in ID) is a 37 -credit program designed for interior and architectural design professionals currently working within the profession, that seek to acquire advanced expertise in design research, analysis, design, and construction of complex interior environments. The program's intent is to create interior design specialists where students select from two areas of concentration; Sustainable Interior Environments or Design Studio (healthcare, hospitality, institutional, residential).

The challenging curriculum is unique as it allows students with two options, to remain active within interior design practice and undertake the degree part-time or undertake the curriculum at full-time status.  Designed for both working professionals and full-time students, the coursework is offered in early mornings, early evenings, weekend intensives and online learning environments. The program develops student proficiencies through both individual and team based learning, within an "atelier" design studio setting.

The Master of Arts in Interior Design program model integrates theory and practice through required coursework in Interior Design Firm Management and Graduate Student Forums reinforcing the primary College mission of concurrent learning.

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Design Studio Concentration

The Design Studio concentration (Commercial/Institutional, Healthcare, Residential, or Sustainable Interior Environments) id designed to allow students to explore a specific area of design practice in-depth.  Students select a studio focus to assimilate a more thorough knowledge base, in both theory and execution, in their preferred field of inquiry.  The courses focus on developing ability, knowledge, and applicability to global design issues, human behavior, occupant comfort, and contribution to the built environment.  Students are prepared to assume advanced roles within professional design firms or as interior design educators.

Each concentration builds upon critical thinking, design mastery, evidence based research, visual communication, and oral communication expertise expected of practicing professionals.  Within the core curriculum courses for both concentrations students will advance their skill sets in aspects of design research, theory, technology applied to professional practice.

Commercial/Institutional Interior Environments

The Commercial Interior Environments Design Studio Concentration focus is on the development of innovative, integrated, and progressive "workplaces."  The studio laboratory will test and apply a multidisciplinary approach to research and precedent analysis, integrating human behavior, culture, ergonomics, and environmental psychology to complex workplace environments. 

Healthcare Interior Environments

The Healthcare Interior Environments Design Studio Concentration focus is on the interdisciplinary approach to the planning of innovative and state of the art healthcare facilities and healing environments.  The design studio is the laboratory for testing and integrating evidence-based design, sustainable bio-design principles, and current medical technical practices, based on science journal publications applied to the planning of sophisticated user friendly healthcare and healing environments.

Residential Interior Environments

The Residential Interiors Design Studio Concentration focus is on the design and development of forward thinking design solutions that address current social, physical, cultural, and psychological needs.  The studio laboratory is for testing and the application of innovative design solutions that address current and future residential users' comfort, wellbeing, and energy needs.

Sustainable Interior Environments Concentration

The Sustainable Interior Environments concentration is designed to provide practitioners and design researchers of interior architecture the latest models, information, and technology in sustainable design. The course work focuses on the application and incorporation of current sustainable design principles within all phases of proposed design solutions.  The concentration stresses the need for contemporary designers to develop innovative solutions with a global perspective on environmental responsibility that minimizes resource depletion and in no way hinders or compromises the ability of future generations' to meet their needs.

Student Outcomes

At the completion of the program the student will be able to:

1.  Integrate highly technical, theoretical, and sophisticated programming and problem solving methods related to the design of interior environments and their applicability into professional practice.

2.  Research, understand, and demonstrate the role and impact upon society that emerging design theories and technologies create and will foster in the future.

3.   Assess and synthesize project design needs and strategies to operate in a

4.   Develop and advance current design principles, theories, and academic research, and demonstrate a contribution to design practice.

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Admission to a graduate program requires a Bachelor degree from an accredited college.  To be considered for admissions, a candidate must submit the following credentials:

• Application form and a $50 application fee
• Statement of professional goals
• Official transcripts of all academic work (a minimum of a Bachelor's degree with a B average)
• Two letters of recommendation, one academic letter of recommendation, and one design professional letter of recommendation
• Official score on either the Miller Analogies Test or Graduate Record Exams
• A Design Portfolio
• An admission interview with the program coordinator or chair of Interior Design
• TOEFL required for all students for whom English is not a first language; 79 is minimum score for iBT and 550 for the pen and pencil test.

Tuition
The tuition for the 2010-11 academic year is $550 per credit.  Additional fees are listed in the Graduate School Catalogue.

 Curriculum and Program of Study

Prerequisites:  While an undergraduate degree in Interior Design is not required, a student with a Bachelor degree in an unrelated field will be required to take a minimum of 17 courses including a comprehensive semester long internship, as listed below, based upon evaluation of their prior course work. Students must earn a minimum of a B in each prerequisite course.  These additional courses may be comprised of the following:

MAJOR REQUIRED COURSES FIRST YEAR

Fall Semester

ID 501	Graduate ID Precedent Studio I	3 cr.
ID 502	Graduate ID Research Seminar I	3 cr.
ID 505	ID Concentration Option	3 cr
ID 511	Graduate Student Forum IGraduate Student Forum I	1 cr.
ID 517	Theory, Criticism, & Methodology	3 cr.
ID 530	Psychology of Place	3 cr.
	Subtotal Hours	16 cr.

Winter Intersession Semester (ID 503 / ID 504 online / Weekend)

ID 503	Graduate ID Precedent Studio II	2 cr.
ID 504	Graduate ID Research Seminar II	1 cr.
ID 588	Thesis I: Seminar	1 cr.
	Subtotal Hours	4 cr.

Spring Semester

ID 515	ID Concentration Option	3 cr.
ID 512	Graduate Student Forum II	1 cr.
ID 575	Interior Design Firm Management	1 cr.
ID 5xx	ID History Elective	3 cr.
ID 5xx	ID Elective	3 cr.
ID 589	Thesis II: Written Defense	3 cr.
	Subtotal Hours	14 cr.

Summer Semester

ID 590	Masters Thesis III: Scholarly Defense	3 cr.
	Subtotal Hours	3 cr.

Total Degree Requirements

37  credits

• Students select area of concentration from the following Concentration Options (19 credits including thesis sequence):

Commercial/Institutional Interior Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDC 505, IDC 515

Healthcare Interiors Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDH 505, IDH 515

Residential Interiors Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDR 505, IDR 515

Sustainable Interior Environments
1 - ID Elective, 1 ID History Elective, IDS 505, IDS 515

(Thesis Topic sourced from area of concentration)
      -Students may substitute "Design Firm Management" with an "Education Practicum"
      -ID Electives:  Universal Design, Literature and Theory in Sustainability Design, Global 
        Sustainable Interior Design Studio, and Advanced Electronic Media
      -ID Design History Electives: Modern Furniture Classics, Scandinavian Architecture &
       Interior Design, and Contemporary Architectural Icons

ID Electives for Sustainable Interior Environments Concentration   6 cr.  
Students select 2 courses from 500 or 600 level coursework offerings.
ID 506 Emerging Materials and Systems
ID 507 Art& Science of Lighting
ID 520 Advanced Electronic Media
ID 545 Universal Design for the Built Environment
ID 535 Literature and Theory in Sustainable Design 
ID 620 Global Sustainable Interior Design Studio
ID 617 Contemporary Architectural Icons

ID Electives for Design Studio (Commercial/Institutional, Healthcare, Residential)
 Concentration Elective   6 cr.   
Students select 2 courses from 500 or 600 level coursework offerings.
ID 506 Emerging Materials and Systems
ID 507 Art & Science of Lighting
ID 518 Scandinavian Architecture & Interior Design
ID 519 Modern Furniture Classics
ID 520 Advanced Electronic Media
ID 617 Contemporary Architectural Icons 

Contact Information
Kevin Renz
Email: krenz@endicott.edu  
Phone: 978-232-2202