MFA Post Professional Degree

Overview

Learning Outcomes

Concentrations

Admission

Program of Study

Course Descriptions

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Program Overview The Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design (MFA in ID) is a 108-credit program designed for interior and architectural design professionals that are seeking 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 an area of concentration: IDC Commercial and Intuitional, IDH Healthcare, IDR Residential, or IDS Sustainability.  The challenging curriculum is unique as it prepares students to enter professional Interior Design practice or Interior Design education at an advanced level. The program develops student proficiencies through both individual and team based "atelier" style learning, while emphasizing the need to provide environmentally responsible interior design solutions for the 21st century. The program model integrates theory and practice through required courses in Interior Design Professional Practice and in Educational Practicum's reinforcing the primary College mission of concurrent learning.

MFA Alumni presented at IDEC's National Conference in February 2013                                               Michael Fior, '12 presented "Learning  with a Different Pencil: Comparing Student Spatial Intelligence Between Haptic and Digital Assignment."                                                                                                  Hollie Sutherland, '12, presented "Interior Design: The Role of Emotion and Integration of Self."

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Assimilate highly technical, theoretical, and sophisticated problem solving methods related to the design of interior environments and the design profession.
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 collaborative mode with other design specialist and related professions.
4. Develop and advance current design principles, theories, and academic research, and demonstrate a contribution to design practice, education, and society.
5. Develop an understanding, application and specifying furniture, fixtures, finish materials, and environmental systems,
   controls and regulations to maximize occupant health, welfare, and comfort within interior environments.
6. Develop a global perspective for design including an understanding and application of sustainable strategies that
   enhance users and planet earth.

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Concentration Options

Design Studio Concentration

The Design Studio concentration if designed to allow students to explore a specific area of design practice in-depth. Students select a studio focus to assimilate a more thorough knowledgebase, 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 an interior design educator.

Each concentration builds upon critical thinking, design mastery, evidence based research, visual communication, and oral communication expertise expected of practicing professionals and design educators. 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, and educational instruction.

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 Interiors 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 used 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. Students are prepared to assume advanced roles within professional design firms or as interior design educators. 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.

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Admission Criteria for Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design (108 credits)

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
• A Design Portfolio (Optional)
• An admission interview with the director of Interior Design (Recommended)
• 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 2012-13 academic year is $607 per credit. Additional fees are listed here.

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Program of Study

First Year
Fall
ART 510	Visual Art & Cultural History	3 cr.
ART 520	Drawing and Composition	2 cr.
IDI 510	Interior Environments Studio I	3 cr.
IDI 525	Media I	3 cr.
ART 530	Foundations of Design	2 cr.
IDI 535	Materials & Specifications	3 cr.
January Intercession
IDI 530	Media II	2 cr.
IDI 537	Lighting Interior Environments	2 cr.
Spring
ART 540	Architecture and Interior Design History	3 cr.
IDI 540	Media III	3 cr.
IDI 515	Interior Environments Studio II	3 cr.
IDI 542	Building Systems & Integrated Design	3 cr.
IDI 545	Design Portfolio	1 cr.
IDI 547	Design Research Seminar	2 cr.
Summer
IDI 560	Internship	2 cr.
IDI 550	Diverse Perspectives in the Built Environment	2 cr.
IDI 555	Professional Practice	2 cr.
IDI 570	Capstone Studio (Healthcare / Institutional)	3 cr.
Total First Year Credits		44 cr.

Second Year
Fall
ID 501	Precedent Studio I	3 cr.
ID 502	ID Elective	3 cr.
* 505	Studio Concentration	4 cr.
OR
* 510A	Global Studio Concentration Option	4 cr.
ID 511	Forum I	1 cr.
ID 517	Theory, Criticism, & Methodology	3 cr.
ID 530	Psychology of Place	3 cr.
Winter
ID 503	ID Precedent Studio II	1 cr.
Spring
* 515	Studio Concentration Option	4 cr.
OR
* 510B	Global Studio Concentration Option	4 cr.
ID 512	Forum II	1 cr.
ID 580	ID Education Practicum I	1 cr.
ID 5xx	ID Design History Elective	3 cr.
ID 506	Emerging Materials and Systems	3 cr.
ID 507	Art & Science of Interior Lighting	3 cr.
Total Second Year Credits		33 cr.

Second Year
ID 688	ID Masters Dissertation I: Seminar	3 cr.
Total Summer Semester Credits		3 cr.

Third Year
Fall
ID 689	ID Masters Dissertation II	6 cr.
ID 611	Forum III	1 cr.
ID 680	ID Education Practicum II	1 cr.
ID 6xx	Design History Elective	3 cr.
ID 630	ID Special Topic Studio Elective	3 cr.
Spring
ID 690	ID Masters Dissertation III	6 cr.
ID 612	Forum IV	1 cr.
ID 681	ID Education Practicum III	1 cr.
ID xxx	ID Elective	3 cr.
ID xxx	ID Elective	3 cr.
Total Third Year Credits		28 cr.
Total Credits		108 cr.

Dissertation topic is sourced from the area of concentration. Students may substitute Design Firm Management with an Education Practicum.

Students select a Studio Option (505 and 515) or Global Studio Option (510A and 510B) and an area of concentration from the following concentration options:

Commercial/Institutional
2 - ID Electives, IDC 505, IDC 515/501B

Healthcare Interiors
2 - ID Electives, IDH 505/510A, IDH 515/501B

Residential Interiors
2 - ID Electives, IDR 505/510A, IDR 515/501B

Sustainable Interior Environments
2 - ID Electives, ID 505/510A, ID 515/501B

(Dissertation Topic sourced from area of concentration)

• Students may substitute "Design Firm Management" with an "Education Practicum"
• ID Electives: Universal Design, Literature and Theory in Sustainable 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

Concentration Electives for Sustainable Interior Environments Concentration
6 credits required 
ID 535 Literature and Theory in Sustainable Design
ID 545 Universal Design for the Built Environment
ID 620 Global Sustainable Interior Design Studio

Concentration Electives for Design Studio Concentration Elective
6 credits required
ID 520 Advanced Electronic Media
ID 545 Universal Design for the Built Environment
ID 617 Contemporary Architectural Icons

Design History Electives
6 credits required
ID 518 Scandinavian Architecture & Interior Design
ID 519 Modern Furniture Classics
ID 617 Contemporary Architectural Icons

Technology Electives
6 credits required
ID 506 Emerging Materials & Systems
ID 507 Art & Science of Lighting
ID 520 Advanced Electronic Media
ID 545 Universal Design for the Built Environment
ID 620 Global Sustainable Interior Design Studio

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