Master of Science Advanced Professional

The Master of Science Advanced Professional degree options are for you if you possess an undergraduate degree in interior design or architecture. These degrees provide advanced knowledge for interior design practice and teaching/research.

There are two track options in this MS degree:

The MS Project track:

This choice supports the goal of Interior Design practice and provides extended design process and project knowledge. You undertake extensive programming research and related tasks and produce a comprehensive design project of your choice over a three-semester period.

This track consists of a minimum of thirty-two (32) semester credit hours and allows you to complete a Master of Science degree in three terms of fall/spring/summer. The curriculum focuses on the design development of a large-scale or otherwise complex built environment selected by you and engages you in creating the programming, research, design, construction documents and presentation that fully describes the solution. This professional track course of study also provides opportunities for internship hours and/or other electives courses. You exit the program with a portfolio of work suitable for career interviews.

View a sample student video from this program that showcases the student’s master’s project by Giselle Canizares.

View a sample student video from this program that shares the student’s values, skills and point of view to a prospective employer by Elisha Vincent, a former student.

The MS Research track:

This choice supports the goal of conducting evidence-based design research or teaching interior design. This track supports and leads to the ultimate completion of a Ph.D. degree. You conduct original research in this track and complete a university thesis over a five-semester period.

This track consists of a minimum of thirty-two (32) semester credit hours and allows you to complete a Master of Science degree in five terms of fall/spring/summer/fall/spring. The curriculum focuses on introducing the foundations of research inquiry and conducting original evidence-based studies that generate new knowledge in the interior design field. This track typically leads to a Ph.D. degree as the academic preparatory final step for a career in interior design education and/or research. This track also provides opportunities for internship hours and/or other electives courses. You exit the program with a university thesis that serves as a foundation skill set for application to a Ph.D. program.

The Master of Arts degree is also available and includes university requirements for graduate-level humanities and language. See the Director of Graduate Studies for further details.