How to Get a Master's Degree in Interior Design
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Interior design determines how we live and interact in the built environment. Designers create the layout and aesthetic appeal of interiors, with an eye for streamlining activity, increasing comfort, and setting a tone for the space. In offices, airports, hospitals, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and public facilities, a functional and pleasant interior impacts everything from worker productivity to safety to business. In private residences, interior design is a core feature for those who live the good life.
A master's degree in interior design offers expert training in design techniques and an advanced credential. In professional practice, the master's degree is the terminal degree in the field. Programs combine studio practice, design theory, and applied training in construction to prepare students for an interior design career.
WorldWideLearn.com can prepare you for an interior design master's degree by taking you through the application process step by step. Learn about the options available to you, focus your professional goals, and take the necessary steps to reinvent yourself as an interior design scholar. |
Guide to Master's Degrees in Interior Design
Interior design is an applied fine arts discipline. The field draws on visual arts and industrial design to optimize interior environments for specific uses and needs. At the graduate level, interior designers learn to apply their visual imagination within the specific constraints of an indoor space: structural, regulatory, and environmental. Graduate courses build on undergraduate interior design fundamentals, tackling specific design issues such as accessibility, the preservation of existing structures, organizational systems, and sustainability. In addition, graduate students can deepen their design sensibility by exploring design theory and pursuing studio projects.
To learn more about the field, see WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors in Interior Design.
Professional and Academic Master's Degrees
In response to increasing demand for graduate interior design degrees, many design schools offer new programs tailored to different career trajectories.
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) remains the most popular degree. This studio-based fine arts program provides the opportunity for professionals to deepen their design practice. The curriculum incorporates both critical design theory and practical skills training.
The Master of Arts (MA) is modeled after an academic humanities degree, with an emphasis on scholarship rather than studio practice. The degree prepares designers for careers as teachers and thought leaders in the field. Aspiring academic professors may use the MA as a stepping stone to a doctoral program in design.
The Master of Interior Design (MID) is a professional practice master's degree emphasizing advanced technique and the application of research to applied design problems. The Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) identifies the MID as the terminal degree for professional design instructors (as distinct from university professors or theoretical scholars).
Some MID degree programs cater to practicing interior designers who want to deepen their expertise in a specific professional area (such as hospitality interior design). These flexible, career-focused programs allow designers to earn a master's degree online and choose courses relevant to their professional roles.
WorldWideLearn.com summarizes available master's degrees at these resource sites: The Master's Degree Explained and Master's Degrees Online.
Specializations
Specialization is a key feature of graduate design education. Whether you choose to earn a master's degree online or on campus, you can work with experts in your particular area of interest. Master's degrees take different approaches to structuring specialized study: you can take elective courses, complete a written research study or master's thesis, or design an independent or collaborative studio project.
Specializations in interior design focus on specific design features, such as:
- Interior design materials
- Furniture
- Lighting
- Interior architecture and structural planning
- Organization systems
Other specializations emphasize a particular issue as it relates to design. Examples include:
- Universal design and accessibility
- Historic preservation
- Environmental sustainability
Interior design specializations also focus on a specific contexts for design, such as:
- Office
- Retail and Merchandising Design
- Healthcare Facilities
- Residential
- Hospitality and Resort
Each interior design master's degree program features a unique selection of specialization tracks, depending on the expertise of resident faculty and resources. Defining your area of interest can help you identify programs aligned with your career objectives.
Interior Design Careers
Most interior design graduates go on to careers as professional interior designers. You can establish yourself as an independent designer or sign on with a design or architecture firm. Commercial interior design jobs include titles such as:
- Interior designer
- Project manager
- Retail merchandising designer
- Digital visualization expert (with CAD expertise)
- Set designer in entertainment production
- Historical preservation expert
- Design journalist
- Interior design professional instructor
With a doctoral degree in the field, you can qualify for the academic career track. Interior design scholars can produce theoretical scholarship and research, develop design concepts, and teach at the university level.
Career Outlook
The future is bright for interior designers--particularly those with advanced training and specialized expertise. The U.S. Department of Labor forecasts "faster than average" employment growth, with new jobs in the industry expected to increase by nearly 20 percent between 2008 and 2018. High-demand niches include healthcare facility design, kitchen and bath, and sustainable design. An aging population may also spur demand for universal design, with attention to ergonomics and accessibility.
The future is bright for interior designers--particularly those with advanced training and specialized expertise. The U.S. Department of Labor forecasts "faster than average" employment growth, with new jobs in the industry expected to increase by nearly 20 percent between 2008 and 2018. High-demand niches include healthcare facility design, kitchen and bath, and sustainable design. An aging population may also spur demand for universal design, with attention to ergonomics and accessibility.
Plan for a Master's Degree in Interior Design
Your specialization interests and career goals will help you navigate the program research and application process. The following steps take you from here to the graduate classroom (campus or virtual), where you can develop your professional potential.
Step One: Find the Right Graduate Interior Design Program
Art schools, colleges, and universities with interior design programs number into the hundreds. Sort through these options by considering each of the following four factors in turn:
1. Accreditation
Accreditation is a mark of educational quality: recognized academic or professional accrediting agencies conduct periodic program reviews to verify the program meets certain basic standards. Employers consider accreditation when evaluating your degree, as do some financial aid programs. Simply put, accreditation is a critical baseline criterion when deciding which program merits your tuition dollars. The U.S. Department of Education website posts a database of approved accreditation agencies.
Resources
DesignIntelligence publishes a list of interior design graduate schools, America's Best Architecture & Design Schools--2009 Edition.
WorldWideLearn.com evaluates all education partners before including them on the site, taking into account accreditation among other quality benchmarks. Search 'Degrees by Subject' for campus and online master's degree programs in interior design.
The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the accreditation authority for professional-level programs. Find CIDA's list of more than 150 member institutions offering bachelor's and master's degrees in interior design.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design(NASAD) is a major academic accreditation agency for art and design schools nationwide. Consult NASAD's member list to search for interior design degree programs.
2. Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree?
The rise of professional interior design programs has also fueled the need for accessible graduate education. Digital graduate education technology allows working professionals to access advanced training through the virtual classroom and earn a master's degree online.
The right program format for you depends on your:
- Career Goals:An online program might serve some professional career goals better because it lets you cross geographical distances to work with an expert in your field. Online programs are also generally more flexible, a boon for career-focused professionals who want to tailor their study to specific issues in interior design. Campus programs, meanwhile, can be a better choice for teaching careers, since they afford access to both undergraduate teaching assistantships and a scholarly community.
- Access to Studio and Research Facilities: Online programs offer access to virtual resources, but not to campus facilities such as studio space, libraries, CAD design labs, etc. Most working professionals maintain their own studio or use work facilities, but entry-level designers may rely on campus facilities.
- Lifestyle: Busy adults may be hard-pressed to find time for a campus residency alongside family and work obligations. The ability to earn a master's degree online makes higher education possible for these students.
- Learning Style: Some students thrive in the asynchronous environment of distance graduate education, which encourages reflection and independent thinking. Others may need the face-to-face interaction of campus instruction.
Some programs split the difference by combining campus studio residencies with online courses.
Resources
WorldWideLearn.com features information and program links in its Online Degree Programs and Campus Education section. For campus programs near you, search Degrees by Location.
3. Academic Resources
Next, explore each individual program in depth to evaluate available resources and program emphases. Factors to consider include:
- Courses and Specialization Options
- Degree Requirements and Format
- Program Flexibility
- Studio and Research Facilities
- Faculty Areas of Expertise
- Learning Environment
Look for a program that matches your career objectives. If you're just beginning to study interior design, for example, you might benefit from a broad foundation in the field; if you're an established designer seeking specific expertise, choose a professional degree with a customizable curriculum.
Resources
WorldWideLearn.com features an interactive search tool to facilitate your program research. Input your academic program criteria into a form, and the system identifies matching schools. You can also arrange for a school representative to contact you and answer your questions about the program.
School websites feature detailed information about degree requirements and program resources, with links to course descriptions, campus facilities, and faculty publications.
Informational interviews with faculty, alumni, and current graduate students give you a candid look at the program. A campus visit also offers a valuable means of evaluating school facilities and the educational experience.
4. Program Quality
Finally, rank the top programs on your list by assessing their relative academic merit. Factors to consider include:
- Reputation
- Selectivity
- Job placement
- Student demographics
- Student support services
- Faculty background (academic or industry credentials)
The best fit for you balances school quality and selectivity. Look for programs that meet your quality standards and accept students with your academic background.
Resources
Admissions Departments offer access to useful data, such as average admitted student test scores and GPA, graduation and placement rate, graduate job offers, work experience, ackground of students, etc.
Rankings provide a general sense of the program's reputation. U.S. News & World Report publishes a specialized assessment of Best Graduate Schools in Fine Arts: Interior Design
DesignIntelligence's handbook, America's Best Architecture & Design Schools, features design program rankings as well as data on interior design programs. Charts and detailed analysis include metrics such as the licensing exam pass rates of graduates.
Step Two: Apply to Graduate Interior Design Programs
Finally, identify five or six interior design master's degrees that best match your personal profile, and prepare your applications. Each school has unique but similar admissions policies. Your application will likely require you to meet these requirements:
1. Eligibility
Prerequisites for graduate study include:
- A bachelor's degree in interior design or architecture
- Basic design courses, if your degree is in another field
- Standardized tests such as the GRE or TOEFL (for international students)
- Experience using CAD and other drafting software
"WorldWideLearn.com features the Education Resources Guide, which connects you with test preparation resources, prerequisite courses, and online learning tools.
2. Application Materials
The basic information form is just the tip of the application iceberg. In addition, plan to submit the following supporting documents:
- Academic transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Test scores
- Personal statement
- Design portfolio
- Resume
3. Financial Aid
Most graduate students rely on some financial aid to manage educational expenses. Potential sources of funding include the university, the federal government, private foundations, and your employer.
Take these steps to explore your financial aid options:
- Meet with financial aid advisers at your top schools.
- Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA covers all federal financial aid programs, from Pell Grants to Stafford Loans, as well as some university programs.
- Inquire about employer-funded tuition grants or other educational incentives.
- Apply for private scholarships through civic organizations, nonprofits, the university, etc.
- Apply for a low-interest bank loan.
Also consider the potential savings of distance graduate education: if you earn a master's degree online, you may be able to manage a full-time job alongside your education. WorldWideLearn.com also features an in-depth account of graduate education funding.
Step Three: Expand Your Design Network
Graduate interior design programs offer advanced training and studio practice. But, perhaps the most fundamental benefit is the people you meet while in graduate school. Your peers and mentors shape your educational experience as well as your professional fortunes. Make the most of this valuable feature of graduate study by building relationships from the outset. Networking resources include:
- Professional associations such as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
- Conferences and design exhibitions
- Design journals such as the Journal of Interior Design, Interior Design, Interiors and Sources, and the classic,Architectural Record
By casting yourself as an academic insider now, you can make the most of your graduate experience once classes begin.
Conclusion
Planning your graduate education can help you make the most of your academic resources. Master's degree programs are less structured than undergraduate degrees. Your ability to identify your available opportunities can transform your education into a powerful professional credential. Find academic mentors in your area of interest, develop your expertise in a specific niche, build professional relationships, and, then, watch your interior design career blossom.
Sources
- Accredited Programs in Interior Design, Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
- American Society of Interior Designers.
- America's Best Architecture and Design Schools, 2009 Edition. DesignIntelligence.
- Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
- "Defining Graduate Education in Interior Design," IDEC (November 2006).
- Fine Arts Specialty Rankings: Interior Design, U.S. News & World Report (2009).
- "Interior Designers," Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- MIA: Interior Architecture, RISD Graduate Degrees.
- NASAD Directory Member Lists, National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
- "NCIDQ Definition of Interior Design," National Council for Interior Design Qualification.
- The Interior Design Career Guide, IDEC.
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