Moore College of Art and Design

Deadline for Summer 2009 Registration: February 1, 2009

The MFA in Interior Design is a first professional masters degree that emphasizes critical thinking, skill development, advanced research and socially responsible design as a means to prepare individuals with undergraduate degrees in other fields to become professional interior designers. Practical and theoretical work in studio and technical classes include residential and commercial contract design, materials and construction, manual drafting, CAD, history, environmental theory, design research and business practice. Studio seminars and critiques afford candidates multiple opportunities to engage directly with experienced faculty and design experts in solving design issues.

Annual symposia will provide opportunities for candidates to participate in discussions with leading design experts and professionals concerning current issues affecting the fields of design such as sustainability, socially responsible design, green design and design for the global market.

This ten-semester program is calendared to provide working professionals the flexibility to meet curricular demands while employed. Courses are scheduled on evenings and alternate weekends during summer, fall and spring terms.

Project-based learning in the design studio enables candidates to develop a quality portfolio of work. A required, paid internship in the penultimate term prepares candidates for employment in the field upon graduation.

The program culminates with a thesis exhibition. Candidates are required to present and defend a thesis design project and written thesis in which they designed, researched and assessed an essential question related to the discipline of Interior Design. The culminating event includes an exhibition of the thesis project that demonstrates evidence of the process, advanced research, analysis, synthesis and conclusion. The thesis is presented at the end of the final summer term in an exhibition in The Galleries at Moore.

Preparing To Apply

Two pre-program workshops at Moore are available for individuals from other fields to strengthen drafting, drawing and design skills. A five-week workshop (offered in Fall 2008) develops drawing skills and portfolio materials prior to application to the graduate program.

NOTE: Two pre-program Fall workshops at Moore are recommended to strengthen drafting, drawing and design skills. Sign up now for pre-program workshops!

A five-week workshop (offered in Spring 2009) is required for all students and focuses on architectural drafting and freehand drawing during two evening sessions and visual fundamentals during six-hour Saturday sessions. The department can waive this requirement based upon the strength of the portfolio.