Interior Architecture and Design
The MS in Interior Architecture & Design (MSIAD) program prepares students of diverse undergraduate backgrounds to become leaders in the field of interior design. MSIAD students come to the program with undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of non-design fields, and approximately 25 percent of the annual cohort are international students, all bringing rich experiences and enthusiasm to the discipline. Most students complete the MS in Interior Architecture & Design program in three years, depending upon individual student backgrounds and the completion of all necessary prerequisites.
As one of the few CIDA-accredited graduate programs in the country, MSIAD students are on the fast track to licensure and are highly prepared to enter the professional world of interior architecture and design. The program’s coursework teaches conceptual, technical, and hands-on approaches in designing a range of spaces. Academic work includes public, commercial, residential, and institutional projects in which students learn to transform environments to address aesthetic, social, physical, and psychological needs. In conjunction with an integrated studio approach, the MSIAD program emphasizes independent research culminating in a master's thesis.
| Degree | Availability | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
MS |
Full-Time |
Philadelphia |
Application Requirements
On-Campus Program
Please view our academic calendar for term start dates.
| Fall (Sept) | Winter (Jan) | Spring (March) | Summer (June) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U. S. Applicants | N/A | N/A | N/A | Priority: Jan. 15 Regular: June 1 |
| International Applicants | N/A | N/A | N/A | Priority: Jan. 15 Regular: Mar. 1 |
This program is fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design.
For details regarding the items below, please review the Admission Application Instructions.
How to Submit Application Materials
Drexel Admissions is currently processing application documents received through the U.S. Postal Service and courier services (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.), although there is a slight delay in processing these documents. We strongly recommend that you submit all official transcripts and supporting documentation electronically to enroll@drexel.edu. If your school is not able to send official transcripts electronically, please request that official documents be sent by mail or courier service. Please allow 3–4 weeks for transcripts and supporting documents sent by mail or courier to be processed. We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time at Drexel and around the world. We will process all documents as soon as we receive them, but please expect some delays.Graduate Admission Application
Applicants may only apply to one program. All documents submitted by you or on your behalf in support of this application for admission to Drexel University become the property of the University, and will under no circumstances be released to you or any other party. Please note, an application fee of $65 U.S. is required.
Transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.
Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.
Precise, word-for-word English translations of all non-English language documents are required along with official documents in the original language. All translations must be completed by the issuing institution or an ATA-certified translator. Visit the American Translators Association website to search for an ATA-certified translator.
International students: If you have already graduated from your previous institution at the time of your application, please email your graduation certificate(s) attached as PDF or Microsoft Word documents to enroll@drexel.edu. Note: Any international applicant, regardless of program, may be required to provide a transcript evaluation should the Admissions Committee determine it is needed for the application to be reviewed. If your transcripts are selected for a course-by-course evaluation by an external agency, you will be responsible for supplying all necessary documentation and paying all necessary fees to have your transcripts evaluated.
If you have questions regarding what documents you must submit to fulfill the transcript requirements, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
International Transcripts
Transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency for admittance into this program. Drexel University accepts course-by-course transcript evaluations from members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For a list of member agencies, please visit the NACES website.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum scores: 90/577/233), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS minimum Overall Band Score: 6.5), the Pearson Test of English (PTE minimum score: 61), or the Duolingo Test (Duolingo minimum score: 110) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.
Essay
Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a degree from Drexel; your short-term and long-term career plans; and how your background, experience, interest, and/or values, when combined with a Drexel degree, will enable you to pursue these goals successfully.
Submit your essay with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
Résumé
Upload your résumé as part of your admission application or through the Discover Drexel Portal after you submit your application.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information on your application. We advise that you follow up with your recommenders to ensure they received your recommendation request — they may need to check their junk mail folder. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit letters by your application deadline and follow up with recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.
Request recommendations with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
Alternatively, you may submit your recommendation letters by mail. Letters must include the address, phone number, and signature of the recommender. The recommendation envelope must be submitted unopened to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Portfolio (Optional)
Applicants who would like to be considered for exemption from undergraduate prerequisites in studio art and design courses must submit a portfolio, which should include eight to 12 pieces of your strongest and most recent work that demonstrate a balance of technique and concept.
The Interior Architecture & Design Graduate Admission Committee is examining your work for originality, creative problem solving, and systematic thinking. The portfolio may include any combination of drawings, paintings, printmaking, photography, graphic design, architectural design, interior design, ceramics, sculpture, fiber art, jewelry and metals, furniture, designed objects, computer-generated images or sketchbooks.
Please direct inquiries regarding the portfolio to:
Frances Temple-West
Assistant Teaching Professor
Director, Graduate Interior Architecture & Design
fpt23@drexel.edu
Academic Experience
If you have a previous degree in interior design, architecture, or a related discipline please apply for the Interior Architecture program.