Master of Science in Interior Architecture & Design (MSIAD) is CIDA and NASAD-accredited and offers three points of entry based on a student’s previous education, professional experience, and portfolio. The degree also qualifies students to sit for the NCIDQ exam.

Professional IAD-36: Choosing your master’s degree path in Interior Architecture & Design depends on your previous educational and professional experience. If your undergraduate degree is in a field outside of interior design or architecture, then the professional three-year, 75 credit IAD-36 track is the best option for you. The first-year foundational coursework in visual studies and design will prepare you for the progressively more advanced curriculum and will equip you with critical design thinking skills.
 
Advanced Professional IAD-24: If you have already completed an undergraduate degree in an accredited interior design or architecture program and want to develop your knowledge of the interior built environment with advanced studio, technology, and theory study then the two-year, 43 credit IAD-24 track is best for you. This track offers some flexibility to tailor your plan of study based on your interests and goals.

Post-Professional IAD-18: If you have an undergraduate interior design degree from a CIDA-accredited institution along with professional experience and want to enhance your study of the built environment, engage in advanced research, or take your interior design career to the next level, the sixteen-month, 33 credit IAD-18 track is best suited for you.

We use these terms synonymously. For us, both describe the shaping of interior space through the manipulation of form and the selection of materials and finishes. Students learn the specifics of space planning, construction detailing, lighting design, furniture selection, and material specification. In the professional context of our region, practitioners often find themselves working fluidly between architecture and decoration, in new and existing buildings, and our degree provides students with the skills to engage in this range of practice.

CIDA, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, is an organization that establishes and regulates the standards for interior design education, and is involved in the process of professional certification. If you wish to obtain certification in interior design—and some states require this for professional practice—the fastest route is by earning a degree from an accredited program.

Besides being CIDA accredited and highly ranked, our program is uniquely positioned to cater to the skills and interests of our students. We offer a breadth and depth of education that cannot be matched, and our program scales to meet the needs of our students. Our program is competitive with those at the top art and design schools, but we also offer the resources of a large university, including ongoing research projects, graduate funding, study abroad options, and a vast network of employment and study opportunities. Small class sizes allow us to foster personal connections between students and faculty, while our central location in a large and vibrant city further expands the resources, connections, and fun available to our students.

Professional IAD-36 track: The Master of Science in Interior Architecture & Design offers a first professional degree for students with an accredited four-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline. The application requires a transcript and letters of recommendation. A portfolio is helpful so we may understand your incoming skill level, but it is not required.

Accelerated Professional IAD-43 track: The Master of Science in Interior Architecture & Design offers a first professional degree for students with advanced standing who have earned previous degrees in interior design or architecture from an accredited institution. The application requires a transcript, letters of recommendation, and a portfolio.

Post-Professional IAD-18 track: The Master of Science in Interior Architecture & Design offers a post-professional degree for students with an interior design degree from a CIDA-accredited program and professional experience. The application requires a transcript, letters of recommendation, and a portfolio.

Please contact us if you wish to discuss your interest in our program or have questions about the application process.

You can apply here.

The main thing we are looking for is fit. We recognize and appreciate that our students come from a wide range of backgrounds. We want to understand your interest in the field of interior architecture and design: Why do you want to study and be a designer? What are your goals? We like to know about experiences you have in or related to interior design (these experiences may be professional, or just things you've done for yourself or others). We look for evidence of your work ethic showing that you are diligent, able to solve problems, and willing to put in effort. We are happy to discuss your interests and experiences to help you make the best application possible.

The IAD-36 track does not require a portfolio; however, it can be helpful to submit one so we may understand your creative interests and skill level. If you choose to submit a portfolio, it can include any art and design work you have done, including but not limited to sketching, drawing, painting, graphic design, photography and other two-dimensional work; sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, furniture and other three-dimensional work; interior decorating, renovation, material selection, and other space-making or interior design work. Portfolio work does not need to be professionally photographed, and we understand that not all applicants have access to design presentation software. Not submitting a portfolio does not hurt your application.

To apply for the IAD-24 and IAD-18 tracks, a portfolio is required. Portfolio submissions should demonstrate competency in design and technical ability, including architectural drawing, space planning, material and furniture selection, and presentation. Submissions are recommended to include at least one complete design project, and a variety of work showing the particular skills and sensibility of the applicant.

Students should have a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. The GRE is not required. International students must submit English language scores. Applications that do not meet these requirements will be considered, but admission will be on a provisional basis. For application requirements see: http://drexel.edu/grad/programs/westphal/interior-architecture-and-design/

The application deadlines for the MS Interior Architecture & Design (MSIAD) program vary by applicant type and admission cycle. 

Professional IAD-36: This program begins with the summer term. For summer 2027, the Priority deadline is January 15, 2027, for US and International applicants. The Regular deadline for US applicants is June 1, 2027. 

Accelerated Professional IAD-24: This program begins with the fall semester. The Regular deadline for US applicants is July 30, 2027. The Regular deadline for International applicants is April 1, 2027.

Post Professional IAD-18: This program begins with the spring semester. The Regular deadline for US applicants is December 1, 2027.

We accept students from a wide range of backgrounds, including those with no previous design education or experience. As such, we aim to foster an environment of collaboration, support, and encouragement, and our program scaffolds learning from the basic and foundational to the most complex. We have the luxury of a program that is not capped and the ability to expand if we have an unusually large class of admitted students. Our numbers vary from year to year, but we typically receive 40-60 applications, accept 30-40 students, and admit 15-25 students.

For up-to-date information and details, please see Drexel Central. 

For detailed information please visit Drexel Central.

Our program offers Graduate Assistantships each semester to select students, awarded by program faculty. A full assistantship covers tuition plus a small stipend and requires students to work 20 hours per week as faculty support or teaching assistant. A half assistantship covers (TBA) credits of tuition and requires 10 hours per week of work. Assistantships are awarded after the second semester in the program.

The University awards incoming graduate students who have an undergraduate GPA above 3.0 with a Scholarship that can reduce the cost of tuition up to 30%. The total amount of the scholarship is based on the strength of the student’s application in addition to their GPA. Students are required to be enrolled full-time, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and matriculate within 5 years to receive the scholarship. Scholarships are awarded upon acceptance into the program. Students cannot receive both a Graduate Assistantship and a scholarship. 

Outside scholarships are an excellent way to help reduce the need to work and/or borrow student loans while at Drexel. Most of these are posted online and faculty make an effort to notify students as these opportunities arise. One online resources is: https://www.raise.me/scholarship/majors/interior_design

Our program and our university are well-equipped to address the particular needs of international students. The office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) advises international students on immigration, cultural, financial, academic and personal concerns, and makes appropriate referrals when necessary. A student's affiliation with ISSS begins immediately after the admission process and continues well beyond graduation.

TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required for international applicants or applicants who earned a degree outside the U.S. (minimum scores: 70 TOEFL, 6.0 IELTS). Scores will be reviewed based on section scores and total scores. 

Yes, the MS Interior Architecture & Design degree is STEM designated. International students are able to work for one term of CPT employment while they are in school, and they are eligible to work for three years of OPT after graduation.

The time it takes to complete the Master of Science in Interior Architecture & Design program depends on the track. As part of the application process, we prepare a Plan of Study that maps out the course schedule for you.

Professional IAD-36: Students pursuing this track typically complete the 7-semester coursework in three years.

Accelerated IAD-24: Students pursuing this track typically complete the 4-semester coursework in two years.

Post Professional IAD-18: Students pursuing this track typically complete the coursework in 16 months.

Professional IAD-36: This pathway begins in the summer, starting with introductory leveling courses. Students then move into the fall semester and begin the foundational studio sequence along with history, technology, and materials courses.

Accelerated Professional IAD-24: This pathway begins with the fall semester. Students enter starting in year two of the three-year track with advanced studio, technology, theory, and professional practice courses.

Post Professional IAD-18: Students on this pathway start in the spring semester with advanced studio and theory courses along with electives that allow for concentrated study or exploration tailored to the student’s individual goals. 

Our CIDA and NASAD-accredited MS Interior Architecture & Design program offers students a wide range of courses that provide a well-rounded education necessary for entering the industry and sitting for the NCIDQ licensing exam. The 4-credit studio courses expose students to a variety of typologies while building technical skills and developing design sensibilities. The curriculum includes 3-credit courses in materials and methods, history and art, theory and technology along with professional practice. The MSIAD program culminates with a two-semester thesis involving in-depth research and literature review leading to a comprehensive design project.

Graduates of our program are highly desirable and typically find employment opportunities in their areas of interest. Graduates work locally and across the globe, in small firms and large offices, and in a range of specialty areas. To support student employment, we have a professional experience requirement as part of the degree, and our program exposes students to interior design practitioners through events, competitions, lectures, and studio critiques. Most students find part-time professional employment during their time in the program, which is facilitated by the course schedule and encouraged by the faculty. Our faculty and alumni maintain an excellent industry network that helps students gain employment and supports them throughout their careers, including job postings specifically for our graduates. Drexel University also has a host of career service resources.

Our graduates work in wide range of places, but they generally fall into a few categories: large international firms with Philadelphia or NYC offices (HOK, Gensler, HDR, NORR, Stantec, Nelson), mid-size companies with a strong regional presence (Ballinger, Meyer, FCA, Ewing Cole, Jacobs), and small boutique offices that mostly work locally (Rohe, Eberlein, Coscia Moos, Floss Barber, Michael Gruber, Shophouse, and many others). Some graduates work for institutional facilities teams (UPenn, CHoP, Princeton) or in-house design teams (Anthropologie, URBN, law firms), while others go into event-planning, furniture design, or do set design for film or theater. Many work in Philadelphia and New York City, while others are in Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, or working internationally. 

We love to show off our program and facilities! We are happy to meet in person or speak with you by phone or video chat to get to know you and introduce you to our program. Drexel also has regularly scheduled open houses during which you can tour the campus and meet with students and faculty. Please contact us at westphaladm@drexel.edu or 215.895.1738 to arrange a call or visit.