Graduate Department of Interior Architecture & Design
College of Fine Arts
Website: https://interiordesign.fsu.edu/
Chair: Jim Dawkins; Professors: Pable; Associate Professors: Dawkins, Huber, Ransdell, Webber; Assistant Professors: Londy, McLane, Mick, Robinson, Sickler; Specialized Faculty: O'Keefe; Adjunct Faculty: Bradbury, Brown, Cavazos, Fishburne, Osborne, Saginario, Varnedoe, Waxman, Willoughby; Professors Emeriti: Butler, Koenig, Munton, Myers, Ohazama, Waxman, Wiedegreen
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in interior design, a Master of Science (MS) degree, and a Master of Arts (MA) degree. For information and complete program requirements, please contact the department.
The MS and MA Advanced Professional degree programs require a minimum of 32 semester hours. The MS Advanced Professional programs are available in two tracks: Project Track and Thesis Track. These programs are intended for candidates with an undergraduate degree in interior design or architecture. The Project Track focuses on advanced, specialized skills to enhance professional practice potential and this program culminates in a project defense. The Thesis Track prepares students to pursue a Ph.D. to ultimately become a faculty member at a university and this program culminates in a thesis defense. Candidates requesting the MA degree title must comply with the university requirements of language and humanities at the graduate level.
The MFA degree program consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours including a minimum of eight hours of thesis. It is primarily intended for individuals who will eventually pursue careers in higher education, specialized research, and/or evidence-based practice. To maintain close faculty supervision only a limited number of candidates are accepted into the MFA program. This program culminates in a thesis defense.
The MS First Professional degree program requires 85 semester hours and is intended for candidates who do not possess an undergraduate degree in interior design or architecture. This degree program is in-person and condensed to allow students to complete the program in a timely manner by following the prescribed course schedule. This degree program culminates in a project defense.
Admission Requirements
Admission to master's degree programs is based on University requirements as detailed in the "Graduate Degree Requirements" chapter of this Graduate Bulletin, a portfolio of work, three letters of recommendation, a résumé, statement of interest, a writing sample (for MFA and MS Thesis applicants), and a phone or in-person interview with the Director of Graduate Studies. A minimum 3.0 grade point average from undergraduate studies and an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examinations are required. The GRE requirement is waived for MS/MA advanced-professional and MFA degree program applicants with a GPA that exceeds 3.25 in the last sixty hours of their undergraduate degree. See department for details.
Definition of Prefix
IND—Interior Design
Graduate Courses
IND 5005. Survey of Interior Design (3). This course surveys the fundamentals of interior design to create an awareness and appreciation of the built environment and acknowledgement of the process that leads to intentionally designed spaces.
IND 5028. Creative Problem-Solving (3). This course is designed to investigate and study the cognitive and thinking process and its application to problem solving.
IND 5105r. History of Interiors Seminar I (3). Advanced study of history of interiors, furnishings, and architecture from antiquity through the Renaissance. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
IND 5135r. History of Interiors Seminar II (3). Prerequisite: IND 5105r. Advanced study of history of interiors, furnishings, and architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
IND 5157. Historical Restoration, Research and Documentation (3). This seminar provides the opportunity for advanced study in the historiography, research and documentation of restoration and preservation procedures, sources of antiquity and reproductions.
IND 5165r. History of Interiors Seminar III (3). Prerequisites: IND 5105r and IND 5135r. Advanced study of the history of interiors, furnishings, and architecture of the contemporary movement from the 19th century to the present. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
IND 5208. Integrated Design Fundamentals (4). This course centers on the study and development of two- and three-dimensional design projects using the elements and principles of design.
IND 5232C. Integrated Design Studio I (6). Prerequisites: IND 5005, IND 5208, IND 5327, and IND 5476. This course is an introduction to predesign and schematic phases of the design process, graphic communication, and verbal communication abilities supporting the applied beginning to intermediate-level creation of design solutions for interior environments.
IND 5235. Graduate Studio I (3). This course is an advanced analysis and planning of interior environments.
IND 5236. Graduate Studio II (3). This course explores advanced analysis and planning of interior environments.
IND 5246C. Integrated Design Studio II (6). Prerequisite: IND 5232C, IND 5479, IND 5487, and IND 5609. This course is an intermediate examination and application of predesign and schematic phases of the design process, graphic communication, and verbal communication abilities supporting the creation of design solutions for interior environments.
IND 5257. Graduate Studio III (3). Prerequisite: IND 5236. Graduate level studio focuses on non-residential projects in creative problem solving with emphases on programming and spatial analysis.
IND 5258. Graduate Studio IV (3). Prerequisite: IND 5257. This is an advanced graduate application of the design process in the form of a large scale project involving comprehensive research and execution in metric. Emphases are on technological presentation techniques and systematic design development from concept to construction documents.
IND 5280. Graduate Studio V (3). Prerequisite: IND 5258. This studio culminates in the creation of student-generated design projects focused on the conceptual and schematic phases of project development.
IND 5281C. Graduate Studio VI (5). Prerequisite: IND 5634. Graduate Studio VI concentrates on advanced interior design projects involving critical thinking and creative problem solving. The project involves design programming and in- depth research studies. Student work evidences advanced design processes and communications. This course fulfills required project credit hours for the Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts degree programs.
IND 5282C. Graduate Studio VII (5). Prerequisite: IND 5281C. This course develops the final phase of the master's project and builds on the Pre-Design and Schematic Design documents produced in Studio VI, and it involves Design Development project activities using critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. It fulfills required project credit hours for the Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts degree programs.
IND 5283. Project Defense (0). (P/F grade only.) Prerequisite: IND 5281. Corequisite: IND 5282. This course documents the final graduate design project presentation and defense.
IND 5315. Advanced Visual Communication (3). Prerequisite: IND 5634. In this course, students explore current media used to communicate complex research and design ideas by assessing and developing effective communication strategies.
IND 5316r. Design Graphics II (1–4). Advanced studio in watercolor or other graphic techniques used in interior delineation. (Studio.) May be repeated to a maximum of eight semester hours.
IND 5317. Design Graphics I (3). Advanced detailed study of graphic techniques used in interior delineation. (Studio.)
IND 5327. Integrated Graphics (4). This course is an introduction to sketching and design drawing media that enables design thinking, with emphasis on quick sketch techniques and digital graphic ideation to aid problem solving, refinement, reproduction and presentation.
IND 5328. Graphic Design for Entrepreneurship and Brand Identity (3). This course is a hands-on introduction to graphic design useful for data visualization, creation of publications, and development of a personal brand for coherent and consistent communication and portfolio needs. Explorations include event promotion materials, animations, introductory video editing techniques and basic website creation.
IND 5425. Graduate Technical Design (3). Advanced exploration of the technical aspects of interior design.
IND 5428. Materials and Methods (3). Prerequisite: IND 5235. This course offers an in-depth exploration of furnishings and finishes for interiors, focusing on the aesthetic and performance qualities of the materials typically utilized in interior spaces. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between manufacturers, interior designers, installers, and clients with regard to liabilities and product warranties.
IND 5435. Graduate Lighting Seminar (3). Detailed study of lighting and electrical plans, reflected ceiling plans, calculations, and acoustics.
IND 5445. Graduate Furniture Design (3). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. This course is advanced graduate study in furniture design and fabrication applying principles of ergonomics and anthropometrics.
IND 5476. Computer-Aided Design I (3). This course teaches computer-aided design and drafting using AutoCAD software. Students develop an understanding of how designers and architects use computers and how AutoCAD can be applied to other types of software.
IND 5477. Computer-Aided Design II (3). This course is an advanced computer-aided design class focusing on tools and software to aid in three-dimensional design.
IND 5479. Construction Systems (3). Prerequisite: IND 5235. This lecture course focuses on general construction techniques, terminology and sustainability. Integration of the building systems of structure, plumbing, mechanical and fire safety is emphasized.
IND 5487. Construction Documents (3). Corequisite: IND 5236. This studio course focuses on the generation of a comprehensive set of specifications and construction drawings.
IND 5508. Professional Practices (3). This course is an advanced analysis and research into the theory and philosophy of professional interior design practice with emphasis on business development, management, marketing and contract administration.
IND 5526. Graduate Portfolio Review II (1). (S/U grade only). This course is a faculty review of all graduate student work after completion of the program. The conferring of a master's degree in interior design is dependent upon a satisfactory grade in this review.
IND 5528. Graduate Portfolio Review I (1). (S/U grade only). A faculty review of all graduate student work after completion of the foundation course IND 5005, or on admittance to the program if the student has an undergraduate design degree. Continuation in the degree program is dependent upon a satisfactory grade in this review.
IND 5609. Graduate Seminar: Social-Psychological Aspects of Design (3). This course is an exploration of the relationship between humans and their environment through the study of personal and social use of space, proxemics, spatial analysis, and the effects of the environment on human behavior.
IND 5628. Principles of Sustainable Design (3). This course gives students a basic introduction to the fundamentals of sustainable design in order to better understand the inter-relationships between the built environment and nature.
IND 5634r. Pre-Design Research and Programming (3–6). Prerequisite: IND 5637. This course provides entering graduate students with a basic understanding of the role of pre-design research and programming in interior-design project development.
IND 5636. Graduate Seminar: Design Theory and Criticism (3). This course is a survey of the aesthetic, political, economic and social theories that have shaped modern design, including critical methods applied to design integral to culture and human expression.
IND 5637. Graduate Seminar: Research Methods in Design (3). This course is designed to give students a basic introduction to the fundamentals of research in interior design. Included in this course are a survey of the major types of research and an overview of what is involved in the inception, planning, and conduction of a research project.
IND 5638. Graduate Seminar: Design Issues (3). This course provides a critical appraisal of the historical, philosophical, and contemporary trends and issues in the design field.
IND 5910r. Directed Individual Study (1–3). (S/U grade only). Student has the opportunity to pursue independent work under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated to a maximum of twelve semester hours.
IND 5911r. Supervised Research (1–5). (S/U grade only). May be repeated to a maximum of five semester hours. A maximum of three semester hours may apply to the master's degree.
IND 5930r. Special Topics in Interior Design (1–4). Topics vary from term to term. May be repeated to a maximum of eight semester hours as topics vary.
IND 5944r. Field Research in Space Organization (1–8). A maximum of eight semester hours may be applied toward the master's degree. Independent study and planning of a large environment. Prospectus must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator, Interior Design Graduate Committee.
IND 5945r. Supervised Teaching (1–3). (S/U grade only). May be repeated to a maximum of three semester hours. A maximum of three semester hours may apply to the master's degree.
IND 5948r. Graduate Internship (3). (S/U grade only). This internship course enables students to pursue experience with design films or in other related fields ujnder the direction of a faculty member or supervisor. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
IND 5971r. Thesis (1–6). (S/U grade only). A minimum of six semester hours credit is required.
IND 8976r. Master's Thesis Defense (0). (P/F grade only.)