Program accreditation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
Program goal
The mission of the Department of Interior Design in VCU’s School of the Arts is to provide an intellectually rigorous, studio-based experience grounded in the issues of interior architecture. The department develops in its students an enduring passion and curiosity for their work, a determination to continually seek quality in their endeavors, an ability to reflect constructively upon their actions as individuals, and a responsibility for their lifelong education. The department focuses a student’s professional activities while encouraging connections between these activities and a larger forum of ideas that enrich their culture and their environment.
Student learning outcomes
- Students will demonstrate professional values.
- Student work will demonstrate advanced design theory.
- Student work will demonstrate advanced knowledge of interior design.
- Student work will demonstrate effective communication.
- Students will demonstrate a foundation in business and professional practices.
Concentration in interior environments – professional entry-level option
The professional entry-level track is a 60-72 credit-hour program for second-degree seekers who have a proven record of academic excellence in a field other than architecture or interior design and are interested in pursuing a career in interior design. The structure of the track echoes the B.F.A. in Interior Design program in content, but advances the student at an accelerated rate during the first year and summer, bringing students parallel with the curriculum of the post-professional track by the second year.
The curriculum is highly sequenced, and students are admitted to the program for the fall semester only. All incoming students are required to take part in an intensive workshop in the summer that introduces and develops drawing, presentation skills and an understanding of two- and three-dimensional design methods. Students must successfully pass the workshop with a minimum grade of B to begin the professional entry-level track. Applicants who have an art or design background are strongly encouraged to submit a portfolio for review with their application. PowerPoint is the preferred format for the portfolio. Applicants are also required to submit three letters of recommendation and a three-to-five page writing sample.
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Degree candidacy requirements
A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.F.A. | Fall | March 15 |
Special requirements
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This program is for second-degree seekers who have a prior degree in a field other than interior design. No prior design or art background is required, although applicants with design and art backgrounds are welcome to apply. If an applicant's prior degree is in interior design (or equivalent), please see requirements for our post-professional program option instead.
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See https://arts.vcu.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/graduate-applicants/ for details on the application process.
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, applicants must include the following application content for consideration towards our program:
Curriculum Vitae / Resume
Applicants should submit previous academic and professional experiences (if any) in the format of either a CV or resume on their University Graduate Application. If an applicant has a website they are welcome to include it as a link in their CV/resume.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted online by the applicant's recommenders. On the University Graduate Application applicants will enter the recommender names and email addresses to send a message requesting the recommendations.
Letters of recommendation from professional associates such as instructors, supervisors or colleagues should address the applicant’s ability to succeed in a graduate program, as well as describe specific experiences they have had with the applicant that they think would translate to them being an outstanding candidate for the M.F.A. in Design with a concentration in interior environments professional entry-level program.
Statement of Intent
The statement of intent should be submitted on the University Graduate Application. Statements should be approximately one to two pages in length and should briefly explain the following:
- Academic and professional background
- Reason for interest in studying design of interior environments
- Reason for interest in studying at VCUarts, specifically
- Professional goals beyond graduate study
- Areas of interest relevant to interior design that the applicant is eager to learn more about
- Level of interest in being awarded a Graduate Assistantship (see below for details) as well as financial need considerations, if any
Information on Graduate Assistantships:
The Department of Interior Design has historically been able to award graduate assistantships to a select number of graduate students. In return for work done within the department, part or all tuition costs (not including fees) may be funded, in addition to receiving a stipend per semester to help support additional expenses.
The department does not have an official application process for consideration towards the graduate assistantship positions, rather all applicants are eligible for consideration and the selection process is competitive based on merit and need. Students wishing to be considered for graduate assistantships should express interest and provide a rationale for being an outstanding candidate as a postscript to the statement of intent.
The offering of these awards are subject to availability and may be structured for either a full or half academic year (fall/spring). If awarded, positions are not guaranteed to be renewed.
Portfolio
A portfolio is not required for the M.F.A. in Design with a concentration in interior environments professional entry-level program application; however, even if applicants do not have a background in design or the arts, the presentation of any creative work completed as a hobby, such as photography, home crafting projects, creative writing, poetry, art classes at a local museum, etc. is highly encouraged to provide a feel for the applicant's visual style, abilities and interest.
Should applicants choose to submit a portfolio they will do so via SlideRoom and it may contain no more than 15 uploaded images or pages of creative work. Specific technical guidelines regarding the submission of digital files are available in the SlideRoom system. SlideRoom charges applicants $10 to upload the portfolio.
Interview
Once an applicant has completed their application the department may request an interview (may be via Zoom, telephone or in person).
Degree requirements
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, a minimum of 60 credit hours is required within prescribed courses. A research-design project is required to complete the program of study. This project is undertaken and developed in the context of IDES 699 and must consist of the testing of an original idea that is supported by research. This information will be synthesized through the design development process and culminate in an individual creative project of complex scale and scope. Documentation must follow established guidelines and be presented in a form that can be retained by the department and the university. On completion of the thesis, students participate in an oral examination and a graduate exhibition.
Curriculum requirements
Prerequisite
Students with no art or design background must successfully complete this class with a minimum grade of B as a prerequisite for enrolling in the program.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take 2-12 credits in the following: | 2-12 | |
| Art and Design Methods Workshop | ||
Required courses
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IDES 501 | Introductory Graduate Design Studio I | 6 |
| IDES 502 | Introductory Graduate Design Studio II | 6 |
| IDES 511 | Introductory Graduate Graphics I | 3 |
| IDES 512 | Introductory Graduate Graphics II | 3 |
| IDES 521 | Advanced Material Studies for Interior Environments | 2 |
| IDES 522 | Environmental Factors for Interior Environments | 2 |
| IDES 601 | Graduate Interior Environments Studio | 6 |
| IDES 611 | Advanced Graphics for Interior Environments I | 2 |
| IDES 612 | Advanced Graphics for Interior Environments II | 2 |
| IDES 623 | Advanced Design Studies | 3 |
| IDES 624 | Advanced Furniture Design (or elective) | 2 |
| IDES 626 | Advanced Light and Color for Interior Environments | 2 |
| IDES 631 | Ethics and Business Procedures for Interior Environments | 2 |
| IDES 651 | History and Theory of Interior Environments I | 2 |
| IDES 652 | History and Theory of Interior Environments II | 2 |
| IDES 690 | Graduate Seminar in Interior Environments | 3 |
| IDES 694 | Graduate Interior Design Practicum | 0 |
| IDES 699 | Creative Project - Thesis | 6 |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
The minimum total of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 60.
Note: Candidacy/portfolio review occurs upon successful completion of the second semester.
Contact
Kristin Carleton
Assistant professor and graduate director, Department of Interior Design
carletonkr@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1713
Program website: arts.vcu.edu/interiordesign