University of Florida

Program Information

Degree Offered

MID - Master of Interior Design, PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (Design, Construction and Planning)

Format: Campus

Program Description:

The MASTER OF INTERIOR DESIGN (MID) at the University of Florida educates students to become professionals in practice, to engage in research, and to develop a specialization in the design of the built environment. In addition to coursework, the main requirement for the MID degree is a written research thesis.
The MID Program is open to students with prior educational experience from any field. It prepares students without previous interior design or architecture undergraduate degrees to practice in interior design and architecture firms; those with previous interior design or architecture undergraduate degrees to achieve advanced study in areas of specialization found in contract public interior design firms; and all students to pursue entry level teaching positions within interior design programs, to enter Ph.D. Programs for advanced research specialization(s) in interior design or related design disciplines, and to disseminate knowledge through publications, conferences, teaching, and collaboration with various professionals in related fields.
Each student entering the MID program works with the graduate coordinator to evaluate his or her unique background and to determine the specific courses needed to strengthen the student’s educational foundation and interests. After assessment of previous coursework and design work, leveling courses may be required to prepare the student for graduate studies in interior design. Taking leveling courses equalizes the MID student’s academic opportunities for future interior design practice. The added (leveling) course work will be composed of lower and upper division classes that depending on their specific needs, students usually complete in two to four semesters of full-time study. The estimated total credit hours and length of study time will vary according to each student’s individual bachelor’s degree and experience.
Upon satisfaction of leveling coursework requirements, and with approval by the graduate coordinator and supervisory committee chair, a student completes 24 hours of graduate work in the Department of Interior Design as well as 3 hours of coursework in graduate statistics and 9 hours of multi-disciplinary graduate electives which reinforce and extend the research. At the core of the MID curriculum are courses in interior design research methods and individual master’s thesis research. The program culminates with the creation and defense of a written research thesis.

The DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) degree in Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida offers a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary study and research with emphasis on one of five disciplines related to the built environment housed within the college—Architecture, Building Construction, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Sustainability in the Built Environment, and Urban and Regional Planning. Students interested in studying issues related to the human experience and activity within the built environment often develop a PhD concentration in Interior Design.

Accreditation:

Leveling MID coursework is concurrent with that of the University of Florida Bachelor of Design in Interior Design, which is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. There is no separate accreditation for the Master of Interior Design.

Eligibility Requirements:

University of Florida requirements for graduate study include having a Bachelors degree in any field, a grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and GRE scores of at least 1100 (verbal and quantitative). MID admission is further based on assessment of academic performance records, letters of recommendation, portfolio of prior design-related work and the content of the Statement of Intent. The Statement of Intent is a written presentation of the applicants’ motivation for pursuing a MID degree at the University of Florida, their intended area of specialization in interior design, and their potential alignment with the research focus of a member of the Department of Interior Design faculty. Students with no prior design-related work are not required to submit a portfolio. The MID program only considers applications for the Fall semester to coincide with curriculum sequencing. The applications deadline is February 1st for all applicants.

International Student Requirements:

International students from countries where the language of instruction is other than English are also required to have TOEFL scores– Paper-Based: 550; Computer-Based: 213; Internet-Based: 80.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Midsize City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above