Master of Science (MS) in Interior Design: Advanced Professional

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Florida State University

Program Overview

The Master of Science (MS) in Interior Design: Advanced Professional at Florida State University is designed for graduates with an undergraduate degree in Interior Design or Architecture who want to advance their professional, research, and design expertise. The program offers two pathways: Project Track, focusing on advanced design practice and project management, and Thesis Track, emphasizing academic research, design innovation, and preparation for doctoral studies or university teaching.

Curriculum Structure

Project Track – Year 1: Students develop advanced design and research skills through Pre-Design Research and Programming (IND 5634), Design Issues (IND 5638), and Theory and Criticism (IND 5636). They advance their practical expertise through Graduate Studio VI (IND 5281) and Graduate Studio VII (IND 5282), completing a complex interior design project involving programming, construction documentation, materials, and finishes.

Thesis Track – Year 1: Students establish research foundations through advanced graduate coursework, research methodology, and design theory. They develop an original research proposal, investigate contemporary issues in interior design, and undertake specialized electives aligned with their research interests.

Thesis Track – Year 2: Students conduct independent research on the built environment, develop their findings, and complete their formal master's thesis. The program concludes with a thesis defense, preparing graduates for doctoral studies, research, and academic careers.

The program requires a minimum of 32 credit hours. The Project Track can be completed in two semesters, while the Thesis Track typically takes five semesters over approximately two years.

Focus Areas

Advanced interior design practice, design research, project management, pre-design programming, design theory and criticism, construction documentation, materials and finishes, built environment research, design education.

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced solutions for complex interior environments.
Apply research and programming methods to design projects.
Demonstrate expertise in project management and construction documentation.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

CIDA and NASAD: Florida State University's Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The university also prepares students for professional practice and potential NCIDQ examination eligibility, subject to applicable education and experience requirements.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Professional opportunities: The Project Track develops industry-ready portfolios and provides opportunities for internships, professional networking, and specialized design practice. The Thesis Track supports progression into doctoral research and university teaching. FSU provides access to graduate studios, fabrication facilities, and experienced design faculty. A specific program-level QS or Guardian employability ranking is not published.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Florida State University combines advanced design studios with research-led learning, giving students opportunities to work on complex interior environments and develop solutions to real-world design challenges. Students gain practical experience through large-scale design projects, material experimentation, digital fabrication and faculty-supervised research. The university's fabrication facilities and specialist laboratories support both the Project and Thesis tracks, allowing students to explore professional design practice as well as academic investigation.

Program-specific practical opportunities:

Advanced Design Project: Develop a complex, large-scale interior environment, covering research, programming, concept development, construction documentation and material specifications.
Project Management: Apply project planning and management principles to comprehensive interior design assignments.
Professional Portfolio: Produce a portfolio of advanced design work suitable for professional interviews and career opportunities.
Internship Opportunities: Project Track students may gain additional practical experience through internships, although these are not stated as compulsory.
Original Research: Thesis Track students conduct independent research into the built environment, collect and analyse data, and present findings through a formal thesis defence.
Research Conferences: Graduate students can present their research findings at academic conferences and participate in FSU's annual Master's in 4 competition.
Faculty Research Collaboration: Work with a major professor and thesis committee to develop research questions, methodologies and original findings.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of FSU's M.S. in Interior Design – Advanced Professional can pursue advanced roles in interior design practice, project management, design research and higher education. The Project Track supports students seeking to advance their professional design careers, while the Thesis Track provides a foundation for doctoral research, academic teaching and specialist investigation of the built environment.

Career Opportunities:

Senior Interior Designer
Interior Design Project Manager

University Career Services:

Graduate Career Advising: FSU's Career Center provides career guidance for master's students pursuing professional or academic careers.
NoleNetwork: Students and alumni can access full-time jobs, internships, employer events and on-campus or virtual interviews.
Portfolio and Resume Support: Receive guidance on professional portfolios, resumes, CVs and cover letters.

Employment Statistics and Salary Figures:

Graduate Employment: FSU reports that nearly 100% of its graduate Interior Design students since 2015 secured employment in the design industry or acceptance into advanced graduate programs within nine months of graduation. This is a combined graduate-program outcome, not a separate Advanced Professional placement rate.
Program-specific Salary: A separate median salary or salary range for Advanced Professional graduates is not published by the university.

University–Industry Connections:

Gensler: FSU identifies Gensler among the organizations employing its Interior Design graduates.
HOK: Represents an example of an established architecture and interior design employer where alumni have secured positions.

Long-term Accreditation Value: FSU's graduate Interior Design programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The degree may also support eligibility for the NCIDQ examination, depending on the candidate's educational background, professional experience and applicable examination requirements. Students should verify the licensing rules of the state where they intend to practise.

Graduation Outcomes: Project Track graduates leave with an advanced design portfolio and experience in managing complex interior design projects, preparing them for senior professional and consultancy roles. Thesis Track graduates develop original research capabilities and can pursue careers in design research, academic teaching and further doctoral study.

Further Academic Progression: Students completing the Thesis Track can progress to doctoral studies in Interior Design, Architecture, Design Studies or related built-environment disciplines. At Florida State University, the Ph.D. in Interior Design is not listed as a direct progression program; however, the university's MFA in Interior Design provides an additional terminal graduate pathway involving original evidence-based research and advanced design practice. The Advanced Professional Thesis Track is specifically identified by FSU as preparation for doctoral study in design or architectural studies.