Master of Science Advanced Professional
The Master of Science Advanced Professional degree options are for you if you possess an undergraduate degree in interior design or architecture. These degrees provide advanced knowledge for interior design practice and teaching/research.
There are two track options in this MS degree:
The MS Project track:
This choice supports the goal of Interior Design practice and provides extended design process and project knowledge. You undertake extensive programming research and related tasks and produce a comprehensive design project of your choice over a three-semester period.
This track consists of a minimum of thirty-two (32) semester credit hours and allows you to complete a Master of Science degree in three terms of fall/spring/summer. The curriculum focuses on the design development of a large-scale or otherwise complex built environment selected by you and engages you in creating the programming, research, design, construction documents and presentation that fully describes the solution. This professional track course of study also provides opportunities for internship hours and/or other electives courses. You exit the program with a portfolio of work suitable for career interviews.
Video: What does the Advanced Professional Master of Science Project program do for you?
View a sample student video from this program that showcases the student’s master’s project by Giselle Canizares.
View a sample student video from this program that shares the student’s values, skills and point of view to a prospective employer by Elisha Vincent, a former student.
Check out Master of Science Practice Track for a Prospective Student.
The MS Research track:
This choice supports the goal of conducting evidence-based design research or teaching interior design. This track supports and leads to the ultimate completion of a Ph.D. degree. You conduct original research in this track and complete a university thesis over a five-semester period.
This track consists of a minimum of thirty-two (32) semester credit hours and allows you to complete a Master of Science degree in five terms of fall/spring/summer/fall/spring. The curriculum focuses on introducing the foundations of research inquiry and conducting original evidence-based studies that generate new knowledge in the interior design field. This track typically leads to a Ph.D. degree as the academic preparatory final step for a career in interior design education and/or research. This track also provides opportunities for internship hours and/or other electives courses. You exit the program with a university thesis that serves as a foundation skill set for application to a Ph.D. program.
The Master of Arts degree is also available and includes university requirements for graduate-level humanities and language. See the Director of Graduate Studies for further details.
View a list of FSU graduates in university teaching and professional practice positions.
Check out the Master of Science Research Track for a Prospective Student.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the Master of Science Advanced Professional program is based on University requirements as defined in the Graduate Degree Requirements section of the FSU Graduate Bulletin as well as those of the Interior Architecture & Design Department.
The Department requires the following items in order to be considered for the program. These are submitted to FSU through your online application.
- An official undergraduate transcript indicating a minimum 3.0 grade point average on the last 60 hours of the completed undergraduate degree. Download a GPA Calculator Sheet.
- A minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 149 verbal and 145 quantitative. If GRE was taken prior to November 2011, minimum scores are 430 verbal and 540 quantitative. Note that GRE scores are one of many factors considered in admittance. NOTE: If your undergraduate degree grade point average for the last 60 hours of work is 3.25 or higher, then the Graduate Record Examination requirement is waived.
- Students with English as a second language must meet the university standard of 80 for TOEFL scores or 6.5 for IELTS scores. Students with English language concerns should speak with Steve Webber, Director of Graduate Studies at IADgrad@cfa.fsu.edu.
- A completed Interior Design Supplemental Application that identifies your goals and reasons why you feel you will succeed in graduate school. This is available to complete via your application portal.
- A digital portfolio of student and/or professional design work to be uploaded via your application portal.
- A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation provided by professional or academic persons of your choice that are familiar with you and your previous work. This process is facilitated via your application portal.
- A phone or in-person interview with the Department Director of Graduate Studies, Steve Webber. Once you have completed and submitted your application the Department will contact you to schedule the interview.
The deadline for submittal of an application is May 1 of every year for start of study in the fall semester. However, completion of applications by April 5th is encouraged to ensure availability and to enable consideration for graduate assistantships. International students are encouraged to complete their applications by March 1 in order to clear extra requirements for language and residency.
Application window for 2024-2025 school year is now open
Application Questions? Contact us at admissions@cfa.fsu.edu.