Masters

Architecture, MS (Interior Design)

Master of Science Degree in Architecture with a Specialization in Interior Design

The online Master of Science (MS) in Architecture with a specialization in Interior Design degree program prepares individuals for leadership roles in developing theory and applying it to 21st century interior environments.

Total Credits

$452

Cost Per Credit

Online

UNL

Reasons students choose this program:

Identify, research and creatively solve problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.
Perform services relative to interior spaces including programming, design analysis, space planning and aesthetics.
Hands-on work through field-work opportunities.

Students will gain research and theory-based problem-solving skills needed to address the increased complexity of interior built environments. Combining previous education, practical experience and scholarly inquiry, students will create new knowledge to advance the discipline and meet their career goals. The MS degree is a post-professional degree that provides opportunities for students pursuing Interior Design research or academia.

Students will explore issues in depth that include the integration of design research into:

Professional practice
Sustainability
Health and wellness
Senior living
Aging in place
Learning environments
Interior design pedagogy
Material culture

The program is for graduates of an interior design program. The courses are taught by award-winning faculty with real-world experience. Students engaged in the program have a wide variety of opportunities for specialization within interior design. If interested in designing for aging adults, the program offers a dual Interior Design and Gerontology Certificate as part of the required program courses.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, chartered as a land-grant university on February 15, 1869, creates opportunities for the state of Nebraska. It ranks consistently in the top tier of national research universities.

Students learn from faculty who create new knowledge, develop one-to-one connections with students and foster a sense of community. UNL is a proud member of the Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

Learning at UNL

Career Outlook

Interior designers create pleasing, functional spaces for homes, offices, factories and more. Designers work to meet new industry standards, including creating spaces that are environmentally friendly and accessible. There is a growing need for Interior Designers capable of leading and instructing the next generation of professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for college-level Architecture Teachers is projected to grow 8% by 2030 in the U.S., about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Career paths include:

Education
Interior design
Interior design consulting
Interior design research

Finance Your Education

The University of Nebraska offers some of the most affordable tuition rates in the region, particularly for our online programs. Explore the array of funding options to finance your education in a way that makes sense for you.

Online tuition rates are calculated by credit hour and college offering the course and, because the University of Nebraska is a public institution supported by Nebraska taxpayers, Nebraska residents may receive a lower tuition rate than out-of-state students.

Cost Per Credit
In-State	Out-of-State
$452	$936
Note: Campuses may charge additional fees; see the Paying for School page for more details.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

We believe cost should not be a barrier to accessing higher education, even for online programs. Financial aid and scholarships are available for many students. Please see the Paying for School page for additional information and links to campus financial aid resources.

Military and Veteran Services

Our programs are an ideal way for military, veterans, and dependents to advance education with military advisers and staff on each campus, flexible deployment and activation policies, and generous acceptance of transfer credits. Visit our Prospective Student page and explore what the University of Nebraska offers.

Ready to achieve your goals?

NU has the online experience for you.

Learn more

Courses

IDES 886

Evolving Issues in Interior Design

3 credit hours

Description
Prerequisites

Contemporary and controversial issues. Nuances of the field and practice of interior design and its relationship to the allied design disciplines.

Admission to the BSD Program.

IDES 887

Evidence Based Design

3 credit hours

Description

An introduction to evidence based design as it applies to a variety of different building types. Overall exploration of research topics and issues related to key areas of inquiry include: workplace, healthcare, education, retail + brand, culture and sustainability. The design application of research findings related to each respective area is explored.

EDPS 859

Statistical Methods

3 credit hours

Description

Computation and interpretation of measures of central position, variability, and correlation; introduction to sampling, probability, and tests of significance.

Select 1 of the following:

3 credit hours

Description

ASCI 200 Animal and Carcass Evaluation
ASCI 210 Animal Products
ASCI 213 Meat Specifications and Procurement
ASCI 260 Basic Equitation
ASCI 271 Companion Animal and Equine Behavior

IDES 898

Problems in Interior Design

1-6 credit hours

Description

Individual investigation of a topic in interior design.

IDES 845

History of Interiors and Designed Objects

3 credit hours

Description

History and development of interiors and furnishings from prehistoric times to the present day, emphasizing the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. Interiors and furnishings focused on the West yet considered within a global context.

IDES 855

Environmental Behavior & Social Factors in the Built Environment

3 credit hours

Description

Introduction to the relationship between human behavior and the environment. Key areas of inquiry address a continuum of scale: person, home, building, community and city.

IDES 858

The Changing Workplace

3 credit hours

Description

Survey and integration of theory, methods, research and findings from the social, behavioral, and managerial sciences as they relate to the design of work environments. Factors effecting change in the contemporary workplace.

IDES 884

Material Culture: The Social Life of Things

3 credit hours

Description

The theories and practices of material culture. History and interior design--and the broad category of humanity itself--through the lens of material objects.

IDES 820

Branding

3 credit hours

Description
Prerequisites

An examination of the relationship between the Brand and the Branded Environment and the emotional connections created.

Acceptance into the IDES, ARCH or LARC professional program, or into the MS in Architecture programs

IDES 821

Environmental Graphic Design

3 credit hours

Description
Prerequisites

Focuses on the way people understand the built environment. Design for wayfinding, information graphics, architectural graphics such as signage, exhibit design, and themed environments.

Acceptance into the IDES, ARCH or LARC professional program, or into the MS in Architecture programs

IDES 891

Selected Topics in Interior Design

3-12 credit hours

Description

Group investigation of a topic in interior design originated by instructor.

IDES 864

Suburbanism

3 credit hours

Description

Engages in multi-faceted discourse on the built environment, development, and design of suburbia. Emphasis is placed on the role of design and its impact on the physical, social, political and economic structures of the suburbs and the single-family home. Examines multiple scales from various points of view.

Option A

The master’s degree under Option A requires a thesis. Option A is most appropriate for students who are preparing for careers in research and scholarly work or additional academic pursuits beyond the master’s degree. Under this option, a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours, consisting of 20 to 24 credit hours of regular course work, plus a thesis equivalent to 6 to 10 credit hours. At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree, including thesis, must be in the major (at least 18 credit hours for the Master of Education degree). The remaining work may be in supporting courses and may comprise a minor consisting of at least 9 credit hours selected from and approved by the minor department. At least 8 credit hours, excluding thesis, must be earned in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900 level or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts).

Option B

The master’s degree under Option B does not require a thesis. Option B is most appropriate for students pursuing practice-based or professional careers in which the master’s degree provides suitable training. Under Option B, a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours. At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree must be in the major. The remaining work may be in supporting courses and may comprise a minor consisting of at least 9 credit hours selected from and approved by the minor department. At least 15 credit hours must be earned in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900 level or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts).

Nate Bicak

Assistant Professor - Interior Design

Nate Bicak is an Assistant Professor in the College of Architecture. He teaches courses in residential design, retail and hospitality design, material application, building codes, construction methodologies and construction documentation. Nate is passionate about the application of making in design education and the intersections of emerging technologies (particularly UAVs) with professional design practice. Nate is a member of the Carnegie Melon MakeSchool Alliance, where his course projects and work in developing maker spaces have been featured.

Transfer Credits

If you are a college student considering transferring courses, an adult returning to college or a high school student with college credit, Transfer Nebraska is for you.

Learn More

Admissions

Join a community that believes in academic excellence through a curriculum that is relevant to the real world. All University of Nebraska colleges offer unique opportunities in research and hands-on experiences that are critical to gaining an edge in a competitive global marketplace.

With the resources, faculty and technology at Nebraska, you’ll collaborate, invent, research, contribute and succeed—all before you graduate. No matter what your ambition is, you can make it happen here.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted into this program, you must have:

A bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate degree in architecture, interior design, or a closely related field.
A 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Taken the TOEFL or IELTS (only required if English is not your native language).
Taken the GRE.
A written personal statement. In 1-2 pages, this statement should highlight the academic and work-related history, state your short-term and long-term professional goals, describe personal strengths that will help you achieve those goals, and describe how this degree or certificate would help you achieve those goals.
Three letters of recommendation.
A portfolio of your work.
Official transcripts from all previous schools.

To verify this program is permitted in your state, see our Distance Education State Authorization Dashboard.

Application Instructions

Application Fee: $50

Application Checklist:

Complete the online application. Use the "School Designation" section in online application to select program and area of concentration you wish to apply.
Submit application fee.

Student Experience

NU offers fully online certificates, bachelor's, master’s and doctoral programs that fit the schedule of a working professional. With the flexibility to complete thoughtfully designed coursework when your schedule allows, NU can help you build your career and propel you to the next stage in life.

"Despite 25 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, I knew I had to continue to find ways to be up to date with business trends and have the credentials to move forward in the marketplace."

Pedro Londono
MBA, Specialization in Marketing

"In the scientific field an advanced degree is essential. My education equipped me to do exactly what I wanted and helped me get a promotion."

Cayman Adams
Biology, MS

"This is a master's program I was actually excited about. My concentration allowed me room to tailor electives to my own needs and goals - in life and in my career."

Angela Collins
Critical & Creative Thinking, Organizational Science and Leadership

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