MS in Interior Design:
Advanced Professional Program
The Master of Science in Interior Design: Advanced Professional degree is for students who already have an undergraduate degree in interior design or architecture. This exciting and rigorous program offers two tracks—project and thesis—which provide advanced training in interior design practice, and thesis or research and teaching.
Where will this program take you?
MS Advanced Professional Project Track
If your goal is to prepare for interior design practice by advancing your design skills, learning about project management, and gaining specialized knowledge in your area of interest, this program is for you. You will engage in the design of a complex, large-scale interior environment of your choice. The curriculum involves researching and programming, developing design, preparing construction documents, detailing, specifying finishes and materials, and presenting a solution that comprehensively addresses the project’s requirements. Students graduate from the program with a portfolio of work that is well-suited for career interviews.
Holistic Curriculum
This track comprises a minimum of thirty (3) credit hours, allowing you to receive a Master of Science degree in two semesters beginning in Fall, and graduating in Spring. The students may gain practical experience in internship(s) or enroll in elective courses offered by the department or other academic units in the university. Throughout the program, students address pressing social and individual well-being issues using a holistic design approach they develop during their studies, leveraging their knowledge, skills, and creativity to develop meaningful design solutions.
Watch these videos to learn more!
What does the Advanced Professional Master of Science Project program do for you?
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.
MS Advanced Professional Thesis Track
This track focuses on conducting academic research in design of built environment. It is a preparatory step for pursuing a doctoral degree in design or architecture studies and a career in interior design education or research.
Actionable Curriculum
With a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours, students can earn a Master of Science degree over five semesters, completed within two years. The curriculum introduces the foundations of research inquiry and guides students through the process of conducting an original study that contributes new knowledge to the field of interior design or related design disciplines. Students may choose elective courses offered by the department or other academic units across the university to support and enrich their research focus. Student research projects address contemporary challenges, develop actionable methods for data collection, and articulate insightful findings that advance the discourse in interior design. The program culminates in a formal thesis defense, with the final document prepared in accordance with university guidelines.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the MS Advanced Professional program is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Graduate Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University. In addition to meeting graduate university admissions requirements, international applicants must also meet the University requirements to be considered for admission.
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design determines admissibility to the degree program. To be considered for the MS Advanced Professional program admission, the applicants must submit the following items through the Graduate Admissions Application Portal:
- Curriculum Vitae. The CV should include details on prior education, experiences, publications, service activities, etc.
- Official transcript. An official undergraduate transcript indicating a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on the last 60 hours of the completed undergraduate degree
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE). If your undergraduate degree GPA for the last 60 hours of work is 3.00 or higher, then the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) requirement is waived.
If your undergraduate degree GPA for the last 60 hours of work is below 3.00, you need to submit the results of the GRE. The desired combined score should be greater than or equal to 305. GRE test scores are valid for five years from the test date.
- Official English Language Proficiency results. Students with English as a second language must meet the University proficiency standards of IBTOEFLE: 80; TOEFL: 550; or IELTS: 6.5.
- Department application. A completed Interior Architecture & Design Department Application that identifies your goals and reasons that make you a strong applicant to the interior design graduate program. Tell us about your intended study focus and potential alignment with the research focus of one of our faculty members. Visit the Meet our Faculty page above for ideas. The Application is available to complete via the Graduate Admissions Application portal.
- Three letters of recommendation. A minimum of three letters of recommendation written by academic and/or professional persons of your choice who are familiar with you and your previous work. This process is facilitated via the Application portal.
- Work portfolio. A digital portfolio of 15-20 examples of current student and/or professional design work is to be uploaded via the Application portal. Please include short captions for your pieces that describe the project, the context, the medium, and the role you had in producing it (individual or group, independent or under supervision, course or internship, etc.).
- Academic writing sample (Thesis Track only). A 5-to 10-page excerpt from a college writing assignment that demonstrates your writing abilities and style needs to be uploaded to the Application portal. The sample must include in-text citations and references of scholarly work that informed your paper. The sample helps faculty advisors to determine the degree of assistance the student may need with thesis writing.
- Interview. After you complete and submit your application, the Department will contact you to schedule a phone, Zoom, or in-person interview with the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies.
Application Deadlines
The application deadline is April 1 of every year for the start of study in the Fall semester.
International applicants are encouraged to complete their applications by January 1 so they have ample time to obtain their immigration documents and make living arrangements in Tallahassee.
The Teaching Assistantship application deadline is March 15. We advise that you apply as early as possible to ensure the availability of the assistantships.
The application window for the 2025-2026 academic year will open in September 2024.
Application Questions? Contact Rebecca Cowart, Academic Program Specialist, at rebecca.cowart@fsu.edu or (850) 644-5473.
Teaching Assistantships and Financial Aid
A limited number of teaching assistantships are available for the most qualified applicants and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The assistantship allows students to gain teaching experience and provides a tuition waiver and a stipend for Fall and Spring semesters.
For tuition, estimated cost of attendance, and financial aid opportunities, please refer to the Graduate School’s Funding & Awards information.
Financial Aid Resources—copy from MS First Pro page
Interior Design Licensure and Certification Information
The Interior Design program at Florida State University prepares students for professional practice in interior design and may support eligibility for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination, depending on individual experience requirements and applicable state regulations. The NCIDQ Examination is a nationally recognized exam used by many states as part of the licensure or registration process for interior designers. Licensure requirements for interior design vary by state. Some states require licensure or registration to practice certain types of interior design, while others do not regulate the profession.
The State of Florida requires applicants seeking registration as an interior designer to meet education, experience, and examination requirements, including successful completion of the NCIDQ Examination. Students intending to pursue licensure or registration should review the specific requirements of the state in which they plan to practice. FSU’s Professional Licensure and Certification search page provides this information. Completion of the Florida State University Interior Design program does not guarantee certification, licensure, or registration in any state.
