Interior Design

Quality Interior Design Teachers are in High Demand!!

The Department of Design and Merchandising is excited to present a NEW FOCUS in the interior design area of their masters: The Development of Interior Design Educators. All interior design graduate courses will focus on interior design content and the pedagogies of teaching design in a variety of settings (online and traditional; studio, lecture, lab).

Demand is High for Interior Design Educators

The demand for college- and university-level educators in interior design far exceeds the number of qualified applicants for positions available. To assist the profession in meeting demand, the Interior Design faculty at Colorado State University has chosen to focus their graduate program offerings toward the next generation of interior design educators.

Who May be Interested?

This interior design focus is geared toward individuals with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design (both practitioners and graduate students) and who may reside in and out of the state of Colorado. Those who may be attracted to this program include:

  • Future and current higher education teachers

  • Interior design practitioners

  • Family and Consumer Science teachers

What is the Program of Study?

The program of study allows individuals to expand their knowledge base in content and teaching methodology as well as develop the research skills necessary to teach at higher education institutions.

The program culminates in a research-based thesis that may include theoretical constructs or applied design projects. Opportunities for additional specialization within the Interior Design discipline are available and are encouraged on an individual basis. See sample program below. Minimum: 33 credits.

Experience the Joy of Teaching!!!

Interior Design Core

INTD 575 Problems in Interior Design (6 credits)
                  e.g. Strategies in Teaching Interior Design; Teaching Pedagogies in Interior Design
INTD 578 Trends & Issues in Interior Design (3 credits)
INTD 675 Problems in Interior Design (3 credits)
                  e.g. Topics may include creativity, technology, sustainability, universal design
DM 684V Supervised College Teaching (3 credits)

Breadth Courses (only one required) (3 credits)
EDUC 629 Communication and Classrooms
EDUC 619 Curriculum Development

Department Core

  • DM 501 Research & Theory in Design and Merchandising (3 credits)
  • DM 551 Research Methods (3 credits)
  • Data Analysis or Statistics (3 credits)
  • DM 699 Thesis (6 credits)

The program of study will be offered via traditional and online delivery systems. Although there is a resident student requirement at Colorado State University (CSU), several of the courses will be offered during summer months or through distance education. Therefore, not all of the coursework must be taken on the campus at CSU. Please watch in the upcoming months for more specific information.

Two Sample Programs of Student for Interior Design Specialization are listed below.

Transitional/Traditional On-Campus Schedule

Semester

Course

CR

Format

Fall

DM 501 Research & Theory in Design and Merchandising

3

Resident instruction
 

ED 629 Communication and Classrooms

3

Resident instruction

Spring

DM 551 – focus on development of a proposal by end of course

3

Resident instruction
 

Data Analysis or Statistics

3

At CSU

Summer

INTD 575 Problems in Interior Design – Teaching strategies for Interior design online

3

Online delivery
 

INTD 675 – Problems in Interior Design

3

Resident Instruction
 

INTD 578 Trends

3

Online delivery or Resident instruction
 

INTD 575 Problems in Interior Design

3

Resident Instruction

Fall

INTD 684V Supervised College Teaching

3

Resident Instruction OR at student’s nearby institution
 

DM 699 Thesis – Proposal defense

3

Online

Spring

DM 699 Thesis – Thesis defense

3

Online

Online/Accelerated Summer Course Schedule

Semester

Course

CR

Format

Summer

DM 501 Research & Theory in Design and Merchandising

3

Resident instruction
 

INTD 575 Problems in Interior Design – Teaching strategies for Interior design online

3

Online delivery
 

INTD 578 Trends

3

Online delivery or resident instruction

Fall

Data Analysis or Statistics

3

Online or CSU

Spring

DM 551 – Research Methods with focus on development of a proposal by end of course

3

Online delivery

 

ED 629 Communication and Classrooms

3

Resident instruction OR at student’s nearby institution

Summer

INTD 575 Problems in Interior Design

3

Resident Instruction

 

INTD 675 – Problems in Interior Design

3

Resident Instruction

Fall

INTD 684V Supervised College Teaching

3

Resident Instruction OR at student’s nearby institution
 

DM 699 Thesis – Proposal defense

3

Online

Spring

DM 699 Thesis – Thesis defense

3

Online

 

Why CSU?

  • Undergraduate program is CIDA (formerly FIDER) accredited

  • Well-equipped facilities, including technology

  • Housed in a major research and land-grant institution

  • Dedicated and recognized faculty

  • Beautiful Rocky Mountains nearby

“There isn’t anything more meaningful to me than helping students catch the vision of how interior spaces shape human behavior…and then observe them grasp how their designs can improve their client’s quality of life.”

Are there Graduate Assistantships?

Yes, there are graduate assistantships available. To be considered for one, your application must be submitted and completed by February 15th.

How Many Applicants are Accepted into the Graduate Program?

A limited number of graduate students are accepted into the interior design focus of this graduate program due to the number of faculty advisors available. Typically, five to six students are accepted each fall into a new cohort group.

Applicants for the interior design focus must realize that not all who qualify for admission will be accepted.

After Graduation?

There are many opportunities that exist after you complete your master’s degree. You may:

  • Teach at a
    • community college
    • private art/design school
    • university
  • Practice design - perhaps in a specialty area
  • Pursue a doctorate

Although the master’s degree remains the terminal degree for the interior design profession, a doctoral degree is becoming the norm for many institutions of higher education. The Interior Design faculty members encourage individuals to consider the pursuit of a doctoral degree. Colorado State University’s School of Education is supportive of interior design graduate students pursuing their doctorate and work collaboratively with Interior Design faculty to ensure a smooth transition into the doctoral program.

Where are some of the Graduates?

Graduates are pursuing a wide variety of careers including

  • Teaching in various higher education institutions
  • Commercial design
  • Residential design
  • Computer aided design
  • Museum work

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Jennifer Ogle

Dept. of Design & Merchandising

1574 Campus Delivery

Fort Collins, CO 80523-1574

jennifer.ogle@colostate.edu

970.491.1629