Master of Interior Design

Program Overview

The Master of Interior Design (MID) program at Woodbury University is an intensive graduate program, typically requiring 63 to 93 quarter units depending on the student's prior academic background (e.g., those with a bachelor's degree in interior design or architecture may enter with advanced standing). The curriculum spans five to seven semesters, with a core emphasis on studio-based learning where students develop their design sensibilities through rigorous and critical feedback. The program aims to explore how physical and emotional elements merge to create aesthetically and culturally relevant interior spaces, integrating visual arts, product design, furniture design, and architecture with social sciences and humanities.

STEM-designated: Yes, Woodbury University's Master of Interior Design (MID) program is STEM-designated. This is a significant advantage, particularly for international students, as it extends their eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the United States. The STEM OPT extension allows for an additional 24 months of work authorization beyond the initial 12-month OPT period, providing international graduates with up to three years of valuable professional experience in their field. This designation reflects the program's strong integration of technology, material science, and computational approaches within interior design.

NASAD-accredited: Yes, the Master of Interior Design (MID) professional degree program at Woodbury University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD is the recognized accrediting agency for programs in art and design at the baccalaureate and graduate levels in the United States. This accreditation assures that the program meets national standards for quality and relevance in art and design education. Additionally, the program is designed to meet the California educational requirements for interior design certification and prepares graduates for the NCIDQ and IDEX exams, which are crucial for professional licensure/certification.

Curriculum: The MID curriculum is built around a sequence of core design studios (typically five units each semester) that delve into critical spatial inquiry. Complementing the studios, students engage in coursework that explores various facets of interior design, including form, color, lighting, finishes, furnishings, building technology, material science, and behavioral factors. Courses also cover areas such as interior architecture history and theories, professional practice, and advanced visualization techniques using three-dimensional models, computer rendering, and drawing. The program culminates in a graduate thesis studio, where students undertake a significant research and design project, demonstrating their mastery of the discipline. An optional summer fieldwork studio also offers opportunities for in-depth research.

Research Focus: The Master of Interior Design program at Woodbury University has a strong embedded research focus, particularly through its emphasis on critical spatial inquiry and the culminating thesis project. Students are encouraged to "mine and re-imagine the range of our human experiences" within interior environments. The curriculum trains students to engage in the analysis, understanding, and development of the built interior environment as a viable object of critical inquiry, evidenced through design and research processes. The program also supports graduate student research and publication, including opportunities for teaching assistant positions, which further highlights its commitment to advancing the discipline through scholarly investigation.

Industry Engagement: Woodbury University actively engages with the interior design industry to ensure its MID program remains relevant and prepares graduates for successful careers. The curriculum is informed by current professional practices, and the program emphasizes the development of "career-ready" skills. Students are prepared to complete both the NCIDQ and IDEX exams, which are industry-recognized certifications for interior design professionals. While specific formal corporate partnerships or extensive internship programs were not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the program's focus on professional practice, real-world application, and its location in Los Angeles (a hub for design firms) inherently provide strong links to industry. The university's overall commitment to providing valuable work experience through required internships across its programs also suggests a strong dedication to industry connection.

Global Perspective: Woodbury University fosters a global perspective within its Master of Interior Design program. The program encourages students to explore "real and imagined geographies" and to critically produce space that demonstrates technique and effect. The universal nature of interior design, which is fundamentally about understanding human interaction with space, allows for a global applicability of the skills learned. Furthermore, Woodbury University attracts a diverse international student body, enriching the classroom environment with varied cultural viewpoints and approaches to design. This multicultural exchange prepares graduates to address design challenges and contribute to interior architecture in diverse global contexts.