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- Online
MA Interior Design
Amplify your innate design abilities with career-relevant training.
Successful interior designers need more than just good taste — they must draw on a unique set of competencies to ensure every space they create is beautiful as well as functional. By pursuing this fully online interior design master’s degree from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ, you’ll hone your eye for details, learn about fundamental construction and safety requirements, and receive individualized training from experienced faculty members. Students can also earn a residential or professional interior design certificate while working toward this degree.
Earn a master of arts in interior design to translate your passion into a rewarding profession.
Completion Time: 48 months
Schedule: Part-time
Start Dates: Fall (September) | Spring (January)
Spring 2025 Application Deadlines
- Friday, December 6, 2024 - Priority Deadline
- Friday, January 3, 2025 - Final Deadline
RSVP for Our Next Information Session
Wednesday, September 18 at 6 p.m. E.T.
![Photo of Student Sketching Out a Drawing](/files/images/graduate-and-professional-studies/college-of-arts-and-sciences/programs/ma-in-interior-design/705824616_gr_cas_interior-design_top-img_06242021.jpg)
100% of master’s in interior design graduates have been successful in securing job placement.
Curriculum
Design fundamentals coupled with technical competencies.
Master interior design basics, such as color scheme planning and textile selection, while developing knowledge and expertise that will help you become successful. This rigorous curriculum prepares students to eventually achieve National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification and become a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). And because the interior design MA courses are synchronous and small in size, each student receives detailed feedback on their projects in real time.
Earning a master’s in interior design prepares you to design the following spaces:
- Residential spaces, such as apartments, homes, and specific areas of a home
- Commercial locations, including restaurants, stores, and boutiques
- Institutional spaces, including museums and libraries
Courses (63 total credits)
- Drawing and Presentation
- History of Furniture I
- History of Furniture II
- History of Architecture
- Business of Interior Design
- Textiles for Interiors
- Interior Design I
- Color Design
- Perspective Techniques
- Lighting for Interiors
- Sustainable Design
- Interior Design II
- Kitchen and Bath Design
- Rendering
- Basic Computer-Aided Design
- Interior Design III
- Interior Design IV
- 3-D Architectural Computer-Aided Design
- Interior Design V
- Commercial Design
- Interior Design VI
- Interior Design MA Thesis Preparation and Studio
Advance your qualifications.
Students pursuing a master’s in interior design can obtain a residential or professional interior design certificate during their program — with no need to repeat any courses — to start building their resumes before graduating.
Transition your passion into a rewarding profession by pursuing an interior design master’s degree.
Highlights
Accumulate professional experience as a student.
During your degree program, you will have the opportunity to create a portfolio filled with quality work samples and also present an extensive capstone research project to a panel of industry experts. Additionally, master’s in interior design students are able to acquire a full year’s worth of experience in the field to help expedite their journeys toward ASID membership and NCIDQ certification.
Flexibility that accommodates your needs.
Unlike some master’s in interior design programs, this offering from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆis fully online to help meet the needs of busy adult students. While courses are synchronous, students can choose from convenient times during the day or evening.
News & Career Resources
Faculty & Academic Approach
Learn from industry experts.
Fairfield’s award-winning faculty have deep expertise in topics such as residential interiors and sustainable design. Many are also contributors to some of the most respected publications in the industry. You’ll benefit from their firsthand insights and guidance over the course of your master’s in interior design.
![Rob Hardy](/files/images/faculty-staff-profiles/hardy-rob_06242021.jpg)
Rob Hardy
As a certified interior designer, Rob Hardy has specialized in residential design, construction and renovation. He teaches core courses and serves as mentor and advisor for all students in the program.
![Hollie Sutherland](/files/images/faculty-staff-profiles/sutherland-hollie_06242021.jpg)
Hollie Sutherland
Hollie Sutherland has been teaching interior design at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ for eight years, and she also runs an interior design business. In her practice, she focuses on residential design and sustainable design, utilizing her LEED AP.
Experience our College of Arts and Sciences.
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ’s College of Arts and Sciences offers graduate degree programs and certificates designed to help you qualify for more advanced opportunities, transition to a new career, or nurture your own professional development. Our rigorous coursework and commitment to lifelong learning can help give new meaning to your chosen field. Experience our intimate academic community that challenges you to tackle real-world problems.
Discover the College of Arts and Sciences
Learn how Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆis committed to diversity and inclusion
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Discover your calling as an interior designer. Earn your master’s in interior design online.
Admission
Assistance navigating your journey to an MA in interior design.
From your first admission conversation to graduation and beyond, you’ll find support at every turn. The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ student support network is dedicated to meeting your needs. You’ll receive personal, academic, and financial guidance as you complete your master’s in interior design online.
Explore Graduate Financial Aid
Explore Graduate Student Resources
Admission requirements
Applicants to the master’s in interior design program at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. A GPA of 3.0 is required.
Application Deadlines
Spring 2025 Admission
Friday, December 6, 2024 - Priority Deadline
Friday, January 3, 2025 - Final Deadline
Apply for a graduate scholarship or assistantship.
Fairfield’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a number of graduate assistant positions that offer stipends to students who provide administrative and faculty support. Questions can be directed to Jean Daniele at jdaniele@fairfield.edu. Additionally, the Albert M. Loch Scholarship is awarded to one graduate student who has a GPA of 3.5 or higher and demonstrates financial need. Students must submit one faculty letter of recommendation and a completed application, including a cover letter.
"The program has exceeded my expectations. The faculty and staff are highly interactive and make learning fun and exciting. I'm confident I will be well prepared to work as a professional in the field upon graduation."
– Meghan Russo
Current MA Interior Design Student, Designer/Owner @meghanaileeninteriors
Want details on courses, schedules, and financial aid? We’re here to help.
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The future you want starts here.
Earn an online graduate degree that fits your life and your goals. We’ll give you the flexibility and career skills you need to make it happen. Take the next step and learn more.