Graduate Program Homepage
Specific Requirements of MS in Interior Architecture
Historic Preservation/ Museum Studies Concentration
Interior Product Design Concentration
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Museum Studies and Historic Preservation

Graduate Studies
The Master of Science program in Interior Architecture provides opportunities for students to undertake advanced research and design investigations on topics related to architectural interiors, and to develop specialization in selected areas of individual interest. The department offers graduate concentrations in Historic Preservation, Museum Studies, and Interior Product Design. In collaboration with the History Department, the department also offers Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Historic Preservation and Museum Studies. For more information these collaborative certificates, or concentrations click here.

A written thesis and at least one interior architecture studio are required of all IAR graduate students. Thesis topics and studio investigations are self-directed, guided by the faculty, and tailored to the individual interests of the student. Special attention may be directed toward problems of adaptive use of existing structures, the preservation and restoration of buildings and neighborhoods, museum studies, exhibit design, design for special populations, interior product design, digital modeling and imaging, design technology, and lighting. Some theses incorporate a design component. For a list of IAR thesis titles, click here. For examples of graduate studio projects, click here.

Enrollment in the IAR graduate program averages twenty graduate students. Typically half the students are North Carolina residents. The balance of students comes from diverse geographic locations in the United States and abroad.

Graduate Admissions
The Master of Science program in Interior Architecture is a post-professional degree program. An undergraduate professional degree in interior architecture or interior design is preferred. Candidates who do not hold a professional undergraduate degree in interior architecture or interior design but are graduates of related environmental design programs, such as architecture or industrial design, can be admitted but may be required to complete specific undergraduate prerequisite courses in interior architecture as part of their graduate studies. Such decisions will be based upon individual evaluation of credentials, portfolio, and design experience. Individuals who do not have a design-related undergraduate degree or a significant amount of design-related undergraduate coursework are strongly encouraged to apply for the department’s professional degree program — the Bachelor or Science in Interior Architecture.

Admission to the graduate program is contingent upon acceptance by both the Department of Interior Architecture and The Graduate School. Enrollment in the program is limited. Applicants should have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in undergraduate work. The Graduate Record Examination is required and test scores in the 500 range on both the verbal and quantitative sections and a score of 4.5 or better on the analytical writing section are acceptable prerequisites for consideration. A statement of personal interest, three recommendations, a portfolio, and an interview are also required. Priority for admissions and graduate assistantships will be given to applications received before March 1. The department has a small number of competitive graduate assistantships and scholarships for incoming graduate students.

Contacts
Application materials can be downloaded from the UNCG Graduate School web site: http://www.uncg.edu/grs/ or you may contact the UNCG Graduate School by telephone at 336/334-5596.

For additional information on the Interior Architecture graduate program, contact:
Jo Leimenstoll, Professor and Director of Graduate Study
Department of Interior Architecture
106 Gatewood Studio Arts Building
Post Office Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170

Email: jrleimen@uncg.edu
Telephone: 336/256-0303