Interior Architecture (MIArch)

Our master of interior architecture degree allows students to complete an accredited professional degree in a stimulating academic environment that is characterized by cooperation, rigor, and a commitment to human quality in the interior environment.

Track I

Eligible applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited four-year U.S. college or university OR hold an equivalent credential from a qualifying international institution.

Track II

Eligible applicants must hold an interior architecture/design or architecture bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited four-year U.S. college or university OR hold an equivalent credential from a qualifying international institution.

The learning outcomes of our Interior Architecture programs, Bachelor of Interior Architecture (B.IArch.) and Master of Interior Architecture (M.IArch.) based upon Professional Standards that must be met to be an accredited professional program in Interior Design.
Standards are defined by our Professional Accreditation Agency the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). There is a total of 16 standards, thirteen of this measure knowledge acquisition and application.
Every six years, a team of site visitors examines student work to judge compliance with multiple expectations for each standard.
Expectations for knowledge and application must be verified through course content and completed student work from subject area course and our design studios.
For expectations that require applied knowledge, our goal is for students to show competent application in Interior Design Studios.
To that end, we evaluate student work at the conclusion of each design studio based on CIDA learning expectations.
 
The learning outcomes below reflect the overarching concept of the CIDA Professional Standards.
 

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Analyze complex design issues and develop meaningful and creative design solutions while addressing theoretical, historical, behavioral, cultural, economic, technological, ecological, social, cultural, and political aspects of the design problems, and applying evidence-based knowledge of human experience/behavior, building construction/systems, light/color theories, products/materials, and building codes.
  • Employ all aspects of the design process with various media recording and communication and space-making tools to create convincing design solutions and effectively communicate them visually and verbally, as well as in writing. Students understand the principles, processes, and responsibilities that define the profession and the value of interior architecture to society and social changes.
  • Collaborate and participate in interdisciplinary teams and are prepared to maximize their effectiveness in leadership roles or as contributing team members.
  • Understand that thinking critically and applying these thoughts in their design development is essential for taking on initiative and pushing boundaries for themselves and the professions.

Professional Master of Interior Architecture Degree Requirements

The professional, CIDA-accredited master of interior architecture (MIArch) degree program prepares students for careers in interior design practice and careers in allied professions that contribute to shaping the built environment.

The department offers two tracks of study. Track I typically takes 10 terms to complete. Track II is a six-term advanced placement program.

Track I

Students enrolled in the MIArch Track I program must complete the following:

Design Studios
IARC 584Interior Design (four terms)24
IARC 586Furniture Design6
IARC 587Working Drawings6
IARC 588
IARC 589
Interior Design Comprehensive Project I
and Interior Design Comprehensive Project II
16
ARCH 680Introductory Graduate Design6
ARCH 681Introductory Graduate Design6
Media and Process Skills
ARCH 611Graduate Design Process3
Architectural computing course2
Intermediate Media
ARCH 523Media for Design Development: [Topic]3
Design Arts
ARCH 540Human Context of Design4
IARC 545Comprehensive Project Preparation3
IARC 547Color Theory and Application for the Built Environment3
ARCH 550Spatial Composition4
Furniture
IARC 544Furniture: Theory and Analysis3
Design Technology
ARCH 570Building Construction4
IARC 571Interior Construction Elements3
IARC 572Interior Finishes and Design Application3
IARC 573Working Drawings in Interior Architecture4
ARCH 592Environmental Control Systems II4
IARC 592Electric Lighting3
Professional Practice
ARCH 517Context of the Architectural Profession4
Architectural History
IARC 574History of Interior Architecture I3
IARC 575History of Interior Architecture II3
IARC 576History of Interior Architecture III3
One additional architectural history course taught in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture or the School of Architecture and Environment4
Course in 20th-century architectural history4
Subject Area Electives16
Seminar6
Total Credits153

Track I students typically complete all or most of the MIArch degree requirements at the University of Oregon, and begin the program the summer before their first full academic year of study. Students with bachelor’s degrees (BA, BS) other than a preprofessional degree in interior design, interior architecture, or architecture must apply to the Track I program. 

Track II

Design Studios
IARC 584Interior Design (two terms)12
IARC 586Furniture Design6
IARC 587Working Drawings6
IARC 588Interior Design Comprehensive Project I8
IARC 589Interior Design Comprehensive Project II8
Media and Process Skills
ARCH 611Graduate Design Process3
Architectural computing course2
Intermediate Media
ARCH 523Media for Design Development: [Topic]3
Design Arts
ARCH 540Human Context of Design4
IARC 545Comprehensive Project Preparation3
IARC 547Color Theory and Application for the Built Environment3
ARCH 550Spatial Composition4
Furniture
IARC 544Furniture: Theory and Analysis3
Design Technology
ARCH 570Building Construction4
IARC 571Interior Construction Elements3
IARC 572Interior Finishes and Design Application3
IARC 573Working Drawings in Interior Architecture4
ARCH 592Environmental Control Systems II4
Professional Practice
ARCH 517Context of the Architectural Profession4
Architectural History
IARC 574
IARC 575
IARC 576
History of Interior Architecture I
and History of Interior Architecture II
and History of Interior Architecture III
9
One additional architectural history courses taught in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture or the School of Architecture and Environment4
Course in 20th-century architectural history4
Subject Area Electives 116
Seminar6
Total Credits126
1

Subject area electives and seminars may be taken any term and in any order; one 3-credit (minimum) subject area elective must be an approved design arts course (not technology or media).

Applicants who have a four-year preprofessional degree in an environmental design discipline (interior architecture, interior design, or architecture) and an equivalent amount of professional studio and course work may be considered for Track II. Students admitted into Track II begin their studies fall term. Track II students must fulfill the same professional curriculum requirements as those in the Track I program, but are admitted with advanced standing in studio and subject-area courses. Transfer credit may be given to students who have had academic experience in an interior architecture or design program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, or an architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The extent of this advanced standing is determined in consultation with the department academic advisor before beginning the program, and the student's advanced standing is reevaluated at intervals. This preliminary evaluation of transfer credit is provisional, pending satisfactory completion of three terms in residence.

Track II students may receive credit for up to four previously taken design studios and up to 50 credits of subject-area courses. Students usually complete a minimum of six terms and the approximately 87 credits in residence.

MIArch Track I Sample Plan of Study

Degree Map
Prerequisite SummerMilestonesCredits
ARCH 611 Graduate Design Process 3
ARCH 680 Introductory Graduate Design 6
Course in 20th-century architectural history 3
 Credits 12
First Year
Fall
ARCH 681 Introductory Graduate Design 6
ARCH 570 Building Construction 4
ARCH 550 Spatial Composition 4
Additional course in design computing 1 2
 Credits 16
Winter
ARCH 540 Human Context of Design 4
IARC 571 Interior Construction Elements 3
IARC 584 Interior Design 6
Subject area elective 2 3
 Credits 16
Spring
IARC 547 Color Theory and Application for the Built Environment 3
IARC 572 Interior Finishes and Design Application 3
IARC 584 Interior Design 6
ARCH 592 Environmental Control Systems II 4
 Credits 16
Summer
Optional studio in Eugene, Portland, or abroad  
 Credits 0
Second Year
Fall
IARC 544 Furniture: Theory and Analysis 3
IARC 574 History of Interior Architecture I 3
IARC 584 Interior Design 6
IARC 592 Electric Lighting 3
 Credits 15
Winter
IARC 575 History of Interior Architecture II 3
IARC 586 Furniture Design 6
Subject area electives 2  
 Credits 9
Spring
ARCH 523 Media for Design Development: [Topic] 3
IARC 573 Working Drawings in Interior Architecture 4
IARC 576 History of Interior Architecture III 3
IARC 587 Working Drawings 6
 Credits 16
Summer
Optional studio in Eugene, Portland, or abroad  
 Credits 0
Third Year
Fall
IARC 545 Comprehensive Project Preparation 3
IARC 584 Interior Design 6
Architectural history elective 3
 Credits 12
Winter
ARCH 517 Context of the Architectural Profession 4
IARC 588 Interior Design Comprehensive Project I 8
Seminar 2 3
 Credits 15
Spring
IARC 589 Interior Design Comprehensive Project II 8
Seminar 2 3
Subject area elective 2 3
 Credits 14
 Total Credits 141
1

May be waived for students with appropriate background in design computing.

2

Subject area electives and seminars may be taken any term and in any order; one 3-credit (minimum) subject area elective must be an approved design arts course (not technology or media).