Overview
30
average student age
30
30
minimum required credits
30
22.5%
international students
22.5%
Program Details
In Suffolk’s Master of Arts in Interior Architecture program, you will study with educators who are among the region’s top artists and designers. They work at the highest level of their fields, and they’re eager to share their expertise, insights, and professional contacts with you. You’ll also have one-on-one access to these mentors and scholars, many of whom work at major design firms in Greater Boston.
Our faculty and students hail from countries around the world. This diversity will enrich your education and provide you with valuable global perspectives that you can apply to your work. Throughout your time at Suffolk, you can participate in on-campus exhibits and attend the school’s Annual Sustainable Design Trade Show.
Past Suffolk graduates have found success as design show hosts on HGTV, lighting and exhibition designers and project managers, designers at nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and members of leading interior and architectural firms around the world.
Accreditations/Rankings
The School of Art & Design's graduate program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Our Master of Arts in Interior Architecture program is accredited as a Professional-Level Program by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), the national accrediting body for post-secondary interior design programs. See our Student Achievement Data.
Paying for Graduate School
|
Tuition (2018-2019)
Full-time, per semester |
$14,760 |
|
Cost Per Credit (2018-2019)
For part-time students |
$1,230 |
|
% of Students Receiving Financial Aid Per year
|
80% |
|
Average Financial Aid Awarded Per year
|
$16,726 |
Outcomes
13%
greater earning potential (Georgetown analysis of American Community Survey 2013)
13%
90%
of the Class of 2016 employed within 6 months
90%
Alumni Profile
The diverse opportunities and hands-on internship experience I had at Suffolk allowed me to develop my passion for design and prepared me for a successful career where I can lead the way in responsible, sustainable design practices.
- Swathi De Faria, MAIA '15
- Interior Designer
- Perkins+Will
Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements: 12-30 courses, 30-85 credits maximum
Leveling Courses
Candidates who have not completed an undergraduate program of study substantially equivalent to a BFA in Interior Design are required to complete leveling courses. The graduate program director evaluates the unique background of each student at the time of acceptance into the graduate program to determine the number and type of leveling courses that are required. Some students may be required to complete up to 55 credits of leveling courses; others will be able to waive some number of these leveling courses based on prior undergraduate experience and professional background. An additional 30 credits of graduate-level coursework is then required to earn the MAIA degree.
Foundation Studies Leveling Courses (4 courses, 12 credits maximum)
Students complete or waive the following courses:
-
ADF-S101 Foundation Drawing I
Prerequisites:
Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course concentrates on the traditional techniques of observational drawing. Fundamental principles and elements of drawing are introduced in structured lessons and exercises, which are supplemented by additional outside assignments. Foundation Drawing I stresses the development of visual skills as well as the broad use of drawing concepts, vocabulary, techniques and variety of materials.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Type:
Arts Admin Minor Elective
-
ADF-S102 Foundation Drawing II
Prerequisites:
ADF S101; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will refine the basic visual skills developed in Foundation Drawing I (ADF S101). The elements of color and mixed media are introduced to expand technical possibilities, while more intensive work with the nude human figure provides exposure to gesture, structure and complex form. As students begin to develop a more sophisticated and personal approach, issues of expression and interpretation will be investigated, focusing on personal style and expression.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADF-S152 3-Dimensional Design
Prerequisites:
ADF S166; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course focuses on the fundamental elements of three-dimensional form. Line, plane and volume will be explored as students develop visual analysis and critical thinking skills in the round. The role of scale, proportion, structure, surface, light and display will be addressed, as students create forms that activate space and engage the viewer. The course will proceed from work with simple forms and techniques to more challenging and comprehensive problems addressing both additive and subtractive methods.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADF-S166 2D/Color
Prerequisites:
Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This is an introductory-level course in the basic concepts and practices of two-dimensional design and color theory. The study of color and design is supportive of all studio disciplines and is vital to the understanding of all visual media. This course features an intensive, hands-on approach to color and design as students create, modify and master the three dimensions of color (hue, value, and strength) plus the principles of design(line, shape, value, composition and image). This in-depth study is essential and underlies all of the visual arts as they are practiced today. An understanding of color and design influences all artists' decisions, affecting the look, meaning and use of visual phenomena.
Type:
Arts Admin Minor Elective
Interior Design Leveling Courses (14 courses, 43 credits maximum)
Students complete or waive the following courses:
-
ADI-S106 Interior Design Communications
Prerequisites:
Take ADF-S101 ADI-S108 OR ADI-S205;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Interior Design Communications teaches students how drawing media, observational drawing, perspective theory, color and design graphics can be integrated into the designer's process. In addition to exploring contrast, accent, reflection, shade and shadow, the course underscores the importance of freehand sketching as a tool to foster intellectual inquiry and convey design concepts to a wider audience. The course introduces students to manual and digital methods for composing work for conceptual expression, technical drawing presentation, and portfolio purposes.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S107 Spatial Graphics
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Students will employ a range of computer programs used in the design industry. Exercises will introduce students to Building Information Modeling, vector graphics and raster file formats. 2D and 3D compositional and graphic principles will also be explored in order that students better understanding the importance of file hierarchies and the efficient organization of digital workflow. Import and Export functions will to enable students to work between applications in order to integrate images, drawings and vector graphics into their design presentations. Vector graphics will also be employed to generate 3D artifacts using digital fabrication tools.
-
ADI-S110 Digital Orthographics
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will provide students with an understanding of orthographic principles and their importance to spatial thinking and design communication. Students will produce manual drawings in order to manipulate scale. Students will employ Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software to create measured architectural plans, elevations and sections. The course will introduce students to file management skills and develop proficiency in using cloud based resources. Students will employ virtual workspaces to conduct work in, and out of class. Vector graphic software will also be used to compose work, manipulate technical drawings and illustrate plans and sections for portfolio use.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S201 Interior Design Studio I
Prerequisites:
Take ADF-S152 and ADI-S110; Take ADI-S106 or ADI-S205; Take ADF-S143 or ADF-S166
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio introduces students to basic design principles, design theory and concept development. Emphasis will be placed on design process, problem solving, spatial organization, anthropometrics, universal design awareness, and presentation techniques. Students will be given a series of projects of increasing complexity, utilizing and building upon the skills developed in the Foundation courses. Students will be expected to produce process diagrams, plans, elevations, models, and finish boards.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S202 Residential Design Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI S201 AND ADF S102
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course addresses residential interior environments on a large scale. Students will develop client contact and programming skills. Emphasis will be placed on residential precedents, design process, human factors, accessibility, building codes, diagramming, spatial organization, detailing, presentation techniques, furnishings, finishes and lighting.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S215 Human Factors & Universal Design
Credits:
3.00
Description:
In this course, students will explore how physiological and psychological factors inform the design of space. Students participate in a series of design challenges that explore topics such as anthropometrics, ergonomics, and proxemics. The seven principles of universal design will be examined through a sequence of charrette exercises. Students will solicit input from User-Experts and employ a more inclusive design process to develop equitable design solutions. In doing so, culture, gender, age, and physical ability will be identified as catalysts for creativity and innovation.
-
ADI-223 History of Furniture & Architecture
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This course provides students with the skills to critically analyze historic styles and examine the impact they have had on design. Emphasis will be placed on chronological periods, from antiquity to the 21st century. By examining visual characteristics of each time period, the course reveals how geography, culture and societal values have shaped furniture and architecture for centuries. The course also introduces terminology germane to a study of contemporary furniture and architecture styles. Using the city of Boston as a reference point, students will explore issues of preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive re-use in order to identify how the region's design landscape is adapting to environmental and social demands.
-
ADI-234 History & Theory of Interior Architecture
Prerequisites:
Taken concurrently with ADI S201
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the important individuals, ideas and issues that have shaped the direction of contemporary interior design practice in the twentieth century, building upon the historical foundation established by the Ideas of Western Art and History of Furniture and Architecture classes. Intermixing lectures and readings with visits to important local buildings, it discusses the influences of culture, technology, fashion and media upon the work and thinking of the first generation of modern designers, as well as emerging social, moral and environmental imperatives that will form the basis of future practice; cultural identity, interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability and universal design.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
-
ADI-242 Interior Codes & Construction
Prerequisites:
Prerequisite: ADI S110 or S510.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course examines various interior construction assemblies of non-load-bearing walls, load-bearing walls, floors, stairs, elevators, fireplaces, ceilings, doors, interior windows, frames, millwork and fire-related construction. Emphasis will be placed on building codes including state, BOCA, Underwriters Laboratory, ASTM, state and federal accessibility codes and construction materials. Students will also be introduced to basic structural concepts and characteristics of structural materials.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-244 Interior Materials & Finishes
Prerequisites:
Intended for majors only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Students will study the visual qualities, technical characteristics and applications of the common materials and finishes used in interior installations. These materials include floor coverings, wall coverings, textiles, ceiling and sustainable materials. Related fire, health and safety codes, as well as maintenance and life cycle costs, will be discussed. Class material will be presented in the form of lectures, guest speakers and a tour of the Boston Design Center. Students will learn to analyze, select and specify materials and finishes for the appropriate applications, write specifications, and prepare a resource notebook.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-254 Lighting
Prerequisites:
Prior drafting or CAD experience recommended
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the art and technology of lighting and explores the use of lighting as a design element in the interior environment. Class material will be presented as a series of lectures, readings and demonstrations. Students will learn to analyze interior lighting installations, calculate lighting levels for interiors, select appropriate light fixtures and prepare a lighting plan based on one of their studio projects.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S264 Advanced Interior Design Communication
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S106 and ADI-S110 (Required) Take ADF-S101 (Recommended)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
As a continuation of the Interior Design Communication course, students will develop proficiency in communicating aspects of the design process. These process skills include digital wireframe modeling and manual drawings enhanced by digital tools. Students will employ three-dimensional rendering software to enhance perspectives and create walk-through visualizations of their digital models. Movie editing software will be used to create multimedia presentations and students will learn to employ a variety of media formats for presenting their work.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S304 Furniture and Detailing Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI S201, ADI S264
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the design process as it applies to furniture, addressing furniture ergonomics, materials, construction techniques, manufacturing and design. Students will research selected topics, and design seating, work/service pieces and cabinetry. Emphasis will be placed on furniture precedents, research, design process, human factors, accessibility, detailing, documentation and presentation techniques.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-352 Environmental Systems
Prerequisites:
ADI 242
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course studies mechanical, electrical, and plumbing technology and systems commonly employed in residential and commercial interiors. It will introduce students to the vocabulary, concepts and basic components of these fields of engineering. This will enable students to integrate these building systems in their design work and communicate ideas effectively with project engineers and contractors. The course will include commonly used heating, ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing piping and fixtures, fire sprinklers, electrical supply and distribution, smoke detection and fire alarm systems. Related mechanical, electrical and plumbing codes will also be discussed.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Interior Architecture Requirements (12 courses, 30 credits)
-
ADI-706 Graduate Portfolio
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course provides students with the opportunity to compose a professional folio as well as prepare their Thesis process studies for the final exit portfolio review. Students will address key elements of portfolio content. Through in-class demonstrations and hands-on exercises, students explore mock up, layout and compositional techniques. In addition to composing their final Thesis studies, students will employ more advanced concepts pertinent to the composition and printing of multi-page documents.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-808 3-Dimensional Color Theory
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S847 concurrently (Required) Take ADI-S202 (Recommended)
Credits:
1.00
Description:
The lecture component of this course will explore color's influence on the physiological and psychological disposition of human beings. In-class discussions and short exercises will provide students with hands-on exploration of these concepts in relation to their Thesis Studio project. In doing so elements of color theory will be made relevant to each participants own work. Terminologies pertinent to color theory will be explored in context to their use in the built environment.
-
ADI-840 Thesis Research
Prerequisites:
ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772; Open to graduate students only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Students are expected to identify a thesis topic, conduct research, interpret it abstractly, identify an appropriate design vehicle that will prove the thesis, then program the project, select a site, and begin pre-schematic design. The course is conducted in seminar format and is dedicated to self-directed independent research. Students learn research techniques, fact finding, scholarly writing conventions, and information organization, and are exposed to philosophical arguments that attempt to establish rules of language regarding design and art. Aesthetic theory, research, abstraction and programming are addressed as the basis of design. During class discussions, close attention is given to the construction of a thesis, preparation of its argument, and justification. Graduate candidates must earn a grade of B- or better in ADI 840, inclusive of any continuation courses, in order to proceed to ADI S842.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S842 Interior Design Thesis Studio
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772;ADI 840
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Comprised an independent project executed by each student working with a team of advisors. Realization of the thesis project includes schematic design, design development and a final thesis presentation. Students must demonstrate an understanding of the historical, technological and aesthetic parameters of interior architecture and design. Students must demonstrate independence in relationship to their own design process and ability to realize an interior design project. Students unable to successfully complete the design development review will be required to enroll in the subsequent Thesis Studio Continuation. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-844 Thesis Documentation
Prerequisites:
ADI S842 Open to graduate students only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course represents the final phase of the thesis process and constitutes the conclusion of the Master's program sequence. Having defined the design problem, and completed the research and design portions, the student will then document the project in written and visual form. The components will include construction documents and specifications, as well as a book in which the thesis proposal and results are composed in both text and images. The MAID thesis document serves as an exposition of the process and nature of the thesis program and ultimately serves as a resource of interior design research for the greater design community. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S847 Digital Visualization
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-808 concurrently (Required) Take ADI-S264 (Recommended)
Credits:
2.00
Description:
This course provides a platform for developing computer generated rendering skills pertinent to the Thesis Studio projects. Demonstrations and assignments will enable students to build upon familiar orthographic and perspective rendering techniques. Participants will employ new software and examine add-ons to more familiar digital tools. In doing so, students will enhance their ability to represent materiality, reflectivity, illumination, shade and shadow.
-
ADI-849 Entrepreneurship With Internship
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will cover the business aspects of interior design, including firm management, client and contractor relationships, project management, proposal writing, and market resourcing. In addition, students will explore career planning practices and consider the importance of independent entrepreneurship. Strategies for creating physical and online portfolios will be covered along with resume composition. Participants will gain exposure to a variety of professional design and advocacy groups. Students will also participate in network and interviewing sessions with design professionals. Although students may complete the required internship hours prior to taking this course, every participant will systematically analyze their experiences of practice, characterizing the business models within which they have worked.
-
ADI-851 Style, Culture, & Theory
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S853 concurrently (Required) Take ADI-S202 (Recommended)
Credits:
1.00
Description:
Students will learn how style culture and theory influence, or inform, the adaptation of buildings. Students evaluate two sites and establish criteria for determining the capacity of each to accommodate a new program of use. Students identify existing documentation for these buildings and create a weighting system to compare and contrast the two. Lectures, readings and research exercises enable students to assess geographic, environmental and technological conditions of each site and depict these conditions in a variety of maps and diagrams.
-
ADI-S852 Urban Ecology Studio: The Workplace
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S202 (Recommended)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio focuses on the design of work environments. The course will explore the history of the workplace and the social, economic and cultural factors that will shape our relationship to work in the future. Students will develop research, programming and planning skills unique to these environments. In doing so students will consider how workplaces integrate human factors, building codes, accessibility and regulatory requirements through spatial organization, detailing, furnishing systems, equipment, finishes, and lighting.
-
ADI-S853 Advanced Lighting Studies
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-851 concurrently
Credits:
2.00
Description:
This course enables students to apply advanced technical information, and creative approaches, to lighting design. Students will study natural and artificial lighting techniques and consider the ways in which both impact the human experience of space. Color, lamp source, measurement methods, and lighting control systems will be addressed. Students will apply these topics to a studio exercise in order to better understand how site and planning constraints inform the designers lighting strategy.
-
ADI-S854 Design Documentation
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Building on the curriculum of Digital Orthographics, students will gain a more in-depth knowledge of computer aided design and building information modeling software. Students will employ new and familiar computer programs to draft, organize and compile a set of construction drawings. The course requires students to manage more complex layers of information and develop strategies for managing their work virtually.
-
ADI-S855 Urban Ecology Studio: Living Systems
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S852
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio focuses on the design of environments for health and wellness. The course will conduct research into existing precedents in order to understand the social, economic and cultural factors that shape the way we design for human wellbeing. Students will develop research, programming and planning for a multi-faceted facility. In doing so students will consider how health and wellness integrate human factors, building codes, accessibility and regulatory requirements through spatial organization, detailing, furnishing systems, equipment, finishes, and lighting. Students will explore the physiology of the human being and consider how complex systems can be addressed at a human and architectural scale. Using the city of Boston as a platform for inquiry students will engage with a variety of stakeholders to better understand this evolving field of inquiry.
Thesis
The Master’s program culminates with the completion of the master’s thesis, an original interior architecture project that focuses on selected aspects of design theory and aesthetics. Thesis Research (ADI-840), Thesis Design (ADI-S842), and Thesis Documentation (ADI-844) are intended as the final three courses in the Master’s program curriculum sequence. Successful completion of Thesis Research is a prerequisite for enrollment in Thesis Design and successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for Thesis Documentation.
Portfolio Review and Thesis Exhibition
Master's candidates who need to complete leveling coursework will be subject to the same policies regarding regularly scheduled portfolio reviews as undergraduate students. Master's students are required to complete an exit portfolio review and participate in the Graduate Student Exhibition.
Note: The letter "S" preceding a course number indicates a studio course. A studio fee is assessed for all studio courses.
Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
-
MAIA Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning Goals
Students will... |
Learning Objectives
Interior Architecture students will be able to... |
| Gain comprehensive knowledge of design theory, history, communication and design skills, sustainable and socially responsible design. |
- Have a foundation in the fundamental of art and design; theories of design, sustainable design and human behavior and discipline related history
- Understand and apply the knowledge, skills, processes, and theories of interior design
|
| Gain career oriented education. |
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate design ideas effectively
- Develop the attitudes, traits, and values of professional responsibility, accountability, and effectiveness
|
| Demonstrate problem solving. |
- Design within the context of the building systems
- Use appropriate materials and products
|
| Demonstrate critical reflection, independent inquiry, and imaginative interdisciplinary design solutions. |
- Foster creativity and innovation in their work
- Apply the laws, codes, regulations, standards and practices that protect the health, safety and welfare of the public
|
Interior Architecture Graduate Courses
-
ADI-621 History of Furniture & Architecture I
Credits:
3.00
Description:
The goal of this course is the enhancement of the student's critical comprehension of historic styles and the impact they have on contemporary design solutions. The survey begins with the Egyptian period and provides an overview of the history of furniture and architecture through the mid-1700s, including ancient Greece and Rome, the Gothic and Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods. Emphasis will be placed on chronological periods, the visual characteristics of each style including regional idiosyncrasies, and the terminology germane to a study of furniture and architecture.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-622 History of Furniture & Architecture II
Prerequisites:
ADI 221 or ADI 621.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
A continuation of History of Furniture & Architecture I, this course will extend the investigation of furniture and architecture into the 20th century, while addressing issues concerning preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive re-use. Drawing on the vast resources of the city of Boston and its environs, students will become actively involved in stylistic progression, local living history, and the benefits of preserving our past for future generations. Field trips will include visits to restored Federal, Victorian and Contemporary venues.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-642 Interior Codes & Construction
Prerequisites:
Prerequisite: ADI S110 or S510
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course examines various interior construction assemblies of non-load-bearing walls, load-bearing walls, floors, stairs, elevators, fireplaces, ceilings, doors, interior windows, frames, millwork and fire-related construction. Emphasis will be placed on building codes including state, BOCA, Underwriters Laboratory, ASTM, state and federal accessibility codes and construction materials. Students will also be introduced to basic structural concepts and characteristics of structural materials.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-644 Interior Materials & Finishes
Prerequisites:
Intended for majors only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Students will study the visual qualities, technical characteristics and applications of the common materials and finishes used in interior installations. These materials include floor coverings, wall coverings, textiles, ceiling and sustainable materials. Related fire, health and safety codes, as well as maintenance and life cycle costs, will be discussed. Class material will be presented in the form of lectures, guest speakers and a tour of the Boston Design Center. Students will learn to analyze, select and specify materials and finishes for the appropriate applications, write specifications, and prepare a resource notebook.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-652 Environmental Systems
Prerequisites:
ADI 242 or ADI 642.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course studies mechanical, electrical, and plumbing technology and systems commonly employed in residential and commercial interiors. It will introduce students to the vocabulary, concepts and basic components of these fields of engineering. This will enable students to integrate these building systems in their design work and communicate ideas effectively with project engineers and contractors. The course will include commonly used heating, ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing piping and fixtures, fire sprinklers, electrical supply and distribution, smoke detection and fire alarm systems. Related mechanical, electrical and plumbing codes will also be discussed.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-654 Lighting
Prerequisites:
Prior drafting or CAD experience recommended
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the art and technology of lighting and explores the use of lighting as a design element in the interior environment. Class material will be presented as a series of lectures, readings and demonstrations. Students will learn to analyze interior lighting installations, calculate lighting levels for interiors, select appropriate light fixtures and prepare a lighting plan based on one of their studio projects.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-700 Interior Design Graduate Internship
Prerequisites:
ADI S202 OR S602 AND ADI S303 OR S603
Credits:
3.00
Description:
With the assistance of the faculty advisor, each student will identify an appropriate internship site with a local interior design firm. All interns are required to complete 150 hours of work/study within the semester, working a minimum of 8 hours per week under the direction of a qualified Interior Designer. Interns are expected to contribute to the host firm at a high level of design interaction. All interns will meet bi-weekly with the faculty advisor. The classroom seminars will reinforce new skills, share learning experiences, and answer questions or concerns. A firm site visit, production of firm profile, and participation in a professional organization are required within the seminar.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-702 Professional Practicum
Credits:
0.00
Description:
A supervised practical work experience with observation, participation, and assistance coordinated with a design professional (i.e., interior architect, interior designer, architect, developer etc.) The practicum requires completion of a minimum of 150 hours of work/study within the semester, working a minimum of 8 hours per week. Formal arrangements for practicums must be made with, and approved by, the graduate program director. Upon completion of the practicum, students must provide the graduate program director with a work experience waiver from the employer Professional Practicum work does not earn academic credit and therefore may not be used in lieu of credits required for degree completion.
-
ADI-706 Graduate Portfolio
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course provides students with the opportunity to compose a professional folio as well as prepare their Thesis process studies for the final exit portfolio review. Students will address key elements of portfolio content. Through in-class demonstrations and hands-on exercises, students explore mock up, layout and compositional techniques. In addition to composing their final Thesis studies, students will employ more advanced concepts pertinent to the composition and printing of multi-page documents.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-713 Advanced 3-Dimensional Color
Prerequisites:
ADF S143 or ADF S543
Credits:
3.00
Description:
In this course the student will explore three-dimensional aspects of color theory, including psychology, depth perception, and spatial context. Design elements of light, space, unity, and balance will be covered through lectures, in-class demonstrations, and class exercises. Criteria for color use, including contrast and harmony, will be explored for each application, with emphasis on each student's area of specialization. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Occasional
-
ADI-733 Linked Generations: Survey of Contemporary Spanish Architecture
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This seminar aims to reveal the key elements of contemporary practices by analyzing the relationship between the masters of Spanish architecture of the 20th C. and the generations following. It will focus on such figures such as Saenz de Oiza, Fisac and De la Sota, continuing with current masters such as Campo Baeza, Moneo and Navarro Baldeweg, the first generation of Spanish architects to have international recognition. More recent inheritors include Aparicio, Abalo, Herreros, Mansilla & Tunon, Nieto Sobejano and Miralles, professionals with prominent academic positions worldwide. Attention will also be given to a new generation of promising architects (Garcia Abril, Sanchez, Jaque, Virseda Vila, Fernandez) whose projects are outstanding for the rigor of their construction and sensitivity to their natural and cultural surroundings. Class lectures will be accompanied by site visits to Madrid buildings designed by these architects, as well as to the studio offices where some of them actually work, to familiarize the students with how these small-scale firms develop their projects. Students will individually carry out a conceptual analysis of a prominent building through sketching and diagrammatic modeling of its principal architectural elements, with a final presentation of the results to a panel of critics.
-
ADI-784 Interiors Marketing & Contracts
Prerequisites:
ADI S201 or ADI S601 Intended for majors only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will cover the business aspects of interior design, including management, client, and contractor relationships, project management, proposal writing, and market resourcing. In addition, students will be exposed to career planning practices, such as portfolio development, resume preparation, and interviewing techniques. Tour of architectural and interior design firms will also be included.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-808 3-Dimensional Color Theory
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S847 concurrently (Required) Take ADI-S202 (Recommended)
Credits:
1.00
Description:
The lecture component of this course will explore color's influence on the physiological and psychological disposition of human beings. In-class discussions and short exercises will provide students with hands-on exploration of these concepts in relation to their Thesis Studio project. In doing so elements of color theory will be made relevant to each participants own work. Terminologies pertinent to color theory will be explored in context to their use in the built environment.
-
ADI-835 History & Theory of Interior Architecture
Prerequisites:
ADI 621 OR ADI 221 AND ADI 222 OR ADI 622
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Much like the history of art, the history of interior design encompasses numerous styles, movements, and individual artistic contributions. It also reflects the influence of international, political, and social developments. A basic understanding of this history is important for the professional designer who often looks to the past for inspiration. This class will involve a study of historical interiors, styles and theory from several different viewpoints, examining their inherent qualities and contributions in order to better understand what constitutes a sense of place in the interior. Beginning with the Shaker movement and proceeding through the 20th century, the class will look at specific buildings, styles, movements, products, and materials that came to influence the interior space. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
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ADI-840 Thesis Research
Prerequisites:
ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772; Open to graduate students only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Students are expected to identify a thesis topic, conduct research, interpret it abstractly, identify an appropriate design vehicle that will prove the thesis, then program the project, select a site, and begin pre-schematic design. The course is conducted in seminar format and is dedicated to self-directed independent research. Students learn research techniques, fact finding, scholarly writing conventions, and information organization, and are exposed to philosophical arguments that attempt to establish rules of language regarding design and art. Aesthetic theory, research, abstraction and programming are addressed as the basis of design. During class discussions, close attention is given to the construction of a thesis, preparation of its argument, and justification. Graduate candidates must earn a grade of B- or better in ADI 840, inclusive of any continuation courses, in order to proceed to ADI S842.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-841 Thesis Research Continuation
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772; Open to graduate students only
Credits:
1.00- 3.00
Description:
Continuation is intended for students who the Thesis Research faculty has determined are in need of additional research work prior to enrollment in ADI S842. Credit amounts can vary depending on research progress and will be determined by the Thesis faculty and the Program Director. Students are limited to a maximum of 3 credits of research continuation.
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ADI-844 Thesis Documentation
Prerequisites:
ADI S842 Open to graduate students only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course represents the final phase of the thesis process and constitutes the conclusion of the Master's program sequence. Having defined the design problem, and completed the research and design portions, the student will then document the project in written and visual form. The components will include construction documents and specifications, as well as a book in which the thesis proposal and results are composed in both text and images. The MAID thesis document serves as an exposition of the process and nature of the thesis program and ultimately serves as a resource of interior design research for the greater design community. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-845 Thesis Documentation Continuation
Prerequisites:
ADI S842 Open to graduate students only
Credits:
1.00- 3.00
Description:
This course represents the final phase of the thesis process and constitutes the conclusion of the Master's program sequence. Having defined the design problem, and completed the research and design portions, the student will then document the project in written and visual form. The components will include construction documents and specifications, as well as a book in which the thesis proposal and results are composed in both text and images. The MAID thesis document serves as an exposition of the process and nature of the thesis program and ultimately serves as a resource of interior design research for the greater design community. Open to graduate students only.
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ADI-849 Entrepreneurship With Internship
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will cover the business aspects of interior design, including firm management, client and contractor relationships, project management, proposal writing, and market resourcing. In addition, students will explore career planning practices and consider the importance of independent entrepreneurship. Strategies for creating physical and online portfolios will be covered along with resume composition. Participants will gain exposure to a variety of professional design and advocacy groups. Students will also participate in network and interviewing sessions with design professionals. Although students may complete the required internship hours prior to taking this course, every participant will systematically analyze their experiences of practice, characterizing the business models within which they have worked.
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ADI-851 Style, Culture, & Theory
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S853 concurrently (Required) Take ADI-S202 (Recommended)
Credits:
1.00
Description:
Students will learn how style culture and theory influence, or inform, the adaptation of buildings. Students evaluate two sites and establish criteria for determining the capacity of each to accommodate a new program of use. Students identify existing documentation for these buildings and create a weighting system to compare and contrast the two. Lectures, readings and research exercises enable students to assess geographic, environmental and technological conditions of each site and depict these conditions in a variety of maps and diagrams.
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ADI-900 Interior Design Graduate Directed Study
Prerequisites:
Open to graduate students only. Consent of Program Director required.
Credits:
1.00- 6.00
Description:
Directed study allows students to pursue an in-depth research project in an area of particular interest, directed by a qualified graduate faculty member. Program Director and Chairman consent required. Open to graduate students only. Normally offered each semester.
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ADI-910 Interior Design Independent St
Prerequisites:
Approval of Program Director and NESADSU Chairman
Credits:
1.00- 6.00
Description:
An Independent Study provides the student with the opportunity to examine an issue of interest that falls outside the parameters of the exsisting curricula. The student will work on a one-on-one basis with a full time faculty memeber to realize a particular and well defined goal. All proposals for Independent Study must be approved by the Dean's Office in advance of the beginning of the semester during which the work will be completed.
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ADI-S506 Interior Design Communications
Prerequisites:
ADF S101 or ADF S501; and ADI S108 or ADI S508 or ADI S205
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Interior Design Communications teaches students how drawing media, observational drawing, perspective theory, color and design graphics can be integrated into the designer's process. In addition to exploring contrast, accent, reflection, shade and shadow, the course underscores the importance of freehand sketching as a tool to foster intellectual inquiry and convey design concepts to a wider audience. The course introduces students to manual and digital methods for composing work for presentation and portfolio purposes.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S508 Perspective Principles
Prerequisites:
Prior or concurrent drawing experience
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the systems of perspective developed during the Renaissance as a means of creating the illusion of 3-dimensional space on a 2-dimensional surface. Using 1-, 2-, and 3-point perspective, students will learn to effectively render the illusion of space. Students will learn a variety of creative architectural drawing techniques using various media, and both free-hand sketching and technical rendering methods will be emphasized.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S510 Digital Orthographics
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S108 or ADI-S508 OR ADI-S205;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
To make ideas become reality, designers must create drawings that accurately communicate the finished project. This course will enable the student to produce 2-dimensional drawings that accurately depict the length, width, breadth, and height of the interior space, object, or project. Students will acquire the skills necessary for measured plans, elevations, and sections as well as isometric and axonometric drawing types. Both hand drafting and digital drawing techniques (CAD) will be included. Projects will be organized in increasing complexity as skills are mastered.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S601 Interior Design Studio I
Prerequisites:
Take ADF S552 and ADI S510; Take ADF S543 or ADF S166; Take ADI S506 or ADI S205
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio introduces students to basic design principles, design theory and concept development. Emphasis will be placed on design process, problem solving, spatial organization, anthropometrics, universal design awareness, and presentation techniques. Students will be given a series of projects of increasing complexity, utilizing and building upon the skills developed in the Foundation courses. Students will be expected to produce process diagrams, plans, elevations, models, and finish boards.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S602 Residential Design Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI S201 or ADI S601 AND ADF S102 OR ADF S502
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course addresses residential interior environments on a large scale. Students will develop client contact and programming skills. Emphasis will be placed on residential precedents, design process, human factors, accessibility, building codes, diagramming, spatial organization, detailing, presentation techniques, furnishings, finishes and lighting.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S603 Contract Design I
Prerequisites:
ADF S102 or S502, ADI S201 or S601, ADI 242 or 642, and ADI S264 or S664
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This commercial design studio focuses on the design of work environments. Students will develop programming and space planning skills unique to these environments through a series of small- to medium-sized projects. Emphasis will be placed on commercial precedents, programming, design process, human factors, building codes, ADA, spatial organization, detailing, presentation techniques, office furniture systems, equipment, finishes and lighting.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S604 Furniture & Detailing Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI S201 or S601 and ADI S264 or S664.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course introduces students to the design process as it applies to furniture, addressing furniture ergonomics, materials, construction techniques, manufacturing and design. Students will research selected topics, and design seating, work/service pieces and cabinetry. Emphasis will be placed on furniture precedents, research, the design process, human factors, accessibility, detailing, documentation and presentation techniques.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S605 Contract Design Studio II
Prerequisites:
ADI S202 or ADI S602 and ADI S303 or ADI S603 and ADI 221 or ADI 621 and ADI 222 or ADI 622 AND ADI S110 OR ADI S510.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio focuses on adaptive re-use and renovation of commercial interiors with attention given to historical buildings in the Boston area. Emphasis on creative problem-solving methods and a philosophical approach to medium- and large-scale hospitality and retail design projects. Students will be required to incorporate the skills and knowledge gained throughout their studies to create a comprehensive project, including presentation drawings, models, material and furniture boards, and a set of construction documents and specifications.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S664 Advanced Interior Design Communications
Prerequisites:
ADI S110 or ADI S510.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course is designed to advance and reinforce presentation techniques and graphic technical skills introduced in Interior Design Communications. Students will continue to develop their proficiency in free hand sketching, rendering and perspective, and will learn various three-dimensional rendering software and other digital imaging techniques.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S766 Environmental Graphic Design
Prerequisites:
ADI S772
Credits:
3.00
Description:
A cross disciplinary course bringing together interior design students and graphic design students at the masters level to collaborate on problem solving in the visual and built environments. In the studio, students will be exposed to design issues and problems, both experiential and graphic. Students will be working in teams bringing new insight to solutions for a variety of client/project types. Field trips to fabricators, professional firms and EGD sites will be included. This is a survey class designed to introduce students to ways of producing three dimensional graphic design projects within the built environment.
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ADI-S772 Construction Documents
Prerequisites:
ADI S110 or ADI S510, ADI S201 or ADI S601
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Building on the curriculum of Orthogonal Drawing, this course will explore in more detail the features of CAD and BIM software. Programs will be used as tools to draft, organize, and produce a set of construction documents. Students will complete a full set of contract documents.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S805 Form Study & Model Making
Prerequisites:
ADF S151 OR ADF S551
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio course is dedicated to the study of form in the three dimensions: length, breadth, and depth. Students will explore form at a conceptual level that will translate in future studios as it is applied to the built environment. They will look at the role of scale, light, texture, negative space, and proportion, as well as thematic and structural relationships in the creation of forms.
Term:
Occasional
-
ADI-S810 Advanced Lighting Design Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI S201 OR S601, ADI S202 OR S602, ADI S303 OR S603 AND ADI 254 or ADI 654, Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Advanced Lighting Design Studio applies technical and creative theories about lighting design. The class will look at natural and artificial systems of light and the ways in which they impact the experience of inner space. Specifically, color, lamp source, measurement methods, and control will be addressed. Lighting will be explored as an extension of aesthetic intent. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Occasional
-
ADI-S815 Human Factors & Universal Design
Prerequisites:
ADI S202 or ADI S602 and ADI 242 or ADI 642 and ADI S303 or ADI S603 and ADI S304 or ADI S604 and ADI S305 or ADI S605 and ADI 352 or ADI 652. Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772; Open to graduate students only
Credits:
3.00
Description:
The physiology and psychology of the client/user is one of the main factors influencing the design of the environment. This studio will present design problems that explore issues of ergonomics and proxemics as they apply to interior design. Universal design, design that creates accessibility, will be the context for the studio design problem(s). Discussions will cover the following: interaction of environment and the user's culture, genre, stage of life cycle, and physical capabilities. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
-
ADI-S820 Advanced Materials & Methods Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI 242/642, ADI 244/644, ADI S303/S603, ADI S305/S605, and ADI 352/652. Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772; Open to graduate students only.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio provides students with a more sophisticated understanding of structural and constructional issues and their impact on the design and planning of interior environments. The studio studies the influence of choices of materials on methods of construction and detailing, requiring students to identify and resolve construction-related issues by putting together a set of detailed construction drawings. Students sketch and analyze the works of prominent designers, and conduct precedent and market research to locate and specify materials, products, and technical information. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
-
ADI-S825 History & Style Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI 221/621, ADI 222/622, ADI S303/S603, and ADI S305/S605. Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772; Open to graduate students only.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Interior design does not exist in a vacuum, but is embodied in the historical agenda of its time. In History & Style Studio, we will explore the catalysts of style and design throughout particular periods of modern design history and will analyze those movements' influences through readings, discussions, slide lectures, films, and design projects. Projects dealing with residential, hospitality, and retail environments as well as the purely conceptual, will deal with stylistic and influential issues and solutions and will draw on precedents of style for inspiration. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Summer
-
ADI-S830 3-D Visualization Studio
Prerequisites:
ADI S372/S772. Open to graduate students only.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will develop a student's ability to visualize their designs through a digital medium. Software such as AutoCAD, 3D Studio Viz R3, and PhotoShop will be the vehicles used to produce a series of images and animation sequences to illustrate students' designs. This class is lab intensive.
Term:
Occasional
-
ADI-S837 Sustainable Design
Prerequisites:
TAKE ADI-S602, ADI-642, ADI-S603, ADI-S604, ADI-S605 ADI-652 AND ADI-S772;
Credits:
3.00
Description:
The design community, along with society as a whole, has become aware that a new, more bio-friendly approach to design must be taken if we are to stop polluting our earth, wasting energy and resources, and jeopardizing our own health and that of other species. Design firms are therefore being looked to for expertise in these areas, and educated designers must be conversant with both the design strategies and building technologies associated with environmentally responsible structures and spaces. This studio course is designed to acquaint students with the implementation strategies for such design, through a series of lectures, case studies, and projects.
Term:
Occasional
-
ADI-S842 Interior Design Thesis Studio
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772;ADI 840
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Comprised an independent project executed by each student working with a team of advisors. Realization of the thesis project includes schematic design, design development and a final thesis presentation. Students must demonstrate an understanding of the historical, technological and aesthetic parameters of interior architecture and design. Students must demonstrate independence in relationship to their own design process and ability to realize an interior design project. Students unable to successfully complete the design development review will be required to enroll in the subsequent Thesis Studio Continuation. Open to graduate students only.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
-
ADI-S843 Thesis Studio Continuation
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S372 OR ADI-S772;ADI 840
Credits:
1.00- 3.00
Description:
Continuation is intended for students who the Thesis Studio faculty has determined are in need of additional thesis studio work prior to enrollment in ADI 844. Credit amounts can vary depending on studio progress and will be determined by the Thesis facutly and Program Director. Students are limited to a maximum of 3 credits of studio continuation.
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ADI-S847 Digital Visualization
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-808 concurrently (Required) Take ADI-S264 (Recommended)
Credits:
2.00
Description:
This course provides a platform for developing computer generated rendering skills pertinent to the Thesis Studio projects. Demonstrations and assignments will enable students to build upon familiar orthographic and perspective rendering techniques. Participants will employ new software and examine add-ons to more familiar digital tools. In doing so, students will enhance their ability to represent materiality, reflectivity, illumination, shade and shadow.
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ADI-S852 Urban Ecology Studio: The Workplace
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S202 (Recommended)
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio focuses on the design of work environments. The course will explore the history of the workplace and the social, economic and cultural factors that will shape our relationship to work in the future. Students will develop research, programming and planning skills unique to these environments. In doing so students will consider how workplaces integrate human factors, building codes, accessibility and regulatory requirements through spatial organization, detailing, furnishing systems, equipment, finishes, and lighting.
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ADI-S853 Advanced Lighting Studies
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-851 concurrently
Credits:
2.00
Description:
This course enables students to apply advanced technical information, and creative approaches, to lighting design. Students will study natural and artificial lighting techniques and consider the ways in which both impact the human experience of space. Color, lamp source, measurement methods, and lighting control systems will be addressed. Students will apply these topics to a studio exercise in order to better understand how site and planning constraints inform the designers lighting strategy.
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ADI-S854 Design Documentation
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Building on the curriculum of Digital Orthographics, students will gain a more in-depth knowledge of computer aided design and building information modeling software. Students will employ new and familiar computer programs to draft, organize and compile a set of construction drawings. The course requires students to manage more complex layers of information and develop strategies for managing their work virtually.
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ADI-S855 Urban Ecology Studio: Living Systems
Prerequisites:
Take ADI-S852
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This studio focuses on the design of environments for health and wellness. The course will conduct research into existing precedents in order to understand the social, economic and cultural factors that shape the way we design for human wellbeing. Students will develop research, programming and planning for a multi-faceted facility. In doing so students will consider how health and wellness integrate human factors, building codes, accessibility and regulatory requirements through spatial organization, detailing, furnishing systems, equipment, finishes, and lighting. Students will explore the physiology of the human being and consider how complex systems can be addressed at a human and architectural scale. Using the city of Boston as a platform for inquiry students will engage with a variety of stakeholders to better understand this evolving field of inquiry.
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ADI-S900 Interior Design Directed Studio
Prerequisites:
Approval of Program Director and NESADSU Chairman
Credits:
1.00- 6.00
Description:
Directed study/studio allows students to pursue an in-depth research project in an area of particular interest, directed by a qualified graduate faculty member. Open to graduate students only. Normally offered each semester.
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ADI-S910 Interior Design Ind Study
Prerequisites:
Approval of Program Director and NESADSU Chairman
Credits:
1.00- 3.00
Description:
An Independent Study provides the student with the opportunity to examine an issue of interest that falls outside the parameters of the existing curricula. The student will work on a one-on-one basis with a full time faculty member to realize a particular and well defined goal. All proposals for Independent Study must be approved by the Dean's Office in advance of the beginning of the semester during which the work will be completed.
Foundation Courses
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ADF-110 Discovering Boston's Art and Design
Credits:
2.00
Description:
Explore, investigate and savor Boston's rich variety of visual art and design with Professor Brown, New England School of Art & Design Program Director and practicing multi-media artist, as your guide. Visit museums, galleries and artists' studios and meet professional designers in their work spaces. Exercise your own creativity too, with fun cell phone photo tours of the Boston waterfront and the Italian North End and Beacon Hill neighborhoods. Throughout the course, you will create a visual journal in collage to record your own unique experiences in Boston's world of art and design. A studio fee of $40 applies. This course does not fulfill core requirements.
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ADF-181 Ideas of Western Art I
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This course will survey the major concepts and issues of Western Art, from prehistoric to the Early Renaissance. Architecture, sculpture and paintings will be studied individually for their formal elements and visual importance, and also within their own aesthetic, historic and cultural context. Class discussion and visual analysis of works of art will encourage personal interpretation and critical thinking.
Term:
Offered Fall Term
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ADF-182 Ideas of Western Art II
Credits:
4.00
Description:
This course will survey the major concepts and issues of Western Art, from Renaissance to contemporary art. Architecture, sculpture and paintings will be studied individually for their formal elements and visual importance, and also within their own aesthetic, historic and cultural context. Class discussion and visual analysis of works of art will encourage personal interpretation and critical thinking.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
-
ADF-S101 Foundation Drawing I
Prerequisites:
Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course concentrates on the traditional techniques of observational drawing. Fundamental principles and elements of drawing are introduced in structured lessons and exercises, which are supplemented by additional outside assignments. Foundation Drawing I stresses the development of visual skills as well as the broad use of drawing concepts, vocabulary, techniques and variety of materials.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Type:
Arts Admin Minor Elective
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ADF-S102 Foundation Drawing II
Prerequisites:
ADF S101; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course will refine the basic visual skills developed in Foundation Drawing I (ADF S101). The elements of color and mixed media are introduced to expand technical possibilities, while more intensive work with the nude human figure provides exposure to gesture, structure and complex form. As students begin to develop a more sophisticated and personal approach, issues of expression and interpretation will be investigated, focusing on personal style and expression.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
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ADF-S123 Painting
Prerequisites:
ADF S101, ADF S166
Credits:
3.00
Description:
In this introductory course, students will learn to accurately perceive relationships of shape, form, color and value, and to translate that information through the medium of paint. In a series of in-class and outside projects on canvas, prepared paper and panel, students will explore various approaches to the use of acrylic and oil paint. Emphasis will be placed on the development of disciplined technical skills as well as the exploration of painting's potential as a medium of communication and creative visual expression.
Term:
Offered Spring Term
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ADF-S152 3-Dimensional Design
Prerequisites:
ADF S166; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course focuses on the fundamental elements of three-dimensional form. Line, plane and volume will be explored as students develop visual analysis and critical thinking skills in the round. The role of scale, proportion, structure, surface, light and display will be addressed, as students create forms that activate space and engage the viewer. The course will proceed from work with simple forms and techniques to more challenging and comprehensive problems addressing both additive and subtractive methods.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
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ADF-S156 Imaging
Prerequisites:
ADF S166; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
Digital visual image generation and modification, especially when combined with traditional hand techniques, are essential skills for artists and designers of the 21st century. This course introduces techniques of image capture, manipulation and output. Weekly and longer-length assignments will address creative and innovative idea generation using these approaches.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
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ADF-S166 2D/Color
Prerequisites:
Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This is an introductory-level course in the basic concepts and practices of two-dimensional design and color theory. The study of color and design is supportive of all studio disciplines and is vital to the understanding of all visual media. This course features an intensive, hands-on approach to color and design as students create, modify and master the three dimensions of color (hue, value, and strength) plus the principles of design(line, shape, value, composition and image). This in-depth study is essential and underlies all of the visual arts as they are practiced today. An understanding of color and design influences all artists' decisions, affecting the look, meaning and use of visual phenomena.
Type:
Arts Admin Minor Elective
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ADF-S171 CI: Integrated Studio 1
Prerequisites:
Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This cross-disciplinary course will integrate the ideas and practices of two-dimensional design, color and drawing emphasis will be placed on understanding the creative process, exploring concepts and developing research skills. Students will undertake individual and collaborative projects in three spaces; the studio classroom, the digital world and the city at large.
Type:
Creativity and Innovation,Arts Admin Minor Elective
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ADF-S172 CI: Integrated Studio II
Prerequisites:
ADF S101; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.
Credits:
3.00
Description:
This course builds on the Integrated Studio 1 experience: synthesizing fundamental visual ideas. IS 2 investigates the construction, documentation, and transformation of volumetric form, environmental space, and time. Projects will explore narrative strategies and the creation of immersive experiences. Students will develop critical and analytical skills while employing a range of traditional and digital media as they explore the creative boundaries of the classroom studio, the city of Boston, and virtual space.
Type:
Creativity and Innovation
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ARH-101 Art History I
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Surveys the art of Western civilization from prehistoric caves to medieval cathedrals. Considers works from the Ancient Near East, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, the Byzantine Era, the Romanesque Period, and the Gothic Period in their historical contexts. Introduces students to formal analysis, iconography, and critical thinking.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
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ARH-102 Art History II
Credits:
4.00
Description:
Surveys the art of Europe and America from the Renaissance to the present. Considers work of painting, sculpture, and architecture from periods such as the Renaissance, the Baroque, the Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Abstract Impressionism, and Post-Modernism in their historical contexts. Introduces students to formal analysis, iconography, and critical thinking.
Term:
Offered Both Fall and Spring
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester: March 15 (priority), then rolling
Spring Semester: October 15 (priority), then rolling
Summer Semester: April 1 (priority), then rolling
Learn about the advantages of priority applications.
Application Materials
-
Completed online application
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$50 application fee
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Resume
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Goal statement (essay)
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Two letters of recommendation (Learn more)
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Portfolio (12-15 pieces of recent original artwork) submitted via the online application
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Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE-Academic scores (international students only)
