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The 36-credit, part-time evening Sustainable Interior Environments program provides expertise in environmentally responsible design. It addresses the challenge of designing for the “triple bottom line” by teaching how best to support practices and create places that are environmentally, socially, and economically sound.
The program is intended for established professionals and educators—including practicing interior designers, architects, facility planners, and managers—with at least a bachelor’s degree in their fields. Courses encompass a broad definition of sustainable design that includes an understanding of behavioral concerns, universal design, design’s impact on the global environment and economy, and design’s impact on human health. Students complete their degree studies with a research-oriented capstone project. Curriculum below is for the entering class of Fall 2016.
| Pre-Semester | ||
| SE 541 | Pro-Seminar: Critical Research and writing, verbal and visual communication and presentation skills | 0 |
| Semester 1 | ||
| SE 561 | Ecology and Human Impact | 1.5 |
| SE 562 | Environmental Behavior Research – Concepts and Applications, Segment I | 3 |
| SE 581 | Graduate Seminar: Segment I-Fundamentals | 3 |
| Winter Session 1 | ||
| SE 563 | Chemistry for Interior Environments: Seminar | 1.5 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SE 564 | Environmental Behavior Research: Research Methods-Segment II | 1.5 |
| SE 571 | Materials and Products for Sustainable Interior Environments | 3 |
| SE 582 | Graduate Seminar: Segment II-Exploration | 3 |
| Summer Session 1 | ||
| SE 521 | Survey of Sustainable Architecture and Interior Design Historical Origins | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SE 671 | Harvesting Daylight | 1.5 |
| SE 672 | Integrated Environment Systems: Air, Sound, Light | 3 |
| SE 681 | Graduate Seminar: Segment III-Analysis: Directed Research | 3 |
| Winter Session 2 | ||
| SE 661 | Universal Design and Ergonomics | 1.5 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| SE 631 | Sustainable Practice Today | 3 |
| SE 682 | Graduate Seminar: Segment IV-Future of Sustainable Interiors | 3 |
| SE 691 | Capstone: Applied Research | 1.5 |
| Total Credits | 36 |
COMMON REQUIREMENTS
All degree programs require that students maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 every semester while enrolled in the program. A student will be sent a warning notice for the first term that the 3.0 GPA is not achieved. A second term with a GPA below 3.0 will result in a limitation of registration credits or possible dismissal from the program. A final GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. Each degree program also has specific requirements for graduation.
ADVANCEMENT TO DEGREE CANDIDACY
Requirements for Candidacy
See each program’s specific degree requirements.
Eligibility to Attend Commencement Exercises
Candidates for the master’s degree at FIT must have advanced to candidacy before being permitted to attend graduation ceremonies.
Maintenance of Matriculation
To maintain matriculation, a degree candidate must register each semester following entry into a program for either (a) at least one approved course or (b) maintenance of matriculation. If a student does not maintain continuous matriculation, or does not complete all degree requirements in the time allowed, that student will be required to apply for readmission to the program following the procedures and requirements listed in the catalog of the readmission year. If readmission is granted, the student will also be required to pay all delinquent maintenance of matriculation fees prior to being awarded the degree.
Degree Requirements
General
For admittance to degree candidacy, students must have satisfied all outstanding prerequisites, completed a minimum of 36 approved course credits, achieved a final grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, and had their capstone project proposal approved. Students must have advanced to degree candidacy before being permitted to attend graduation ceremonies.
Capstone Project
Graduating students in the MA in Sustainable Interior Environments program are required to complete a master’s thesis, in the form of an academic paper or design project focusing on a specific aspect of sustainability in interior environments. Students should select a topic or project whose research and composition is manageable within a 12-month period.
It is the responsibility of the students to submit their topic proposals to the department capstone project coordinator and have them approved. Students are expected to submit their written proposals during their second semester.
Time Requirement for Degree Completion
Students will have two years to complete all degree requirements, including the capstone project. Extensions may be granted to degree candidates on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the chairperson.
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