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Master of Arts (MA) in Design
with Concentration in Interior Design for Sustainability
(MA for Sustainability)
FAQs for Current UNT Interior Design Students
Updated by April 20, 2015
The following are frequently asked questions about the MA in Design with Concentration in Interior
Design for Sustainability (MA for Sustainability), Grad Track Degree program in the College of Visual
Arts & Design (CVAD) at the University of North Texas (UNT). The Department of Design offers a
Grad Track option for the existing UNT undergraduate student with a major in Interior Design.
What is a Grad Track Degree program?
Grad Track refers to an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree program designed to allow
exceptional undergraduate students to use up to four graduate courses taken (up to 12 credits) as an
undergraduate to apply towards completing the undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Grad
Track classes taken as an undergraduate will be charged on the undergraduate tuition and fee
schedule.
How do I apply to the MA for Sustainability program?
At this time, the admission process for the MA for Sustainability program will be handled by the
Department of Design at CVAD. Please fill out the Grad Track Pathways: Conditional Admission and
Advisor Course Approval Form and submit the form to the office of Department of Design, ART 237.
What are minimum qualifications for the MA for Sustainability program admission?
In this Grad Track option, the student will take a maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate courses
while the student is completing the BFA in Interior Design degree. These credits will be counted
towards both the BFA and the MA for Sustainability degrees. Prior to registering for these courses,
the student must have been admitted into the Grad Track option.
Admission to the Grad Track Option:
1. Interior Design undergraduate students at UNT must have completed at least 75 credit hours
of undergraduate coursework or the equivalent before students can apply for admission to
the program.
2. Admission requirements include an official transcript, a statement of purpose articulating a
topic of sustainable design project/research interest and future career goals upon completion
of the master degree and two letters of recommendation from program faculty members in
the major area attesting to the student’s ability to successfully engage in graduate level
course work.
3. All Grad Track students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2, with a minimum 3.5 in the
following classes: ADES 3620, 3635, 3640, and 3645.
4. Grad Track students must also meet all admission criteria established by the Toulouse
Graduate School, with the exception of the completion of the baccalaureate degree.
5. The application will be reviewed by the entire Interior Design Faculty.
6. After completing at least 90 hours of the undergraduate program, the accepted Grad Track
student will be allowed to take the following graduate level courses : ADES 5630: INTD Space
Planning IV which will substitute for ADES 4630, ADES 5632: INTD Space Planning V which will
substitute for ADES 4640, ADES 5520: Design Research Methods and ADES 5515: Critical
Writing, both of which will substitute for elective credit.
7. The student admitted to the Grad Track Option will be admitted into the MA program on a
conditional basis. Once the student has satisfied all course work for the BFA degree and
maintained a 3.2 or higher GPA, they will be fully admitted to the MA program.
8. Undergraduate students who have been accepted to the Grad Track option must complete all
of their bachelor's degree requirements within 12 months of the first day of the semester in
which they start taking graduate courses, or enrollment in graduate level coursework will be
suspended.
9. The Grad Track student must enroll in graduate school in the first long semester following the
completion of the BFA degree. If the student fails to enroll in the first long semester upon
competion of the BFA degree, the graduate course credit hours taken during the
undergraduate degree will not apply to to the MA degree, even if the student returns to
graduate school in the future.
10. Grad Track students, once enrolled in the MA program, must complete the MA degree in the
following academic year without leaving the program to complete his/her MA in Design with a
concentration in Interior Design for Sustainability. Temporary leave for the program is
reserved solely for extenuating circumstances (such as a major illness or severe family crisis)
and will be granted at the discretion of the Graduate Review Committee.
11. Grad Track students will not be eligible for most graduate prequisites including teaching and
research assistantships and related health insurance, financial aid, or graduate award
programs until the undergraduate degree is completed and the student is officially accepted
as a graduate student.
What are the application deadlines for the MA for Sustainability program?
For Fall or Summer admissions in general, January 1 for the Graduate School and February 1 for the
Department of Design; for Spring admissions, September 1 for the Graduate School and October 1 for
the Department of Design are highly suggested.
Although official application deadlines for the Graduate School are later than the department
deadlines, the above suggestions help your application materials to be reviewed smoothly. Please
note that your portfolio, professional resume, letters of recommendation, letter/statement of intent,
etc. to the department will not be reviewed until the Graduate School has completed the evaluation
of your application.
Please note that the MA for Sustainability program will not be offered for Spring semester start.
Where is the MA for Sustainability program taught?
Most of graduate courses for the MA for Sustainability will be offered in the Design Research
Collaborative (DRC) in downtown Dallas, 1901 Main Street, based on course availability and
scheduling. The DRC location will provide convenient access to the program for regional professional
design community. Since the MA for Sustainability program is located in a vital and prosperous
region with an active design community and industry professionals are available and willing to
provide support, providing more opportunities to expose and integrate the graduate students with
the regional professional community through collaborative projects will be an excellent benefit.
What's an MA?
What is the difference between MA and MFA programs at UNT?
In general, the MA (Master of Arts) is a master degree available on the graduate level in both fine
arts and design. The MA is a postgraduate degree and usually signifies that the recipient has passed
an integrated course of study in one or more of the humanities, fine arts, or design. It typically
requires two years of work beyond a bachelor's degree.
In contrast with the MA degree, the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is a terminal degree available on the
graduate level in both fine arts and design. In virtually every state in the US, the MFA is the terminal
degree required for teaching interior design in higher education.
The MA for Sustainability program at UNT was created to provide UNT interior design students and
the design community of North Texas the opportunity to acquire expanded knowledge on green and
sustainable design to enhance their professional work and careers. Although our program has
integrated this important subject across our curriculum for many years, this MA degree will add
significant competency and applicable skills for those who choose to complete the degree. It is a 36
credits program. Current UNT interior design students can complete the program within a year after
graduation of his/her bachelor program. The MA for Sustainability program is the Grad Track option
intended for our high-achieving BFA in Interior Design undergraduate students. The Grad Track
option will allow the students to get an early start for their MA program, saving both time and
money with 12 hours of double counted credits.
The UNT MFA Interior Design program curriculum is based on independent study to create new
knowledge. The student is required to have a concentrated area of study, focusing on a specific topic
in interior design and its related fields. When your research focus is identified, a major professor and
faculty committee members with expertise in your interest areas will be assigned to you. Typically,
your cohort group in seminar classes will be composed of students from other disciplines in CVAD.
The program requires self-direction and self-discipline on the part of the candidate to meet the high
standards required. The UNT MFA Interior Design program is not designed for obtaining practical
experience or certifications. You will execute a Problem In Lieu of Thesis (PILOT) study and
manuscript. The PILOT is an outcome of your research. You will prepare an exhibit of this research
based project and other relevant work for public view and defend your PILOT to your MFA
Committee. This program requires 60 credits and takes at least three or three and a half years to
complete.
Do you have a doctoral program for Interior Design?
No, we do not offer a doctoral program for Interior Design currently. The MFA in Interior Design
program is a terminal degree in fine arts and design and considered as equivalent to a Ph.D. program.
Will I write a dissertation for the MA for Sustainability?
You will not be required to write a dissertation. You will execute research based sustainable design
projects as a Practicum in Interior Design Sustainability in addition to relevant course work. You are
required to present your projects for critical evaluation and analysis by the Graduate Review
Committee.
What is the typical course load per semester? How many credits is each class worth?
The typical course load per semester ranges from 9 to 12 credits. Each class is 3 credits except a 6
credit summer class, ADES 5644 IDES: Practicum Project Preparation. For tuition and fees please see:
http://studentaccounting.unt.edu/tuition-and-fees
How long does the MA for Sustainability program take?
The MA for Sustainability is a 36 credit hour program and typically takes two years. Current interior
design students can earn the MA degree within a year after his/her bachelor graduation since up to
12 credits can be earned for the graduate program during undergraduate senior year.
Are weekends or online classes available since I’m working full time during the day?
At this time, the majority of the classes are offered between the hours of 8:00 – 5:00 pm during
weekdays. There are some evening classes but it is strongly recommended that you plan to go to
classes full-time during the day.
Are the MA and MFA programs accredited through CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation)?
No. CIDA does not accredit graduate programs because the content is too diverse and specialized for
standardization.
The UNT Interior Design undergraduate program has been continuously accredited by the Council for
Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER) beginning in 1977. CIDA provides the foundation for
excellence in the interior design profession by setting standards for education and accrediting
academic programs that meet those standards. Specific information regarding this accreditation can
be found at http://www.accredit-id.org
Is the GRE required?
Yes, but scores on the GRE do not need to be submitted during the admission process if the test has
not yet been taken. If the scores are not submitted with all other application materials, they must be
submitted prior to the end of your first semester in the MA Interior Design for Sustainability program.
If not, you will not be permitted to register for further semesters until the scores have been received.
The “general GRE” exam is required, not the “subject matter GRE.”
Although a minimum score is not required, successful students in the past have had verbal scores
above 400. The faculty members in the Department of Design consider your scores on the GRE as
another indicator of potential success in the graduate program, and therefore suggest that the test
should not be taken lightly. For information regarding locations of testing centers and testing dates,
etc., visit the GRE website at www.gre.org
These FAQs do not address all of my questions. Is there a person I could contact?
If you have additional questions, please contact the Interior Design Graduate Program Coordinator
or Design Department Office at 940-565-3621.
Phillip Park, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Interior Design Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Design
College of Visual Arts & Design
University of North Texas
[email protected]
Grad Track MA for Sustainability Course Work
Major
3 CR
3 CR
3 CR
3 CR
3 CR
3 CR
3 CR
3 CR
24 CR
ADES 5515: Critical Writing
ADES 5520: Design Research Methods
ADES 5530: Design Research Theory
ADES 5630: INTD: Space Planning IV
ADES 5632: INTD: Space Planning V
ADES 5635: INTD: Introduction to LEED Certification Systems & Accreditations
ADES 5640: INTD: Environmental Systems for Sustainability
ADES 5642: INTD: Seminar in Design Sustainability
Minor
6CR
Course decisions to be made with faculty approval
6CR
Practicum
3 CR ADES 5646: INTD: Practicum in INTD Sustainability I
3 CR ADES 5648: INTD: Practicum in INTD Sustainability II
6CR
36 CR Total