Emphasis in Interior Design

Graduate Studies in Design and the Near Environment - Emphasis in Interior Design focuses on the profession of interior design as well as its history, theory and criticism. Research can focus on qualitative or quantitative analysis of design. For the master’s program, the interiors emphasis requires a bachelor’s degree in interior design or a related field. An undergraduate degree in another field will require undergraduate prerequisite work. This undergraduate prerequisite coursework may be taken at OSU (Note: the need to take prerequisite coursework will increase the time to degree completion). A master’s degree in Interior Design or related areas is required to pursue a doctoral degree.

What is the Near Environment?

The environment is all factors that impinge upon or influence an individual. The near environment or the immediate or personal environment is that part of the environment which is close to the individual and with which the individual interacts; our clothing, building interiors, and housing are all components of the near environment. The near environment includes the specific places and things with which an individual engages daily or regularly. The near environment has both tangible and intangible components. The focus of study for students in the School of Design and Human Environment is both the tangible products -- apparel and other textile products, interiors, housing -- and intangible aspects -- cultural and individual values and attitudes, social institutions, individual perceptions and motivations, and so forth -- of the near environment. Students in all areas of concentration study the tangible components as influenced by the intangible aspects.

The following courses are offered in support of the interior design emphasis:

DHE 532 Advanced Housing Design Studio (3 credits)
DHE 534 Housing the Aging Population (3 credits)
DHE 543 Studio III: Commercial Design (4 credits)
DHE 561 History of the Near Environment I (4 credits)
DHE 562 History of the Near Environment II (4 credits)
DHE 564 Contemporary History of Interiors and Housing (3 credits)
DHE 577 Fashion Theory (4 credits)
DHE 582 Aesthetic and Perceptual Theories of the Near Environment (2 credits)
DHE 585 Human Behavior and the Near Environment (3 credits)
DHE 665 Theories & Methods in Historical/Cultural Research of the Near Environment (3 credits)
DHE 685 Advanced Topics in Human Behavior and the Near Environment (3 credits)

Suggested Minor Areas:

Anthropology (courses such as):

ANTH 535 Cultural Resources: Policy and Procedures (3 credits)
ANTH 575 Theory of Culture (3 credits)
ANTH 577 Cultural Ecology (3 credits)
ANTH 581 Natural Resources and Community Values (3)
ANTH 585 Uses of Anthropology (3 credits)
ANTH 591 Ethnographic Methods (1–3 credits)
ANTH 593 Statistical Applications in Anthropology (1-3 credits)
ANTH 595 Anthropological Research Design (3 credits)

Business (courses such as):

BA 550 Organizational Management (3 credits)
BA 590 Marketing Management (4 credits)
BA 592 Consumer Behavior (4 credits)
BA 597 Global Marketing (4 credits)