Admission deadlines: Fall – April 1 (February 1 for applicants applying for assistantships/fellowships)
Standardized Test Scores: GRE is not required.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction.
Minimum scores for the program are:
- Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0;
or - TOEFL: 550 on paper-based or 80 on Internet-based;
or - PTE Academic: 53
Students who are admitted with the requirement to take an English for Academic Purposes course must be available to take this course in the summer preceding enrollment in the MA program.
Recommendations required: Two (2) recommendations on business letterhead.
Prerequisite requirements: A bachelor’s degree in either interior design or architecture. The MA in Interior Architecture is a post-professional degree and is only open to students with an undergraduate degree in architecture or interior design.
Prior academic records: Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission.
If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application.
Statement of purpose: In an essay of 250 – 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application.
In addition to the statement of purpose, applicants must submit answers of approximately 75-100 words to the following questions:
1. In your own words, how would you define the profession of interior design?
2. What current designers influence you and why?
3. What are some considerations that an interior designer must adhere to while designing interior architectural space?
4. How will your undergraduate degree and any previous work experience contribute to the MA Interior Architecture Program?
Additional requirements: A portfolio that shows interior design and or architecture projects from undergraduate work as well as projects undertaken as a professional are welcomed. Creative projects (i.e., photography, sketches, and fine art) may be included; an interview may be requested.
Portfolios must be uploaded to your online application or emailed to ciarc@gwu.edu. Digital portfolios must be submitted as one document. You may also mail your portfolio directly to the Interior Architecture Program:
500 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
International applicants only: Please review International Applicant Information (https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants) carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

For additional information on the admissions process visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences – Graduate Admissions Office
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 215
Washington DC 20052

Contact:

askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)
202-994-6213 (fax)

Hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 30 credits, including 24 credits in required courses and 6 credits in elective courses.

Fall semester
Required
CIAR 6800Studio A
CIAR 6825Advanced Visual Communications Methods
CIAR 6850Architectural Design Theory and Criticism
Elective
One approved 3-credit Corcoran School course. See example courses, below.
Spring semester
Required
CIAR 6900Studio B
CIAR 6925Psychology of the Built Environment
CIAR 6950Leadership in Design
Elective
One approved 3-credit Corcoran School course (see below).
Sample elective courses:
Interior Architecture
CIAR 6225Interior Materials and Color Theory
CIAR 6325Case Studies from Bauhaus to Bilbao
CIAR 6350Sustainability and the Built Environment
CIAR 6425Lighting and Acoustics
CIAR 6525Practicum and Internship
CIAR 6550Structures and Building Systems
Art History
CAH 6213Islamic Art and Architecture
CAH 6220Proseminar in Italian Art and Architecture of the Thirteenth Through Fifteenth Centuries
CAH 6221Proseminar in Italian Art and Architecture of the Sixteenth Century
Exhibition Design
CEX 6011Spatial Representation and Making I
CEX 6012Spatial Representation and Making II
CEX 6014Materials, Detailing, and Fabrication/Installation
CEX 6100Lighting, Acoustics, and Design for the Senses
CEX 6110Materials, Detailing, and Fabrication/Installation
CEX 6210Special Topics in Exhibition Design
CEX 6230Art and Design Writing
Fine Art
CSA 6512Photography: Altered Landscapes
CSA 6612Video: Remixing the Archive
CSA 6913Painting Off the Wall
CSA 6915Public Spectacle in Socially Engaged Art
CSA 6951Creative Photovoltaics
Museum Studies
CMST 6302Museum Exhibition Design
CMST 6403Museums and Technology
CMST 6701Museum History and Theory