Interior Architecture Program Receives CIDA Accreditation

Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Architecture and the Built Environment is pleased to announce that its Master of Science in Interior Architecture (MSIA) degree has been awarded accreditation for a full term of six years, effective this year.

Achieving Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) accreditation is an indication of the program’s commitment to delivering a quality, professional-level, interior-design education that prepares students to excel in professional practice.

“The prestigious CIDA stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication and expertise of our esteemed faculty” notes Dean Barbara Klinkhammer. “Their commitment to nurturing talent, fostering creativity, and imparting knowledge has not only shaped skilled professionals but has also sculpted a legacy of innovation and brilliance within the walls of our college and institution.”

By voluntarily participating in CIDA accreditation, the program places itself before the scrutiny of a rigorous peer review process.

“While we were confident that we were providing an excellent education to prepare our graduates for interior design/interior architecture practice, we know that the real test is to be put under the scrutiny of a meticulous peer-review by CIDA,” according to Lauren Baumbach, program director and chair of the Department of Interior Design and Interior Architecture.

In receiving CIDA accreditation, the program met hundreds of outcomes in the 16 broad CIDA Professional Standards, which are evaluated within the context and mission of the program. The CIDA Visiting Team noted that the program had all strengths and no weaknesses and stated that the program provided excellent “experiential learning opportunities and research (and facilitate) exposure to other design professionals as well as close association with the community and network opportunities.”

About the program:

The MS in Interior Architecture is a 49- or 69-credit graduate program structured to meet the needs of students from non-design, design, and architecture backgrounds, seeking one of the best professional-level educations in interior design/interior architecture.  At Jefferson we also offer two accelerated pathway programs into the MSIA program, the BArch/MSIA and the BSArchStudies/MSIA.