Master of Science in Design and Merchandising, Specialization in Interior Design

at INTO Group - Colorado State University USA

You might be interested in the “boots on the ground” side of agriculture, but you also might be interested in policies that affect it. Maybe you want to work in the government to help support the businesses that grow/develop food. Maybe you’re adept at numbers and economics, ready to help ranchers and farmers stay on top of their operations. Whatever your passion, this major offers a wide variety of career paths along with the hands-on experiences you need to discover and achieve your dreams.

The Environmental Politics and Policy track builds upon the Department of Political Science’s international reputation for excellence in the study of the natural environment across the traditional subfields of political science. As a land-grant University, CSU offers a wide variety of environmental programs that students can leverage for advancing their academic and career goals. This specialization enables students to pursue careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors that require expertise in environmental issues and/or political and policy processes. It will also serve as a springboard for students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in environmental politics and policy.

Soil and Crop Sciences can prepare you for a challenging career in many areas including: soil and crop management, plant breeding and genetics, seed science, environmental soil science, soil resources and conservation, and ecosystem management.

Areas of Study

• Crop science
• Plant biotechnology, genetics, and breeding
• Soil science

The Major in Interior Architecture and Design exemplifies the definition of the professional designer as qualified by education, experience, and examination to design interior environments that enhance the function and quality of life, increase productivity, and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Academic preparation is grounded in research-based problem solving and experiential education through studio instruction, service learning, and internships that encompass a variety of cultural, environmental, and historical perspectives. The program has a longstanding accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), recognizing the highest academic standards established by the profession.

Students seeking to apply to the Interior Architecture and Design major at CSU first are admitted to CSU as Pre-Interior Architecture and Design. All students who wish to be considered for admission to Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) major will be required to complete the Interior Architecture and Design Scenario practicum. Selective advancement into the major is based on the review received at the IAD Scenario, where external reviewers will assess student competencies in writing for design, sketching, problem-solving, and conceptual frameworks. A cohort of approximately 50-60 students advances based on performance on the IAD Design Scenario. The IAD Design Scenario occurs annually in the spring semester. See the Department of Design and Merchandising for more information regarding the Interior Architecture and Design Scenario.

Psychology is one of the most popular and versatile majors. The major emphasizes a strong background in the natural sciences (e.g., mathematics, chemistry, biology, statistics, human physiology), writing, and research.

Electives enable students to obtain a second major or minor in a field of interest or take pre-professional courses and graduate with:

• A combination of courses and experiences to qualify for semiprofessional jobs in psychological settings or closely-related fields (e.g., addictions counseling);
• A combination of courses providing a background for careers outside of psychology (e.g., human resources);
• Pre-professional courses for potential admittance into professional training programs (e.g., medicine, occupational therapy, veterinary medicine); and/or
• A complement of courses for potential admittance into psychology graduate school programs.  Advanced degrees are often a prerequisite for professional careers in psychology.

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) is an exciting field with many career opportunities. The mission of this interdepartmental major is to prepare professionals dedicated to enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, and the communities and environments in which they live and/or work.

Students graduate with an interdisciplinary perspective about the challenges encountered by families and consumers. Through coursework, students gain skills to assist families and consumers with quality of life decisions and challenges related to interpersonal/human relationships, consumer and financial resource management, personal development, nutrition and wellness, and balancing family and work.

This program emphasizes the management and problem-solving skills needed to be a responsible and productive individual, family member, and worker. Students take coursework in a variety of departments including, but not limited to:

• School of Education
• Human Development and Family Studies
• Food Science and Human Nutrition
• Design and Merchandising
• Health and Exercise Sciences

Students have the option of the FCS concentration or the FCS Education concentration. Upon graduating, students will be eligible to take the exam to be certified in FCS with the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Department of Construction Management maintains close ties to the construction/engineering/architecture industry and offers applied research opportunities. The program focuses on research and theory with a strong emphasis on project management. The curriculum design allows students to tailor a portion of the specialization requirements to meet individual interests and goals.

Public interest regarding the importance of nutrition to health and fitness is at a high level and increasing. The Major in Nutrition and Food Science involves integration of the biological, medical, and social sciences and their application to the improvement of human nutrition and fitness, prevention of chronic disease, and improved quality of life. The major is both science- and human service-oriented.

Nutrition and Food Science graduates gain a scientific understanding of the principles of human nutrition, the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of disease, delivery of nutritional care, and the principles of nutrition assessment and food preparation. Additionally, graduates know the techniques of interviewing, counseling, information management, and effective communication.

Evening MBA students challenge themselves to do more and to be more.  Multi-dimensional professionals from all fields meet on campus in Fort Collins – two evenings each week for 21 months – to immerse themselves in leadership studies with a focus on real-world application.  Evening MBA candidates learn from each other and from world-class faculty to acquire the skills and confidence to emerge as leaders ready to inspire.

Sociology is the study of social life. It focuses on the interaction between human groups and societal institutions, from social relationships within family units in preindustrial cultures to those within large, bureaucratic institutions in major industrialized nations. As one of the largest and most diverse departments on campus, we pride ourselves on celebrating our many backgrounds, experiences, and different ways of thinking. What binds us together is the desire to make the world a better place by understanding how society works and helping solve problems.

Sociology majors have many opportunities to pursue broad and diverse ranges of interest. Students gain a sense of social perspective, an understanding of human affairs, an ability to think critically and perform research, and a capacity to write well. The curriculum includes general courses in the arts and humanities and the social sciences along with sociology course work. A generous selection of electives allows students to major or minor in a complementary discipline. A Sociology major also may enroll in one of the interdisciplinary minors, such as Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Religious Studies, or Women’s and Gender Studies.