Undergraduate courses and subjects 2000 - Bachelor of Interior Architecture

Bachelor of Interior Architecture - BIA

General information
Structure of the course
Length of course/workload required
Admission requirements
Credit provision
Fee structure
Course program

General information

Course code: 2126 · Caulfield campus · Internal mode · Course coordinator: Michael Anderson
The Bachelor of Interior Architecture is a four-year, full-time degree program of education in the discipline and professional practice of interior architecture. It is intended for students who wish to seek professional or executive employment in the field of interior architecture or related areas of design activity.
Interior architecture is concerned with the range of commercial and domestic interiors ranging from the hospitality, entertainment, retail, health and transport industries to commercial offices and domestic interiors.
The interior architecture studio subjects are supported by specialist subjects in structures and services, building construction and materials, communication methods and media, ergonomics, exhibition design, furniture design, computer-aided design, professional practice, project research and planning and marketing. The course is further supported by subjects in the theory, history and contemporary discourse in art, design and architecture, as well as by introductory subjects in drawing and digital imaging.

Structure of the course

This four-year professional degree course is awarded either with or without honours depending upon the grade averages achieved during the course. The course is structured to give students the following areas of study.

Design studio (72 credit points)

This is the major study of the course. There are studios at each year stage.

Studio specialisation (21 credit points)

These include the following core subjects: Communication methods and media, Technical communications and drawing, Ergonomics, Exhibition design, Furniture design, Architectural and interior materials and finishes, Modelmaking and workshop practice. The material covered in these subjects is also applied in the studio project work.

Technology (36 credit points)

These include construction and materials, structures and seminar subjects which provide the core of the technical support studies. The theory covered in these subjects is also applied in the studio project work.

Theory of art and design (30 credit points)

Students study the theory, context and cultural aspects of art and design.

Drawing and visual structures (6 credit points)

Students take one six-credit-point subject in the first year. These studies are concerned with the development of perception, communication, and visual concepts, primarily using drawing media.

Digital imaging (9 credit points)

Students take the faculty's common subject, Digital imaging. Students later take two core subjects in architectural computing.

Professional practice (18 credit points)

These studies which are focused on the business practice aspects of design are provided by the faculty's common professional practice subjects. They include from the faculty program Professional practice, Effective communication (written and oral). Business management for design, and Project planning and research for interior architecture.

Industrial collaboration and experience

During the long recess between third and fourth year, students take a period of approximately six weeks of work in an interior architecture studio or related practice or commercial organisation. In many instances, this will be related to the topic which they intend to undertake in the final project. It is intended that in most instances this project will be undertaken in collaboration with an industry partner.

Fourth-year studies

In the third year, students take a project research and planning subject, during which they select a topic area for their fourth-year project, and undertake the basic strategic thinking and planning. In semester one of the fourth year, the discipline and strategic issues are further elaborated in the faculty's Research methods subject. This subject is offered to honours students throughout the faculty. A design studio subject and electives are also taken in semester one. In many instances, studies in the subjects will be focused on preparing the ground for the major interior architecture project.
During the second semester, students undertake a major studio project which will demonstrate their academic and professional attainment in the discipline and professional practice of interior architecture. They will also undertake theory of art and design's research seminar, which will require them to relate, in oral and written forms, the work they are undertaking in the studio, to its context, methodology and to the contemporary discourse. The focus in this subject is on the discipline aspects of the project. This is combined with a project seminar subject which is similar but which is focused on the professional practice aspects of the project.

Length of course/workload required

Four years of full-time study. The expected number of hours per week for a full-time student is 48 (contact and non-contact), with appropriate adjustment for any part-time study. An 80 per cent attendance record for studios, lectures, seminars etc is required before a student may present for assessment in any subject. Exceptions will be subject to the approval of the course coordinator.

Admission requirements

The course is offered through the VTAC system. Entry is by portfolio, interview and ENTER. Completion of VCE English units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 25. Applications will also be considered on the basis of other qualifications assessed as equivalent to the VCE.

Credit provision

Credit will be granted for equivalent studies completed elsewhere at approved institutions. Advanced standing in the course for students who have completed part of similar courses at Australian or international universities will be considered up to a maximum of two years and in accordance with other regulations of Monash University. Each application for credit or advanced standing will be considered on its own merits.

Fee structure

For students with Australian residency, these courses fall within the lowest band of HECS liability. The fee for international students will be set by the vice-chancellor from time to time (currently $12,500 per annum).

Subject		Year 1		Year 2		Year 3		Year 4		Total years 14
		Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 1	Semester 2
Drawing and visual structures	C o r e	Drawing 1C 6 cps								6 cps

Theory of art and design	C o r e	History of pre-industrial art and design 6 cps	Visual culture and media of the indusrial age 6 cps	History and criticism of interiors and furniture2A 6 cps		Contemp. discourse in architecture and design and case studies 6 cps		Research methods in design 3 cps	Research seminar in design 3 cps	30 cps

Professional practice	C o r e				Effective comm. 3 cps	Professional practiceD 3 cps	Project planning and research for interior architecture 3 cps	Introduction to marketing for design 3 cps Business management for design 3 cps	Project seminar 3 cps	18 cps

Digital imaging	C o r e		Digital imaging1 3 cps	Interior architecture computing1 3 cps	Interior architecture computing2 3 cps					9 cps

Design studio	C o r e	Design studio (interiors) 1 6 cps	Interior architecture studio2 6 cps	Interior architecture studio3 6 cps	Interior architecture studio4 6 cps	Interior architecture studio5 6 cps	Interior architecture studio6 12 cps	Project studies 12 cps	Major project 18 cps	72 cps

Studio specialisation	C o r e	Comm. Methods and media 3 cps Modeling and workshop practice1 3 cps	Technical comm. and drawing 3 cps		Ergonomics 1 3 cps		Exhibition design1 3 cps Furniture design 1 3 cps	Elective 3 cps		21 cps

Technology	C o r e		Structures A 3 cps Services A 3 cps	Structures B 3 cps Building construction and materialsA 6 cps	Services B 3 cps Building construction and materialsB 6 cps	Structures C 3 cps Building construction and materialsC 6 cps	Services C 3 cps			36 cps
Total		24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	192 cps

* Indicates an estimate of a student's elective choice, and is allocated on a proportional basis, not necessarily actual credit points in the year 3 and 4 subtotals.
cps: credit points - the total student workload per week including in and out of class work is normally obtained by doubling the credit points.

Course program

	Subject	Credit points	Average taught hours per week	Average out of class hours per week	Total hours
Year 1
Semester 1	Design studio (interiors) 1	6 cps	5 hours	7 hours	12 hours
	Communication methods and media (interior architecture)	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Modelmaking and workshop practice 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Drawing 1C	6 cps	6 hours	6 hours	12 hours
	History of pre-industrial art and design	6 cps	3 hours	9 hours	12 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Interior architecture studio 2	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	Technical communication and drawing	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Digital imaging 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Services A	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Structures A	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Visual culture and media of the industrial age	6 cps	3 hours	9 hours	12 hours
		24 cps	15 hours	33 hours	48 hours
Year 2
Semester 1	Interior architecture studio 3	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	History and criticism of interiors and furniture 2A	6 cps	3 hours	9 hours	12 hours
	Interior architecture computing 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Structures B	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Building construction and materials A	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
		24 cps	15 hours	33 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Interior architecture studio 4	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	Effective communication	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Ergonomics	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Services B	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Building construction and materials B	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	Interior architecture computing 2	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	16 hours	32 hours	48 hours
Year 3
Semester 1	Interior architecture studio 5	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	Professional practice D	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Theory of art and design	6 cps	3 hours	9 hours	12 hours
	Building construction and materialsC	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	Structures C	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	15 hours	33 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Interior architecture studio 6	12 cps	6 hours	18 hours	24 hours
	Project planning and research for interior architecture	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Exhibition design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Furniture design 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Services C	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	14 hours	34 hours	48 hours
Long recess at end of year 3
	Industrial experience				35 hours
					200 hours
Year 4
Semester 1	Research methods in design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Project studies (interior architecture)	12 cps	10 hours	14 hours	24 hours
	Business management for design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Introduction to marketing for design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Electives	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Major project (interior architecture)	18 cps	4 hours	32 hours	36 hours
	Research seminar in design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Project seminar (interior architecture)	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	8 hours	40 hours	48 hours
Total (over four years)		192 cps	(15 hours average per week)	(33 hours average per week)

Teaching hours quoted are based on student groups of 20. Where group size is less than 20, some consolidation of teaching will occur.

Bachelor of Interior Architecture - BIA

(33 hours average per week)