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Sources: Dennis Law, 785-532-5950, dela@k-state.edu; and
Virginia Moxley, 785-532-5500, moxley@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/lawbio.html
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/moxleybio.html
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu
Friday, Jan. 30, 2009
DESIGN PROFESSIONALS RANK K-STATE'S INTERIOR DESIGN AND INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMS AS BEST IN THE NATION, THREE OTHER ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMS ALSO RANK HIGH
MANHATTAN -- A recent survey of architecture and design firms has ranked Kansas State University's bachelor of interior design and interior architecture programs as the best in the nation, with three other architecture degree programs also earning top 10 rankings.
According to the 2009 survey of leading architecture and design professionals published in the journal DesignIntelligence, K-State ranks:
* First among bachelor of interior design and interior architecture programs;
* Second among master of interior design and interior architecture programs;
* Second among bachelor of landscape architecture programs; and
* Eighth among master of landscape architecture programs.
K-State's master of architecture program also was ranked 11th.
"These rankings are a reflection of the hard work of a dedicated faculty and a group of exceptional students," said Dennis Law, dean of K-State's College of Architecture, Planning and Design.
For survey purposes, K-State's bachelor's programs in interior design and interior architecture and product design are combined.
"Being recognized by employers as being one of the best at preparing students for professional success overall is a great honor," said Virginia Moxley, dean of the College of Human Ecology, which offers a bachelor's degree in interior design.
The College of Architecture, Planning and Design is currently transitioning its professional five-year bachelor's degree programs into five-year master's degrees in architecture, interior architecture and product design, and landscape architecture. In two of the three disciplines, both the former undergraduate and the new graduate programs were ranked.
The 2009 study also asked about the preparedness of recent graduates in a range of skills. K-State architecture graduates ranked fifth in communication skills and in design, while K-State's landscape architecture graduates were ranked first in construction methods and materials, second in security design principles and third in design.
In addition, each year DesignIntelligence selects a team of educators and administrators for their exemplary leadership. Law was included in that list of 26 educators, the third time he had been selected. The 2009 class of education role models was selected by DesignIntelligence staff, with extensive input from hundreds of design professionals, academic department heads and students.
The annual survey is conducted by DesignIntelligence and the Design Futures Council, in conjunction with the Almanac of Architecture and Design. A cross section of U.S. architectural and design professionals were asked to rank accredited undergraduate and graduate programs they've had direct experience hiring graduates from. More than 200 leading professional practices were polled, as well as a high number of small- and medium-sized firms and officials from more than 100 academic programs.
According to its sponsors, the survey can be used to help current and future students plan their educational paths. The U.S. has approximately 149 accredited interior design or interior architecture programs, 122 accredited architecture programs and 81 accredited landscape architecture programs.
