Graduate Student Research
Each graduate program culminates in a thesis or design research project. The purpose of the thesis or the design research project is to demonstrate the candidate’s mastery of the field. This is accomplished through a focused research exercise involving the application of analytical and synthetic skills, taught in the graduate core curriculum, to an aspect of design of special interest to the candidate.
Students completing the MA Interior Design 2-year track or the MS Landscape Architecture program will complete a traditional research thesis. Students completing the MA Interior Design 1-year and 3-year tracks or the M.Arch program will complete a design research project.
Selected Examples
Architecture
- “Subcontractor Perspectives: Factors that Most Affect Their Relationships with General Contractors—A Pacific Northwest Study,” Patrick McCord, 2010.
- “Dwelling: The Immaterial and the Internet." Jared Infanger, 2009.
- "Place Attachment in Relationship to Ethnic Identity Reconstruction: The Korean Adoptee's First Visit Home." Deborah Napier, 2009.
- "The Influence of Robert Venturi on Louis Kahn." Sam Rodell, 2008.
Interior Design
- “The Effects of Music on Creativity in the Design Process,” Predrag Maksic, 2010.
- "Interior Design Magazine's Hall of Fame Award: What Does the Hall of Fame Tell Us About the Interior Design Profession?" Kristi Marian, 2009.
- "Designing Opportunities of Independence for a Booming Cohort: Minimizing In-Home Modifications." Jacqueline Evans, 2009. Project Slideshow.
- "Self-Verifying Environments: The Human Need for Self-Verification in both Tangible and Non-Tangible Environments." Anna Nodolf, 2009. Project Slideshow.
- "Finding Key Physical Attributes to Create a Satisfying Workplace for the Millennial Generation." Junghwa Suh, 2009.
- "Sketching and Creativity of Interior Design Students." Kathleen Ryan, 2008.
- "Using Natural Elements to Reduce Stress at Work." Kate Lee, 2007. Project Board 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- "Light as Word: Exploring the Linguistic Roles of Light in Interior Space." Meaghan Beever, 2006.
Landscape Architecture
- “Exploring the Relationship between Environmental Design and Crime: A Case Study of the Gonzaga University District.” Xin Lin, 2010.
- "Analysis of Pedestrian Accessibility as Applied to Spokane City Parks." Mike Wilhelm, 2007.
- Earth Art in the Playground: Enriching Play and Educational Opportunities by Stimulating Imaginative Play and Inquiry-Based Learning.” Jena Ponti, 2004.