Master of Science degree qualifications are not just available for subjects traditionally considered to be sciences, such as biology, physics and chemistry. The Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, for example, offers a Master of Science course in facilities management. Students at Indiana University can study for a Master of Science qualification in interior design. As degree information compiler Nick Felder points out, Florida State University offers both Master of Arts and Master of Science qualifications in interior design.
Master of Arts degree qualifications are most commonly awarded after courses of study in English, the humanities, including history and geography, philosophy, social sciences and fine arts. Middle Tennessee State University, for example, offers a Master of Arts qualification in historical preservation. Columbia College offers a Master of Fine Arts qualification in interior architecture/architectural studies.
There are no major differences in terms of the range of lengths of study on offer required to achieve either qualification. Both qualifications tend to be awarded after one, two or three years of study. For example, Stanford University offers a Master of Science course in engineering with a concentration on product design, lasting two years. However, there are exceptions. Columbia University has a Master of Science course in advanced architectural design that lasts 1 1/2 years.
As a master's degree is an advanced academic degree for those already with a first degree, the usual place of study for both types of qualification tends to be a graduate school at a university. However, it is possible to study for either qualification online. For example, Philadelphia University offers an online Master of Science course in disaster medicine and management, while Gonzaga University offers an online Master of Arts course in communication and leadership.