The department was started in the year 1964 as the Department of Community Resource Management and Extension. With the revision of the master's curriculum in 2007, consequent to the revision of under graduate curriculum in 2004, it was bifurcated into two specialized streams with each being offered as a separate master's programme. Resource Management and Design Application (RMDA) is one of the streams with a focus on resources and their integration with design functions. 

This two-year master's programme in RMDA is a composite course focusing on the management of various resources - human, material and natural. The human resources are understood in terms of human resource management and development; material resources are understood in terms of design functions of interior and exterior spaces and analyzing and evaluating designs with respect to human well-being, health, and environment; natural resources are understood in terms of technologies for sustainable development and health and safety in the built environment. 

In the previous year, the course focus is on strengthening the base formed at the under graduate level. Advanced papers in Management, Consumer Behaviour and Facilities Management are introduced as an extension to courses already studied at the under graduate level. 

Apart from this courses on Financial Management and Socio-cultural environment are introduced to give students an upper hand in managing the finances and to be able to appreciate and understand the built and natural environment in its cultural and social context, respectively. A common course on Statistics and Research Methods helps students plan and undertake research as part of the course in the form of a Dissertation in the final year and later taking up higher level research and field projects. 

In the final year the course offers four areas of specialization namely- 

Product and Space Design which deals with advanced space design, ergonomic concepts and product development. Space design and management include space utilization and optimization so that spaces become a true source of human and material energy. 

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development which deals with technologies for sustainable development, health and safety in the built environment and designing appropriate technologies for better environmental management. 

Consumer Studies which deals with market research, customer relationship management and consumer redressal services. Students are equipped to understand global consumer concerns, environmental issues arising out of excessive consumption, understand legislative procedures and so on. 

Training and Development deals with training methodologies, organizational behaviour and human resource management and development. Students are equipped to undertake training of personnel, look at human resource management and development, undertake motivational workshops and so on as trainers and development experts. 

Only two specialisation will be offered out of four depending on student choices and faculty availability. 

The department collaborates with various institutions for summer placement, short-term projects, technical input and field expertise. Some of these are - The Energy Research Institute; Rural Development and Appropriate Technology Department, I.I.T Delhi; Indian Agricultural Research Institute; Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO); National Institute of Design; Times Business Solutions; and NGOs working at the grass roots level in specified areas. 

The focus is to create self-sustaining individuals who have the capability to run their own enterprises. In order to reinforce this concept students are trained by placements with successful entrepreneurs to provide them an. insight into the practical challenges in running an enterprise. 1 addition, the master's rogramme equips students to take n jobs as interior and landscape esigners, human resource msultants and trainers, market 'searchers, work in areas of stainable development, retail and al estate management and ~velopment, and so on. Our umnae are working in Ivernment, non-government, ternational organizations and rporate houses; in managerial and executive positions. Some of these are FICCI, ClI, NIESBUD, CWEI, IARI, HUDCO, HSMI, Development Alternatives, TERI, TOI, AC Neilson, Dhan Foundation, Amar Jyoti, SMS foundation, UNICEF, USAID, and UNIFEM. 

The department also runs a short certificate course in collaboration with Times Business Solutions on Retail Management. The course is offered in four modules of 12 weeks duration each namely Retail Space Management, Facilities Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Branding Management. This is a value-added course designed to enhance the skills of students and make them more market savvy. The course provides industry placement after completion of one or more modules.