Interior Design Programs

Anderson University’s School of Interior Design teaches students how to create environments that protect the health and safety of its occupants. You’ll learn to design for homes and commercial spaces. You’ll explore what to consider in planning interior space from a children’s hospital or high-end resort to a church or school.

Click here for more information about Anderson University.

Interior Design is a four-year bachelor of science program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The curriculum focuses on the design of the near environment, the aesthetic and functional aspects of space planning, furnishings and materials, lighting and mechanical equipment, and the integration of these aspects of the built environment to fit the needs of the user. A professionally supervised internship is required. Student work from courses in the major may be retained by the program for accreditation and exhibit purposes.

Academic Standards and Policies: Freshman and transfer students admitted to Auburn University, as well as internal transfer students from within Auburn University, who desire to major in Interior Design, College of Human Sciences, will be admitted to Pre-Interior Design (INDX). The Pre-Interior Design students must complete the first year of Pre-Interior Design course work, i.e., CADS 1000 and CADS 1100 with a grade of “C” or better in order to be evaluated for possible admission into the Interior Design curriculum. Admission into the Interior Design program (sophomore-senior levels) is limited with a maximum class size of 36 students per year. Admission will be based upon a portfolio review by the Interior Design faculty of the work completed in the Pre-Interior Design course work. Students who have earned at least a C in both CADS 1000 and CADS 1100, but who are not selected for the Interior Design program because of class size limitations, may be invited to join the program if a space opens up in the program. Course work in the major must be taken in sequence; transfer students should anticipate that additional semesters of study may be required to complete the program.

Students in INDS must earn a grade of a C or higher in all prerequisite courses in the major before being allowed to proceed to the next course in the sequence. Major courses include the Human Sciences College core courses and all required Consumer and Design Sciences courses which are indicated in bold print in the model.

Click here for more information about Auburn University.

The Interior Design Program at Bellevue College provides a comprehensive, high-quality interior design education that is responsive to the changing needs of its students and the design profession.

Click here for more information about Bellevue College.

The Interior Design Program at California State University, Sacramento is a NASAD-accredited program that provides students with the technical, creative, and critical thinking skills needed to enter the Interior Design profession.

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This degree program builds the skills required to produce professional and quality interior architectural designs. The core curriculum is a sequence of lecture/lab courses that stress the design theory and application, color, space planning, interior materials, furniture specification, CADD, business practices and field experience.

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The Interior Architecture and Design program provides students with broad exposure to aspects of interior design and prepares them to enhance function and quality of life, increase productivity, and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public through design. The program is grounded in research-based problem solving in addition to a variety of cultural, environmental, and historical perspectives. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

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The Interior Design (ID) option is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) as a first professional degree program. It is the only interior design program in the Ivy League.

With an emphasis on problem-solving design studios, students learn not just technical design skills, but also ways to think imaginatively and constructively about design and its role in our lives. That includes understanding the impact of design decisions on the environment and our planet, as well as on the people who inhabit the settings we help create.

Small classes and faculty who are both leaders in their field and deeply committed to undergraduate education, make interior design in DEA as rewarding as it is challenging.

Click here for more information about Cornell University.

The undergraduate Interior Design Program explores the behavioral, technological, environmental and aesthetic aspects of interior design within the context of increasingly more complex design projects. Combined with Art and Art History and general education requirements, a core of interior design courses creates a unique education at the forefront of design. Through academics grounded in problem-solving design studios, cooperative employment, and a dedicated faculty, the Interior Design program prepares students for leadership positions in the interior design industry.

The BS Interior Design program is CIDA accredited (Council for Interior Design Accreditation).

Click here for more information about Drexel University.

Interior design is more than just arranging furniture. It has evolved into a multifaceted profession dealing with complete environments that not only please, but enhance the health and safety of the user. Like other interior design programs, we encourage creative vision and develop your design skills—but creativity alone wont make you a successful working interior designer. At FIT, we emphasize the practical skills you need to get your project done. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to envision great spaces and know how to build them, too.

FITs Interior Design program has been preparing students for success for more than 50 years. This rigorous, multidisciplinary program combines the academic study of the history and theory of interior design with practical, hands-on projects. You’ll collaborate with leading practitioners in New York City, the design capital of the world. In classes taught by industry professionals, you’ll learn drafting techniques, computer modeling, lighting, and materials and methods, with an emphasis on sustainability and user health and safety.

Click here for more information about Fashion Inst. of Technology.

We are a distinct and dynamic community of creative dedicated designers. Ranked as the 9th best Interior Design Graduate Program in the United States by DesignIntelligence, our faculty and students are passionate about design and explore its countless contributions to society. As designers, researchers and teachers, we produce scholarly research and conduct creative activities all aimed at investigating the practice of interior architecture worldwide; sustaining cultural diversity through design; encouraging global connectivity among peoples, ideas, and interdisciplinary fields of thought.

“FIU’s Interior Architecture program is global gateway for meaningful and effective design activities.”

Here at FIU, we offer a CIDA accredited professional interior architecture education that has been ranked as the 4th best interior design program in the south region of the United States. Located in  one of the world’s most vibrant cities, our facilities are on a spectacular tropical campus in Miami. It is here where we provide our students access to a rich and provocative environment in which to learn design. We celebrate the benefits and diversity available in a public university while also creating a distinct community where students have access to  unique and superior education, facilities and learning opportunities.

An active and innovative program, we operate from a solid foundation in design studies that prepares students for the dynamic life of a design professional. With fresh approaches to curricular development such as: accelerated Master of Interior Architecture curriculum, our cross-cultural exchange studies abroad, and our unique Cruise Ship and Super Yacht certificate we develop advanced competencies in cutting edge technology, knowledge and application of design research, and the ability to promote sustainable design practices.

Click here for more information about Florida International University.

Interior Architecture students learn from curriculum that is centered around a 6-studio sequence. The teaching of design process and a design ethos is at the heart of the program. Additional required coursework in interior & architectural history, materials & methods, computer drawing & modeling, mechanical drawing, and professional practices supplement the studio sequence and support design projects of increasing sophistication and complexity. The curriculum instills purpose, craft, technological competence and versatile thinking. The graduates are passionately dedicated to the creation of meaningful interiors. Supplementing JMU’s general accreditation, all degrees offered by the School of Art, Design and Art History are professionally accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Click here for more information about James Madison University.

Interior design students take courses in human behavior in the designed environment, environmental design, interior design, graphic communications, building construction, building systems, history of interior design, housing, computer applications, construction documentation, and professional practice. Interior designers perform services such as programming, design analysis, space planning, preparing drawings and documents, and jobsite observation using specialized knowledge of aesthetics, building regulations, building construction systems, interior materials and finishes, furnishings, and equipment.

Click here for more information about Kansas State University.

Marymount’s Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design program will prepare you for a career as a creative, ethically responsible, proficient interior designer.

The curriculum of the M. Wilhelmina Boldt Interior Design program combines general education classes, known as the University’s Liberal Arts Core, with professionally directed coursework to develop practitioners with a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and concern for the well-being of people and the environment. The combined coursework provides a broad understanding of human needs within the built environment as required for practice. They also foster an interdisciplinary approach to design and establish a foundation for lifelong learning.

Your coursework in the major integrates aesthetic theory, architectural principles, human-behavior concepts, technology, business practices, and sustainable design. In the classroom, your focus will be on design knowledge and skills, as well as a comprehensive design process with emphasis upon the development of programming skills. This includes proficiencies that address client goals and needs, graphic and written communication, problem solving, critical thinking, ethics, and social responsibility. Although industry-standard computer software is taught, drafting and freehand sketching skills are emphasized for effective design communication.

The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) has continually accredited Marymount’s undergraduate Interior Design program since 1985. CIDA is the only accrediting agency for interior design. While graduation from a CIDA-accredited program is not now required for practice, it does ensure that graduates possess the knowledge and skills needed to enter the profession. Most design firms and members of the profession recognize the importance and quality of a degree from an accredited program and seek to hire its graduates.

Click here for more information about Marymount University.

Want to learn how to turn your passion for creative design into a career? When you are in a space, do you take notice of your surroundings and immediately think of ways to make it better? The interior design program at MTSU offers the skills and knowledge you need to connect people to the spaces where they live, work, learn, and play. Interior designers are trained to create residential and commercial spaces that protect and enhance the health, safety, welfare, and well-being of the public. From proper lighting to ergonomics, studying Interior Design can open up a world of opportunities for those with creative minds.

Click here for more information about Middle Tennessee State University.

Mount Mary University’s interior design and merchandising programs provide real-work experience, professional networking opportunities and service learning activities so you are prepared to achieve personal and professional success.

Click here for more information about Mount Mary College.

NYIT is the only school in the tristate area with both CIDA-accredited interior design and NAAB-accredited architecture programs together in the same school. Here you will benefit from the exposure and synergy that derive from the rigor and convergence of these two disciplines, ranging from diverse faculty input to innovative cross-disciplinary studios and design exercises. The program is carefully crafted to expose you to contemporary issues, precedent history and theory, and wide-ranging building, business, and project types as well as the latest media programs—not to mention some of the finest design training available.

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Mission – New York School of Interior Design prepares its students to lead the profession by providing a deep and broad education to aspiring interior designers and working professionals, drawing upon expert faculty, current tools and technology, and close industry relationships.

Vision – New York School of Interior Design is a global leader in interior design education, impacting the profession through innovative curricula and strategic collaborations, with graduates placed in positions of influence around the world.

Click here for more information about New York School of Interior Design.

At Parsons, a diverse community of students develops critical thinking skills and applies them to challenges ranging from environmental degradation to physical accessibility and humanitarian crises. Through a network of interconnected design laboratories, students explore global phenomena at multiple sites and scales of engagement, from on-campus research initiatives to partnerships that effect change in New York and around the world.

In fall 2013, we began offering undergraduate degree programs at our new Paris campus—visit Parsons Paris to learn more. Selected graduate programs will launch in fall 2014.
Faculty Mentors

Throughout their journey, Parsons students benefit from instruction and mentorship by some of the most accomplished artists, designers, architects, photographers, illustrators, scholars, and critics in the world. Under the guidance of this renowned faculty, they learn to weave together different areas of expertise to radically rethink their fields.
An Emphasis on Collaboration

Although Parsons provides the tools to master a single discipline, the practical knowledge students acquire and the collaborative methods they learn can be applied in a variety of contexts.

All of these possibilities befit Parsons’ tradition of challenging convention, anticipating trends, and improving the world—a tradition embodied by Parsons alumni, who lead their fields by creating art and design that matters.

Click here for more information about Parsons School of Design.

As one of the world’s multicultural epicenters for arts, culture, design, and business, New York City provides Pratt students with an exceptional learning environment that extends beyond the Pratt campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

With a 25-acre campus in Brooklyn, a creative hub in the midst of a renaissance, and another in Manhattan, Pratt is a living lab of craft and culture. The Institute’s campus in the historic Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn is adjacent to the emerging Brooklyn Tech Triangle, a nexus for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Pratt’s programs are consistently ranked among the best in the country, and its faculty and alumni include the most renowned artists, designers, and scholars in their fields. Its interdisciplinary curriculum promotes collaborative and creative strategies for design thinking and provides students with unparalleled training facilities.

Click here for more information about Pratt Institute.

The mission of the Interior Design program at Radford University  encompasses four E’s.

Educate competent interior design professionals
Enhance the quality of life within the interior environment
Graduate design professionals with strong Ethical character
Cultivate an environment were Excellent design skills are commonplace

The mission of the Interior Design Program at Radford University is to educate competent interior design professionals whose excellent design skills, sound professional judgment, and strong ethical character guide them in creating designs that enhance the quality of life within the interior environment.

The Interior Design Program at Radford University has five educational goals:

1. To create an active learning environment that provides “hands-on” experiences and encourages interaction among students, faculty and professionals.
2. To provide studio experiences that foster creativity and conceptual discovery in pursuit of design excellence.
3. To teach students to apply a systematic process in which a variety of viable design alternatives are explored in arriving at a final design solution that is innovative, appropriate and “holistic” in nature.
4. To implement routine assessment measures at each level of the educational process in an effort to continually improve the program.
5. To provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve success in entering the profession.

Click here for more information about Radford University.

The mission of Rhode Island School of Design, through its college and museum, is to educate its students and the public in the creation and appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to make lasting contributions to a global society through critical thinking, scholarship and innovation.

Original Mission Statement

On March 22, 1877, the Rhode Island General Assembly ratified “An Act to Incorporate the Rhode Island School of Design.” The corporation, comprised of a forward-thinking group of men and women, artists and business leaders, educators and politicians, was formed “for the purpose of aiding in the cultivation of the arts of design.” The original bylaws set forth the following key objectives for RISD:

First. The instruction of artisans in drawing, painting, modeling, and designing, that they may successfully apply the principles of Art to the requirements of trade and manufacture.

Second. The systematic training of students in the practice of Art, in order that they may understand its principles, give instruction to others, or become artists.

Third. The general advancement of public Art Education, by the exhibition of works of Art and of Art school studies, and by lectures on Art.

Click here for more information about Rhode Island School of Design.

As a student in the Interior Design Program, you’ll receive one-on-one attention from instructors who are highly qualified working industry professionals. They’ll teach you the essential elements of interior design including drafting, proper selection of furniture, fixtures and equipment, construction document implementation, and much more. Working with students from all walks of life will give you the benefit of a myriad of different perspectives to build your work as an artist.

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The Savannah College of Art and Design, an institution with distinctive yet complementary locations, will be recognized as the leader in defining art and design education. By employing innovation in all areas, SCAD will provide a superior education through talented and dedicated faculty and staff, leading-edge technology, advanced learning resources and comprehensive support services.

Click here for more information about Savannah College of Art and Design.

One of the few interior architecture programs in the nation located within an art school, the Bachelor of Interior Architecture (BIA) program explores light, color, materials, and movement through space and how these influence our relationships to people and the world around us. The core curriculum consists of studio courses that investigate the concepts, methodologies, and techniques of designing objects and space, complemented with seminars, labs, and classes in history, theory, practice, and technology.

The program is a set, four-year curriculum that recognizes that the study of human habitation and experience is a lifelong undertaking and critically essential to achieving a new balance in the way we live.

Students interested in rethinking how we build, inhabit, and transform our environment explore ideas about materials and construction with sustainability as a goal. Studio work reconfigures new definitions of habitation integrated with complex biological, technological, and cultural systems. You will negotiate between the natural, the artificial, and systems of global development and develop an ethical imagination in working in the public sphere.

Click here for more information about School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

Through the exploration of the art and architecture of environmental design, students solve problems in a broad range of built environments. Students work closely with faculty in a studio environment similar to the professional design office experience.

The curriculum and projects support the professional, multidisciplinary philosophy and foster the creation of humane, sustainable environments for people. Visualization and communications skills, as well as a strong technical component, provide a basis for the education of designers who will become creative problem solvers and leaders in various fields of interior design.

Students receive a broad liberal arts education in conjunction with studio courses in fine arts and crafts to complement their work in environmental and interior design. A sensitivity to the concerns of people, sustainable design practices and an understanding of the business of design contribute to their overall competence. Individual work experiences and actual and collaborative projects in the community and with industry expose students to current and future issues.

The program shares courses, design laboratories, and studios with other disciplines in the School of Design and a close relationship with professional designers, design societies, and manufacturers. Students and the program have received many national and international design awards. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Students are encouraged to spend a semester abroad in their junior year at SU’s Design in London program or working on special projects and internships in Syracuse and around the world.

Click here for more information about Syracuse University.

In our Interior Design schools, you can learn the technical and creative process, problem-solving, and critical thinking required to create functional, beautiful designs that meet demanding safety, accessibility, and sustainability requirements. It’ll take your full focus and commitment. In return, we’ll guide you in developing the skills you need for a career you’ll love.

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The Corcoran’s Interior Architecture (IA) Program offers students a unique opportunity to study, learn and create within a creative environment at a major research university. Our program is the only Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) program within Washington, D.C., and one of only nine interior programs located at universities that rank in the top 63 of US News and World Report’s list of national research universities.

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The Master of Interior Architecture is a professional degree (M. INT. ARCH.) offered collaboratively by UCLA Extension and Cal Poly Pomona, College of the Extended University, and is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the Western Association of Schools (WASC).

Designed for the working professional, the Master of Interior Architecture’s flexibility allows you to study part-time in a program that incorporates the highest standards of professional practice to fully prepare you to enter the field of interior design.

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The four-year Interior Design and Drafting Technology program prepares students with a strong foundation of liberal arts, fine arts, technical skills, and knowledge base for the changing interior design profession. The curriculum focuses on the university’s six liberal learning outcomes as well as the standard of the professional industry.

Students are prepared in foundational design courses with sketching, drafting, materials, structures, process, space planning, graphic and computer communications for upper level design studios. Upper-level studios address various programs, populations, and design problems and are interfaced with history, codes, and technical courses to address human environmental needs of health, safety, and welfare.

Students produce a digital portfolio based on concept development and design business.

The program offers many valuable design experiences through travel, speakers, programs, professional jurors, practicing adjuncts, community service projects, as well as an individually developed internships and senior capstone design projects.

To date, the program graduates have had a high job placement rate and are successful with the National Council of Interior Design Qualification and Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design credential examinations.

The University of Charleston also offers a Historic Preservation Certificate.

Click here for more information about University of Charleston.

The School of Architecture and Interior Design (SAID) at the University of Cincinnati prepares students for critical practice. Our students engage with the principles, traditions, and requirements of building in all its aspects, interior and exterior. Our goal is to advance the professions of Architecture and Interior Design by combining ethical judgment, creative research and technical proficiency in pursuit of excellence. We seek to nurture a life-long world view that recognizes the designer’s responsibility to the environment, society, and the profession. Students are encouraged to take risks with their design ideas, and develop the skills to communicate them. The faculty and students of SAID strive to advance the discourse of environmental design, to respond effectively to change, and to integrate research with technical expertise.

Click here for more information about University of Cincinnati.

The Department of Architecture consists of the Architecture Program and the Interior Design Program. The mission of the Department of Architecture is to prepare graduates to enter the professional practice of architecture and interior design and to serve the Memphis and Mid-South region through research, engaged scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and creative expression that contributes to sustainable, stable communities and enhances the quality of life for all citizens.

The goals and objectives of the Department are as follows: to provide the highest quality professional education through a well-rounded discovery-based curriculum in both the art and science of design with emphasis on processes, professional standards, and the practical application of design and technology; to provide research opportunities for faculty and students with emphasis on “hands on” multi-disciplinary projects through which students gain valuable professional experience while providing services to the citizens of the region; and to expand opportunities for Architecture and Interior Design students by bringing them together with faculty and students in the City Planning, Real Estate Development, and other programs to address public issues, support stable and sustainable neighborhoods, and develop community visions throughout the region.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Interior Design is a professional degree and is fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Click here for more information about University of Memphis.

The Department of Interior Architecture offers a robust and comprehensive interior design curriculum. Students can earn accredited professional degrees at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Interior architecture integrates critical analysis with creative thinking to revitalize, reuse, and adapt buildings to resonate with users and provide uplifting, healthy, and sustainable interior environments. Our students learn in a unique interdisciplinary environment that allows each person to fine tune their interests while gaining exposure to a broad range of issues that affect the interior environment. Graduates of the program are prepared to act as innovative problem solvers and influential space makers.

Click here for more information about University of Oregon

The Department of Interior Design at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a nationally recognized interior design program committed to professional achievement through teaching, research, and service and the development of responsible design professionals who think critically, protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and create design solutions responsive to diverse needs.

Our Goals are:

1. Create an innovative and engaging environment that nurtures an interest in students’ academic welfare, progress, and retention.
2. Promote critical thinking with an emphasis on integrated design.
3. Facilitate effective learning environments that support educational, community, and regional development partnerships.
4. Support collaborative, teaming environments.
5. Prepare students to become socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible professionals.
6. Promote design solutions responsive to diversity of local, regional, and global challenges.
7. Promote the acquisition and maintenance of professional development, certifications, and licenses.
8. Achieve recognition in research, scholarship, and creative endeavors.
9. Promote active service within the university, profession, and community.
10. Utilize current technology, tools, and resources to facilitate learning within lectures and studios.

Click here for more information about University of Tennessee – Chattanooga.

We educate students to become skilled professional designers with the ability to create purposeful and imaginative interior environments. You will work in a creative studio alongside multiple disciplines with emergent technology that prepares you for a breadth of career opportunities.

Click here for more information about University of Tennessee – Knoxville.

The undergraduate major in interior architecture is a four-year professional program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Architecture. The program develops students’ creativity in the design and planning of interior spaces by emphasizing the process and communication of design. Students learn to integrate the art of design with the social sciences concerning the interaction of people and their environment, the history of design, and the physical sciences relating to the effects of materials on the physical health and comfort of inhabitants. Insight into professional practice is enhanced through internship experiences.

Click here for more information about University of Wisconsin – Madison.

The Division of Interior Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point immerses you in the exciting world of interior design. Our program reflects human needs and preferences while sharpening your creative, technical, technological and critical thinking skills.

Click here for more information about University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

UW-Stout’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design blends fine art, design and technical disciplines and leads to careers that create meaningful, life-enhancing and safe interior environments, including:

• Residential and commercial space planning
  Lighting design
  Sustainable design
  Construction documentation
  Collaboration with architects and construction professionals

Click here for more information about University of Wisconsin – Stout.

Interior designers are responsible for the interior design, decoration, and functionality of a client’s space, whether the space is commercial, industrial, or residential. They work closely with architects and clients to determine the structure of a space, the needs of the occupants, and the style that best suits both. In addition to using color, fabric, and furniture to decorate a space, interior designers must understand construction and building codes, know the characteristics of materials, have budgeting skills, communicate well, and oversee the ordering, installation, and maintenance of all objects that define a space.

Students in USU’s program have won numerous design awards at the regional, national, and international levels. The program also boasts strong internship placement, with students working for nationally known designers in New York, Great Britain, France, Australia, Peru, and more.

USU’s program also hosts a visiting designer series each year. Visiting designers typically send students a project assignment before their visit. Once they arrive, students receive feedback and personal attention from some of the world’s leading interior designers on these projects.

The program embraces sustainable design. Students take a sustainability class that prepares them to take the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate Examination, which gives students additional credentials when they graduate.

The program sponsors a national or international design tour every year, where students may tour famous buildings, museums, manufacturing facilities, design centers, and the offices of some of the country’s top designers. Students have the opportunity to travel to locations, such as Italy, France, England, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

Students learn to identify, research, and creatively solve problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment. Students also gain an understanding of the legal and ethical issues that guide and direct the profession. The interior design program gives students a knowledge base of traditional aesthetics and historical precedent. The program emphasizes a strong foundation based on an understanding of architecture, history, technical skills, including the latest software, as well as the study of art and design.

The bachelor of interior design program at USU is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

Click here for more information about Utah State University.

The interior design program at Virginia Tech is dedicated to improving quality of life through design excellence, professionalism, and public service. With a curriculum that equally respects the importance of creative skill, history, building technology, ethics, innovation, and business practice, our graduates have the ability and confidence needed to immediately contribute to the profession.

Students in the Interior Design Program at Virginia Tech are challenged to think critically in their design of space and to develop solutions that not only enhance quality of life, but also protect the health, safety, and welfare of users as prescribed in the various codes and regulations that govern the work of interior designers. This philosophy is the core of our program. It establishes a foundation upon which each student graduates with creative ingenuity and professional responsibility.

Our students are continually recognized for design excellence in international design competitions and in their careers. Last year, at the 2005 Interior Design Educators Council Student Design Competition, our fourth-year design students collected two of the four awards presented. Additionally, two second-year students earned awards in the First Annual Hospitality Design Magazine competition. Their projects are published in the October 2005 issue of the magazine. And perhaps most importantly, our student interns and graduates find employment with design firms listed in Interior Design Magazine’s top 100.

Our program, accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly known as FIDER) prepares future designers for licensure and practice. A degree from a CIDA accredited program is increasingly important as a requirement for professional certification and licensing of Interior Designers in the United States. Graduating from a CIDA accredited program is the first step in a three-part process in achieving certification or licensing as an interior designer in various states. The last two steps are to complete two years of assistantship as an interior designer and then passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. A CIDA accredited degree, work experience and passing the NCIDQ exam satisfy the requirements in Virginia for recognition as a “Certified Interior Designer.”

Click here for more information about VA Polytechnic Institute and State University.

The Department of Interior Design, accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, provides the breadth of a university education with the depth of a professional curriculum. The curriculum provides for the study of space, form, color and light in collaboration with the pragmatic investigation of building codes, materials, finishes, construction methods and business practices. An important focus also is placed on the study of design theory and the history of interior environments. All of these areas are synthesized in the curriculum to provide learning of the overall context of the built interior environment. Graduates are prepared with the skills and knowledge that can facilitate the student’s transition into an entry-level interior design position at a successful firm or corporation, or entry into programs of advanced study. The department also prepares students with the skills and knowledge that will allow for lifelong learning and professional development in the design industry. Prospective students are encouraged to review the School of the Arts undergraduate admissions website as well as the Art Foundation Program website.

Click here for more information about Virginia Commonwealth University.

Click here for more information about Virginia Commonwealth University.

The interior design field focuses on enhancing the function and quality of interior spaces to improve quality of life, productivity, health, safety, and welfare. Interior design is a fine arts discipline tempered by the human sciences.

The interior design major at WSU balances study in art, architecture, and humanities with a strong hands-on component.

All students complete a senior immersion experience — faculty-led study abroad in Florence, Italy, a professional internship, or working directly with a faculty mentor on a design project to benefit the local community.

Click here for more information about Washington State University.

The Interior Design curriculum is dedicated to the preparation of the student toward a successful, professional career. At the basis of the program of study is the idea that the successful design of an interior space improves human welfare, and that the interior design professional assumes a vital role in ensuring that interior environments are aesthetically pleasing, healthy, safe, and developed through the use of environmentally conscientious materials and methods. The curriculum is balanced between comprehensive coursework and interior design studios with an emphasis on a pathway toward new paradigms. Studies come to life through the involvement of a dedicated faculty of highly qualified interior designers and architects. Key to the success of the interior design student is the interaction among the student, faculty, interior design alumni, and local practitioners of architecture and design who come into the classroom to participate in guidance and critiques. Through a variety of scenarios, students are taught to understand the process toward a successful design outcome. Each level of the student’s education builds toward the nexus of knowledge and skills required in current avenues of professional practice.

Click here for more information about Watkins College of Art, Design & Film.

At Weber State University, the interior design program gives students the opportunity to foster creativity while also providing current technical background needed to be competitive in the design industry.

The program features online as well as live lecture courses. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to enter a design-build network of professions within the design industry as well as be familiar with exam content of professional licensure and certification such as NCIDQ and LEED GA

Click here for more information about Weber State University.

The Interior Design Program, which is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, teaches students to identify, research and creatively solve problems pertaining to the design of functional and high quality interior environments. They gain specialized knowledge of interior construction, sustainable practices, interior materials, furnishing and aesthetics, building codes, and social and ethical responsibilities of designers. Students engage in programming, design analysis and space planning relative to interior environments. They prepare drawings and documents that detail their specifications for aesthetically pleasing interiors that meet client needs, enhance quality of life and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Click here for more information about West Virginia University.