Curriculum

The Interior Design Program prepares students for entry-level careers as interior designers who creatively address the visual, technical and aesthetic aspects of the interior environment. 

The program focuses on learning outcomes and competencies that demonstrate an understanding of the professional interior designer who is qualified by education, experience and examination. The program encourages creative, innovative and artistic thinking as designers apply all aspects of the design process to explore complex problems and generate creative solutions that support human behavior within the interior environment. 

The curriculum provides for the study of the foundational design elements such as space, form, color and light, as well as the functional and pragmatic application of construction systems, building codes and regulations, and the selection of appropriate finishes, materials and furnishings. The curriculum also includes the study of design theory, behavior science and human behavior, as well as the history of the interior environments.

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in interior design are expected to:

• Collect and analyze data about client needs and set priorities of those needs in the design process;
• Plan spaces using program information that effectively and efficiently relates the interior space to client needs, utilizing furniture, finishes, and equipment;
• Design using knowledge of how interiors affect the health, safety, and welfare of the client as well as whether interior elements comply with federal, national, and state codes, particularly those that pertain to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
• Incorporate principles of environmental sustainability in design practice;
• Creatively and effectively express design ideas through hand- and computer-generated drawings;
• Prepare contract documents to legally facilitate all the components required to undertake a design project, including selection of furniture, finishes, and equipment; coordination with architects, mechanical engineers, contractors, and installers; finalizing drawings, purchasing schedules, and code documents; placing orders with manufacturers; and arranging and supervising project installation.