COURSE CURRICULUM

The Interior Design BS degree (120 hours) is a professionally accredited program that prepares students to become interior design professionals capable of solving problems related to health, safety, and welfare in residential, commercial, institutional, and specialized environments by combining creative studio work with technical knowledge, historical understanding, and professional practice standards. The curriculum begins with general education requirements, including written communication through ENG 101 and ENG 102, natural sciences with lab-based coursework selected from fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, or geology, humanities including world literature and history courses like HIS 101 or HIS 102, aesthetic values such as art, music, theatre, or dance appreciation (with ART 130 often recommended), social and behavioral sciences including psychology, sociology, economics, or anthropology, and mathematics through courses such as MAT 100 or MAT 101 depending on placement. Students also complete a writing-intensive requirement in GHY 331 Cultural Systems in the Environment, a speaking-intensive communication course such as public speaking or professional communication, and a senior capstone course (ID 490 Advanced Application of Design Theory) that synthesizes design knowledge at an advanced level. The core interior design curriculum includes a sequential studio-based structure beginning with foundational courses like ID 140 Interior Design I, ID 178 Human Factors in the Built Environment, ID 210 CAD for Interior Design, ID 238 Visual Communications, and ID 240 Interior Design II, followed by advanced coursework in residential and contract design studios (ID 340, ID 342, ID 439, ID 440), materials and systems (ID 232, ID 303), design history (ID 325, ACT 322), and professional practice (ID 441). Students also complete portfolio development, BIM training, and internships (ID 442), along with electives in textiles or art history and international housing studies. Additional requirements include pre-design preparation courses in drawing, design fundamentals, and visualization tools. Students must maintain a minimum C grade in all major courses, own a specialized laptop for studio work, and complete progression requirements before advancing to upper-level studios. Overall, the program emphasizes human-centered design, sustainability, technology integration, and professional readiness, preparing graduates for careers in interior design firms, architecture offices, healthcare facilities, corporate environments, and design consultancy roles.