Program Overview

A major in Interior Design prepares students for professional practice, through research informed, design thinking infused and practice-based projects and opportunities that will strengthen their rational and creative thinking. Very broadly, it seeks to teach students the importance and value of the design process and design thinking, promote the awareness and knowledge of the contributions of the profession to the health, safety and well being of people in the built environment, and to prepare graduates of the program to succeed as professional designers. Upon graduation from this CIDA (Council of Interior Design Accreditation) Accredited program, students are eligible to begin the NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualification) certificate examination process.

The curriculum is interactive, haptic and performance based, offering problem solving experiences in all major areas of design practice (i.e. healthcare, retail, corporate, residential, etc.), in addition to areas of focused instruction including human factors and behaviors, materials, history, building systems and construction, building codes and regulations, lighting, acoustics and professional practice. The overarching goal of the interior design program is to provide a transformative teaching and learning environment where passion and creativity are fostered, and careers are shaped. This is accomplished through four main goals woven into each project and opportunity delivered across the program: to be experiential, to be contextual, to be collaborative, to be empathetic.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Interior Design major, students will be able to:

• Synthesize research findings to inform design solutions. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Create interior environments infused with design-thinking. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
• Apply practice-based knowledge and skill sets to interior spaces. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork; Ethical Reasoning)