Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design at the School of Media and Design prepares students for creative and fulfilling roles in interior design. One of only 14 CIDA-accredited programs in Texas, the Interior Design program emphasizes environment and behavior, the design process combined with the latest technology to develop students’ skills and prepare them to enter the working world upon graduation. The program also stresses career readiness as part of the curriculum.


Why Interior Design?

Residences, offices, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, healthcare facilities, education and any number of spaces where the environment is critical to the human experience, rely on the skills and talent of interior design professionals. Their understanding of spatial needs, human interactions, technology, color, design, style and lighting help guide businesses and organizations across industries in developing the spaces that support function and human well-being.


Interior Design Curriculum

The BFA in Interior Design is a rigorous 124-hour program that provides a marketable, hands-on education that prepares students for employment upon graduation. Students are challenged to identify, research and creatively solve problems relative to the function and quality of the interior. Courses in design process, space planning, construction, codes, lighting, color theory, interior materials and textiles develop students’ vision and creative skills. Through study of environment and behavior theory, students examine the relationship between the person and space, as well as its psychological implications. Sustainability and environmental impact are also stressed.

After completion of the first year and one-half, all interior design (INTD) and interior merchandising and management (INMM) students are required to submit a portfolio of the INTD first-year and one-half. Portfolios are reviewed in March/April of their second year. Only upon passage of the Portfolio Review may students continue the BFA Interior Design degree or BA Interior Merchandising and Management degree (all four concentrations) and continue to study within their major.

The Interior Design program is one of only 14 programs in Texas accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Quality standards and high academic standards are expected, maintained and surpassed.

Click here for Interior Design Course Descriptions

CAD rendering of a women in a lobby with modern furnishingsCareer readiness is an integral part of the program. As part of the curriculum, students will take multiple courses that provide them direct professional experience in the working world.

  • Capstone I and II are courses taken during the first and second semesters of a student’s senior year and challenges them to complete a complex interior design project from ideation to professional presentation.
  • Also taken during the student’s senior year, Portfolio I focuses on the development of a professional-level portfolio that showcases the student’s creative work that they may then show to prospective employers. Portfolio II focuses on showcasing student work in an interview setting and via digital presence. This course will culminate in a senior show.
  • INTD 4161: Interior Design Internship challenges students to apply their learned skills, techniques and theory in a real, professional setting through an approved internship experience.
  • INTD 4395: Professional Practice focuses on developing professionalism in the interior design industry. Students will explore its practices and procedures, project management, industry terminology and ethics.

Students of the Interior Design department will learn and work on a number of programs used in the industry today. To run them effectively, it is recommended that students use computers with the necessary space, capabilities and operating systems.

Recommend a PC (not Mac) with the following:

  • Intel i7 6700 series or higher
  • 16 GB DDR4 21 32 Ram
  • 512 GB SSD (for Operating System and Programs)
  • 1 TB HDD (for data)
  • Nvidia 1070 graphics card OR AMD Radeon 480
  • Wifi capability

Your system will need to run the following programs which may be provided at no charge:

  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • SketchUp
  • AutoCAD
  • Revit
  • Enscape
  • Various plug-ins for Sketchup and Revit

 

Careers in Interior Design

A professional interior designer is one qualified by education and experience to identify, to research and to creatively solve problems relative to the function and quality of man’s proximate environment. The professional’s competency includes fundamental design, design analysis, space planning and programming; the design of all interior spaces, and an understanding of other aspects of design. An interior designer is recognized professionally after having completed an accredited education and/or a minimum requirement in practical interior design or related field and having passed the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) exam.