Interior Design

The Department of Human Sciences offers a FIDER (Foundation for Interior Design Education Research) accredited Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design which provides training in both residential and non-residential design, historical interiors, lighting, materials and finishes, furnishings, drafting, visual communication, CADD, and professional procedures. The four-year degree in Interior Design consists of 41 credit hours in General Studies, 22 credit hours in Professional Support Courses (combination of art, business and Human Sciences courses), and 57 credit hours in Interior Design courses. As with most interior design programs, courses must be taken in a strict sequence, making it imperative that students pursuing this degree maintain close contact with a faculty advisor to insure careful advising and scheduling of courses. Once the majority of General Studies courses have been completed, it will take a full three years to complete the interior design courses.

Entrance requirements into the Interior Design course sequence include the completion of 30 credit hours of General Studies and Professional Support courses with a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Once in the program, students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all IDES (Interior Design) courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher to continue in the IDES courses.

The Interior Design program also offers students the possibility of gaining work experience prior to graduation through the internship and co-op programs. Internships are generally limited to one or two semesters of part-time work while enrolled in regular classes. The co-op program requires a longer commitment of three semesters of full-time work, adding an additional year to the four years normally required for the degree.

The Profession of Interior Design

• The professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience, and examination, to provide services wherein the principles and methodology of interior design are applied in connection with the identification, research, and creative solution of problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment. Interior designers employ specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building codes, fire and safety codes, space planning, ergonomics, materials, finishes, furniture, furnishings, and equipment in a manner that will protect and enhance the health, safety, welfare, and well-being of the public.

• Interior design is a learned profession involving issues such as indoor pollution, fire safety, space planning, and requirements of special needs citizens. As this is a matter of public interest, safety, protection, and concern, only qualified persons should be permitted to practice interior design.

• Interior design includes, but is not limited to:

* Analysis of client needs and goals for interior areas of a structure. Evaluation of functional requirements, ergonomics, aesthetics, accessibility, and safety issues.

* The development and presentation of designs for the alteration or construction of interior areas regarding space utilization, materials and finishes for floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, window treatments, accessories, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, equipment, millwork, partitions, and non-load-bearing elements.

* Preparation of interior contract documents for interior construction, furniture, furnishings and equipment:

Drawings:
Floor plans, elevations, sections, details, perspectives
Reflected ceiling plans indicating materials and finishes as well as light fixture
and switch locations
Power and communication plans locating receptacles, and jacks for phones,
data, and audio/video elements
Millwork and cabinetry
Furniture plans and elevations
Drawings related to the design and location of window treatments, artwork,
signage, plants and other accessories or equipment.

Specifications and Schedules:
Materials and finishes for floors, walls, ceilings
Furniture
Window treatments, artwork, signage, plants, and other accessories
Light fixtures
Plumbing fixtures
Millwork items, doors, windows, trims, and hardware
Equipment – appliances, office equipment, audio/ visual equipment

• The preparation and administration of bids or contracts as the agent of the client for fabrication, procurement, or installation of items in connection with the design of an interior space.

• Supervision of installations involving interior elements.

• The review and evaluation of problems relating to the design of a project.

• Collaboration with other design professionals for the alteration or construction of an interior space.

• Generally, an interior decorator does not provide design services in interior construction and space planning. Typically, decorators provide services in the selection of surface finish materials for floors, walls, ceilings, window treatments, selection and placement of furniture and accessories, and selection of plumbing and lighting fixtures.

• Interior design specifically excludes the design of or the responsibility for architectural and engineering work, except for the specification of lighting or plumbing fixtures and their locations within interior spaces. Generally, architectural and engineering interior construction related to building systems includes: construction of structural, mechanical, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, ventilating, electrical, vertical transportation systems, or construction which materially affects life-safety systems pertaining to fire-safety protection such as fire-rated separations between interior spaces, fire-rated vertical shafts in multistory structures, fire-rated protection of structural elements, smoke evacuation and compartmentalization, emergency ingress or egress systems, and emergency alarm systems.

Additonal information regarding Interior Design qualification can be found at the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) website.