The Undergraduate Program
The department of interior design offers the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degrees with many areas of minor emphasis available from other academic disciplines. Both degree programs are first professional degrees accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of the Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The major curriculum of study is the same for both degrees except those planning to post a Bachelor of Arts degree having to fulfill additional humanities and language requirements.
View examples of student work.
Click here for a listing of Undergraduate and Graduate textbook requirements for the coming term.
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the University may declare a major in Interior Design. During the first two semesters of study, a conditional Interior Design major must take four specific courses in the major: Introduction to Interior Design, Technical Drawing, and Design Fundamentals I and II. At the end of the Spring Term a First Year Review will be held. From among the students who apply for this portfolio review of the work from these four classes, the top 40 students will be chosen to proceed to the second year and beyond of study in Interior Design and will be accepted majors.
The program also requires the following courses as co-program requirements:
3 semester hours of art history
Transfer students, or beginning students not starting the Design Fundamentals sequence in Term I, may take all or part of the required first year Interior Design course work during the Summer Term. A second First Year Review will be held at the end of this term. From among candidates in the Spring and Summer Reviews, only 40 students total will be accepted into the second year of study. Transfer students must contact the department Career Counselor (see contact information below) in the Spring term prior to beginning the Summer sessions in order to reserve space in the needed classes. Transfer students who successfully pass the First Year Review can complete the sequence of study in two years (Fall/Spring/ Summer; Fall/Spring/ Summer) after the initial Summer session.
The Program of Studies
It is the intent of the Department to graduate future interior designers who are committed to excellence in design. Toward this end, students and faculty explore and experiment with interior design issues in residential, contract and institutional settings to creatively advance the profession of interior design and the built environment. Studies culminate in the senior year with a capstone six-credit Studio IV class incorporating a thesis project and portfolio presentation.
The undergraduate program of studies consists of sequential learning that provides training in all critical aspects of interior design. The program consists of 75 (seventy-five) semester credits of required courses beyond the liberal studies. However, candidates are urged to consider additional elective studies that will enhance portfolio performance. Students are encouraged to attend the Summer Session of their Sophomore year to continue sequential courses (and fulfill university requirements.) A total of 121 credit hours is required for graduation.
Internships are available with local interior design and architectural firms. Internships may also be completed at remote sites as approved by the program. This elective program of studies is a most valuable experience and may easily be accommodated within a regular semester of studies in the program.
View the program course sequence.
Computer Requirements
All Interior Design students will need to purchase a laptop computer by the middle of the Fall Semester of the Sophomore Year. This allows students to work on their own computer in studio classes and computer graphic labs. Computers must be PC format in order to match requirements for our industry-specific software. Our current advice for laptop purchase would include the following minimum requirements:
Hardware:
- Large screen of 15” is better than a standard 14” screen
- Intel™ Core® 2 Duo 2.40GHz or equivalent AMD Athlon® processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 120 GB Hard Drive
- CD-RW Drive
- Windows XP Professional SP2 or later, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, or Vista
- Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 6.0 SP1 or later
- 1280 x 1024 32-bit color video display adaptor (true color)
- Wireless Access
- MS-Mouse compliant full-sized mouse (for better image manipulation)
Software:
We advise students not to purchase software required by the department until fully accepted into the program (after a successful FIRST YEAR REVIEW). We will prompt you prior to enrollment in CAD I to purchase the latest release of AutoCAD and Photoshop. You will also be required to purchase InDesign for Studio I and 3ds Max for CAD II. Initial classes require only Microsoft Office software: Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Printer:
Students are strongly advised to purchase a color printer capable of printing 11"x17" sheets (as this is the format for studio output.)
More information on the Interior Design Program can be found in the University Bulletin. If you have questions on department eligibility and enrollment contact David M. Butler, Career Counselor Department of Interior Design.
Summer Study in the Restoration of the Historic Decorative Arts
In cooperation with the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, our interior design program runs a summer 2-week intensive study on the restoration and preservation of the decorative arts. Centered on the extensive restoration of the Ca d'Zan, the 1920s winter home of John and Mable Ringling, students are able to study with the curators, art historians, and craftsman that made this museum house a reality. The course, led by Associate Professor Karen Myers, is open to undergraduate and graduate students for elective credit.
Check out the July 2008 article from the Sarasota Hearald-Tribune on our Sarasota Summer Program.
International Study Programs
The program also offers the opportunity to study abroad. During the summer semester, interior design students have the opportunity to visit some of the leading design centers in Europe. Past study abroad courses have been offered in Italy, France and England, through Florida State University's Study Abroad program.
For more information on FSU's international programs.