Undergraduate Programs in Interior Architecture & Design
Good interior design is a necessity, not a luxury.
We believe that the spaces where we live, work, heal, and play should not only be functional but inspiring, beautiful, and tailored to make your life better. Responsibly designed spaces can help promote a sustainable natural world and contribute to the health and wellness of its inhabitants. The Department of Interior Architecture & Design at Florida State University provides the knowledge and skills necessary to create interiors that are primed for the future and tailored to the human experience. We are committed to shaping spaces and shaping lives by responding to and transforming an increasingly complex world with a human touch.
Advisor Contact Info
Academic Program Specialist
Undergraduate Advisor
Why get an undergraduate degree in Interior Design at FSU?
Our program, housed in the College of Fine Arts, encompasses a CIDA-accredited and NASAD-accredited undergraduate curriculum where students can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. Our students focus on current and forward-thinking practices in design, architectural and interiors history, design theory, and advanced graphic technologies. They also engage in design studios addressing residential and commercial environments such as health care, retail, workplace, hospitality, and designs for special populations such as children, aging adults, and others in need of supportive spaces. Utilizing evidence-based design frameworks in tandem with critical thinking initiatives throughout our curriculum, students can explore creative solutions that have the power to shape our experiences and elevate our daily lives.
Join a community where your creativity is nurtured in a positive and collaborative setting, where collegiality is celebrated, and you learn the skills necessary to create innovative, human-centered spaces.
Accreditations
The interior design program leading to the Bachelors of Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 and NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design).
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Interior Design Degree granted by Florida State University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Founded in 1944, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 328 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors. For more information about NASAD, visit: https://nasad.arts-accredit.org/.
Admissions Requirements
All students including transfer students, should contact the Department Advisor in the Major & the Academic Program Specialist at least three to four semesters in advance to reserve a seat on the waiting list.Interior Design at FSU is a specialized admissions program which means that the demand of the bachelor’s degree exceeds the capacity of the Department and thus, only a portion of the students that apply are accepted. It is a highly competitive major that requires critical-thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective time management skills. The Interior Design major is 4 years and starts in the first year at FSU.
First Time in College students should declare Interior Design as their major on their application. FTIC students admitted to the University will have conditional acceptance in the major until they complete the foundation classes and First Year Review. The department is not involved in university admissions. See University Admissions (https://admissions.fsu.edu) There is no entry portfolio requirement to apply to FSU or to the Interior Design major.
Transfer students who are being considered for admission into Interior Design major must also meet the University requirements. Please also see the requirements for the intended major.A cumulative college GPA of 3.0 is required to be added to the waiting list or to be conditionally accepted into the major as a transfer student.
Transfer students who take all of the required first year Interior Design classes during the Spring semester offers the best path to graduate. This will allow the student to graduate after three- and one-half years in the program.However, some transfer students need to complete general education classes and can start in the fall semester.Transfer students do not need to bring any Interior Design classes with them into the program. There is no entry portfolio requirement to apply to FSU or to the Interior Design major.
Students who are current FSU student who want to change majors need to reach out to the department through email or campus connect to schedule a meeting with an advisor. Please see the requirements for the intended major.A cumulative college GPA of 3.0 is required to be added to the waiting list or to take classes in the major. There is no entry portfolio requirement to apply to FSU or to the Interior Design major. A department questionnaire will be required for each student to respond to prior to being added to the waiting list.
All students should contact both Amy O’Keefe, Undergraduate Advisor in the Major, at aokeefe@fsu.edu and also Rebecca Cowart, Academic Program Specialist, at rebecca.cowart@fsu.edu
Length of the Undergraduate Program
Students who begin in the fall will require 4 years to complete the interior design curriculum; students entering in spring will need 3.5 years. It is not possible to proceed more quickly due to the intense nature of the studio classes and the sequential nature of the program. Transfer students with AS or AA degrees are highly encouraged to begin in the spring.
Program of Studies
The undergraduate program of studies consists of sequential learning that provides training in all critical aspects of the field of interior design. Studios focus on residential design as well as healthcare, office, retail, mixed-use and a capstone hospitality studio. The program consists of 74 (seventy-four) credit hours of required courses beyond the general education classes. A total of 120 credit hours is required for graduation composed of Interior Design coursework with the University general education requirements.
Internships are required of all undergraduate students and are essential in preparing students for their careers. The department can assist students in locating an internship with local interior design and architectural firms, or firms in a number of other cities in Florida and throughout the U.S. The student must initiate the conversation with the firm for the internship.
See the curriculum linked above for more information.
Continuation in the Program
All students must make a C or higher in each class in the major or the class must be repeated. Classes are sequential and build on one another — with many being prerequisites for others — thus, if a student falls off track it will be difficult to complete the program in a timely manner. Classes can only be repeated once, and only two classes in the program may be repeated. If a student exceeds these class repetitions, they will be dismissed from the program.
Classes for Non-Majors
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design does not offer a minor, although select courses may be taken by non-majors based on availability. Contact Amy O’Keefe for more information about classes for non-majors and include Rebecca Cowart.
Summer Study in the Restoration of the Historic Decorative Arts
In cooperation with the Ringling in Sarasota, the Department of Interior Architecture & Design offers a summer one-week intensive program on the history and decorative arts, gilded age culture, and museum exhibition design. Centered on the extensive restoration of the Ca’ d’Zan, the 1920s winter home of John and Mable Ringling, students meet and learn from the curators, art historians, and craftsmen dedicated to restoring and conserving one of America’s great mansions and its extensive painting, sculpture, and decorative arts collection. Students also tour Sarasota’s celebrated mid-century modern architectural works designed by Paul Rudolph and visit with some of Florida’s leading specialists in modern and contemporary home furniture. The course, led by faculty member Dr. Lena McLane in partnership with Marissa Hershon, Ringling’s Curator of the Ca’ d’Zan, is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Global experience has become an increasingly vital part of a student’s education. During the summer term after the second year of classes, Interior Architecture & Design students have the opportunity to experience design in another country. A summer study abroad program, offered through Florida State University International Programs, is available for Interior Architecture & Design students in London, England.
