Undergraduate Program
Admission Requirements I Program of Study I Summer Study in the Restoration of the Historic Decorative Arts
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design offers the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degrees in interior design. Both degree programs are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of the Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 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 at aokeefe@fsu.edu and Rebecca Cowart at rebecca.cowart@fsu.edu.
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in interior design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.
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 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees granted by Florida State University meet 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/paths.
Admission Requirements
Students must be admitted to the university prior to acceptance into the program. The department is not involved in university admissions. See University Admissions for more details. All students, including transfer students, must contact the Department Advisor in the Major in order to reserve a space in the foundation courses. Contacting the department at least three to four semesters in advance is recommended.
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design at Florida State University is a “limited access” major, which means that demand for the bachelor’s degree exceeds the capacity of the Department and thus, only a portion of students that apply are accepted. There is no entry portfolio requirement to apply to FSU or the program, but students are formally accepted into the program after taking foundation courses in the major and passing the First Year Review. The foundation courses include Survey of Interior Design (IND 2002) and Design Fundamentals I and II (IND 1203 & 1204). These classes must be taken at FSU. Along with the foundation courses, students will need to take ARH 2051 History and Criticism of Art and MAC 1105 College Algebra. At the end of the spring semester, students will go through a First Year Review, from which up to 36 students are selected to move on to the next year. To be eligible for First Year Review, students must receive a grade of B- or higher in the foundation courses and achieve at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all classes at FSU and transfer credits. Due to the high demand, it is important to note that even if a student meets these requirements, there is no guarantee they will be accepted. The foundation courses can only be taken once. Students receiving a grade below a B- in any of the foundation courses must change majors at the completion of that term.
Transfer Students: For transfer students, or FSU students changing their major, it is highly recommended that they begin in the spring semester, take all foundation courses, and go through First Year Review at the end of the semester. This will allow the fastest path to graduation (spring semester plus three years). Prior to applying for admission to FSU, transfer students must contact the department advisor, Amy O’Keefe at aokeefe@fsu.edu and Academic Program Specialist, Rebecca Cowart at rebecca.cowart@fsu.edu, to reserve space in the foundation courses. Classes fill up very fast, so it is important that a student inform the department of their intent to enroll three to four semesters in advance. A transfer student need not enter FSU with any interior architecture and design coursework completed. These foundation courses are only offered at FSU and cannot be taken elsewhere. Transferring students must have a 3.0 GPA to take the three foundation courses.
During the First Year Review process, all faculty review the work of the students following their completion of the foundation courses. In addition to the quality of student work, attitude, work ethic, attendance, the ability to accept constructive criticism, and cumulative GPA in all classes taken at the college/university level are also considered.
Length of the Undergraduate Program
Students who begin in the fall will require 4 years to complete the interior architecture and 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 AA degrees are highly encouraged to begin in the spring.
The 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 educational library spaces, and a capstone hospitality studio. The program consists of 77 (seventy-seven) semester credits of required courses beyond the liberal studies. A total of 120 credit hours is required for graduation composed of Interior Architecture and Design coursework with the University liberal studies requirements.
Internships are required of all undergraduate students and are essential in preparing students for their careers. The department will 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.
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.
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, ymclane@fsu.edu in partnership with Marissa Hershon, Ringling’s Curator of the Ca’ d’Zan, is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
The program also offers the opportunity to study abroad. 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. Global experience has become an increasingly vital part of a student’s education. For more information, contact Amy Huber or Lena McLane.
More Information
More information on the Interior Architecture & Design Department can be found in the University Bulletin.