Interior Design - Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design

The professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience, and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces for the purposes of improving the quality of life; increasing productivity; and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

This accredited four-year professional program prepares students for entry-level positions in the fields of residential and non-residential interior design.

The program provides an understanding and application of the design process; of programming and space planning; of furniture selection and layout; of design and decorative elements; of building and other regulatory codes, regulations, and barrier-free requirements; of building, environmental, and furniture systems; of the profession itself; of environmental concerns; of universal design; of computer applications in interior design; and of the selection and application of lighting and color. Students also develop drafting, communications and presentation skills, and study the basic and creative arts. Methods of instruction include lecture, site visits, speakers from industry and the profession, as well as studio work.

Curriculum

Course Sequencing

The Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design is accredited at the professional level by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. CIDA promotes excellence in interior design education through research and the accreditation of academic programs which prepare interior designers to create interior environments for improving the quality of the human experience. CIDA is a recognized member of the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; it is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of education in the field of interior design; and it is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors.

Also, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design has granted institutional accreditation to the Interior Design Program. NASAD, the national accrediting agency for art and design and related disciplines, was established in 1944 to improve educational practices and to maintain high professional standards in art and design education. Institutional accreditation, gained only through peer review, is based on an art or design program’s demonstrated content, competence, and educational substance as applied to the preparation of art and design professionals.

Affiliation with the American Society of Interior Designers ASID is available through membership in the student chapter. Student membership in the International Interior Design Association IIDA is also possible. Attendance at student and professional events held or sponsored by both organizations is encouraged.

For more information about the Interior Design Program at The University of Akron use a contact noted below:

Interior Design Program
215 Schrank Hall South
The University of Akron
Akron, Ohio 44325-6103

Telephone: 330-972-7721

SchoolofFCS@uakron.edu