An Interior Design and Architecture student smiles at the camera while working on a project at the computer.

The Interior Architecture and Design program prepares students to become professional designers through education, experience, and examination. Students learn to design interior environments that enhance the function and quality of life, increase productivity, and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Faculty prepare students for research-based problem-solving and experiential education rooted in studio instruction, service learning, and internships that encompass cultural, environmental, and historical perspectives. The program is accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and faculty hold professional certifications in NCIDQ and LEED AP.

Students seeking to apply to the Interior Architecture and Design major at CSU first are admitted to CSU as Pre-Interior Architecture and Design. All students who wish to be considered for admission to Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) major will be required to complete the Degree Advancement Design Scenario practicum. Advancement into the major is based on the review received at the Design Scenario, where external reviewers will assess student competencies in writing for design, sketching, problem-solving, and conceptual frameworks. A cohort of approximately 50-60 students advances based on performance on the Degree Advancement Design Scenario. The Design Scenario occurs annually in the spring semester. Learn more on the Design and Merchandising website for Degree Advancement Design Scenario.

In order to participate in the Degree Advancement Design Scenario students must have the following:

  • GPA of 2.500 or higher.
  • Completion of or current enrollment in INTD 110, INTD 129 and INTD 166 or equivalent. Equivalent courses from other institutions must be approved at least two weeks prior to the IAD Design Scenario by the IAD transfer advisor.

The Design and Merchandising Department Academic Success Coordinator will work with Pre-Interior Architecture and Design students and advise them on their current performance in relation to the possibility of their admission to Interior Architecture and Design.

Learning Outcomes

Our program will allow you to explore:

  • Creative problem-solving
  • Design Thinking
  • Global/cultural perspective
  • Inclusive design
  • Interior architecture design technologies
  • Interior construction and building systems
  • Life safety and codes
  • Space planning
  • Sustainable design strategies
  • Visual Communication

Students engage in a studio-intensive curriculum that emphasizes research-informed and creative problem-solving. The curriculum underscores the importance of cultural, environmental, and historical perspectives in the design process.

The teaching facilities include design studios and critique spaces; a gallery; a design materials library; virtual reality computer labs; and fabrication labs (prototyping, woods, metals, and screen printing).

Students will enroll in internship credits at least one semester before graduation.

Students who engage in co-curricular learning experiences will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, engage in project-based learning experiences, assist with department recruiting events and new student orientations, and attend a variety of leadership events.

Potential Occupations

Students are prepared to practice interior architecture/interior design with competency in design fundamentals, space planning and programming, code compliance, lighting, materials research, project management, and professional practices in the design of diverse interior spaces.

Graduates seek employment in interior design and architecture firms as residential, corporate, retail, health care, institutional, education, and hospitality designers. Graduates also work in lighting design, product development, marketing, research, design-related journalism, illustration, facility management, showroom management, and as manufacturers’ representatives.

Learn more about the Interior Architecture and Design major on the Department of Design and Merchandising website.

The Nancy Richardson Design Center is a multi-disciplinary center located in the College of Health and Human Sciences at CSU, with a mission to foster interdisciplinary creative collaboration. It serves as a design-thinking hub where students from across campus can gather to collaborate, innovate, and prototype creative ideas in formal and informal learning spaces using state-of-the-art equipment and technology. The RDC has four studio/lab classrooms for hands-on learning, a seminar room for use by professional staff, a small dedicated project room that can also be used for student teams and visiting designers-in-residence, two computer labs, a design exchange (for student presentations, gallery exhibitions, special lectures, and events, etc.), an ideation lab (including virtual reality equipment), prototyping lab (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC textile equipment, etc.), metal shop (traditional metalworking tools, welding, as well as state-of-the-art CNC milling machinery), wood shop (traditional woodworking hand and power tools as well as a large 4’x8’ CNC router), and a sustainable dark room. 

Effective Fall 2022

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
First year students are identified as Pre‐Interior Architecture and Design (IAD0). Students who qualify for the Selective Advancement Design Scenario must have INTD 110INTD 129INTD 166 and a cumulative reported GPA of 2.500 or better to participate. All majors in the program must earn a minimum grade of C (2.000) in the studio course sequence to advance to the next studio (i.e., INTD 210, INTD 276, INTD 310, INTD 376, INTD 410).

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
CON 151Construction Materials and Methods 3
DM 192BFirst Year Seminar: Pre-Interior Architecture and Design 1
INTD 110Visual Expression of Interior Environments (GT-AH1)3B3
INTD 129Introduction-Interior Architecture Design 3
INTD 166Visual Communication-Drawing 3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)3C3
Select one course from the following: 3
Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1)3B 
Introduction to Design Thinking (GT-AH1)3B 
Introduction to Landscape Architecture3B 
Biological and Physical Sciences3A4
Elective 1
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
INTD 210Studio I-Interior Architecture and Design 3
INTD 266Visual Communication-Digital Multi-Media 3
INTD 276Studio II-Interior Architecture and Design 3
Focus Area1 9
Advanced Writing23
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Electives 6
 Total Credits 30
Junior
 
INTD 310Studio III-Interior Architecture and Design 4
INTD 330Lighting Design 3
INTD 335Interior Architecture and Design Technologies 3
INTD 340Interior Materials and Products 3
INTD 350Codes-Health and Safety 3
INTD 359History of Interior Architecture and Design 3
INTD 376Studio IV-Interior Architecture and Design 4
INTD 410Evidence-based Design Theory4A3
Select one course from the following: 3
Historic Textiles  
American Architectural History  
Elective 3
 Total Credits 32
Senior
 
INTD 456Professional Practice-Interior Arch Design4B3
INTD 476Capstone-Interior Architecture and Design4C4
INTD 4872Internship 12
Biological and Physical Sciences3A3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Elective3 3
 Total Credits 28
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

In addition to required courses in the major, students must complete a minimum of 9 credits from one of the following focus areas. These credits may be used to fulfill required courses in a certificate, minor, interdisciplinary minor, second major, or a focused group of courses approved by an advisor. 

Focus Areas:

  • Art History
  • Business Administration
  • Design Thinking 
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Gerontology
  • Global Environmental Sustainability
  • Graphic Design
  • Media Studies
  • Merchandising
  • Real Estate
  • Psychology

Any minor or undergraduate certificate at CSU in these or other areas will satisfy for the aforementioned focus area requirement.

A minor in Construction Management completed in full, will satisfy for the aforementioned focus area requirement.

2

Substitute experiences could include study abroad or elective courses or independent study (service learning) with advisor approval.

3

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be Upper-Division (300- or 400- level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
First year students are identified as Pre‐Interior Architecture and Design (IAD0). Students who qualify for the Selective Advancement Design Scenario must have INTD 110INTD 129, INTD 166 and a cumulative reported GPA of 2.500 or better to participate. Approximately 40 students are selected to advance to the Second Year and majors are changed to Interior Architecture and Design (IARD‐BS). The IARD-BS major is a cohort program ‐ after students pass the Design Scenario, semesters 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7, and 8 are sequential.

All majors in the program must earn a minimum grade of C in the studio course sequence to advance to the next studio (i.e., INTD 210INTD 276INTD 310INTD 376INTD 410).

Students must complete a 12-credit internship prior to graduation. For students who are unable to participate in an internship, substitute experiences could include study abroad or elective courses or independent study (service learning) with advisor approval.

In addition to required courses in the major, students must complete a minimum of 9 credits from one of the following focus areas. These credits may be used to fulfill required courses in a certificate, minor, interdisciplinary minor, second major, or a focused group of courses approved by an advisor.

Focus Areas:

  • Art History
  • Business Administration
  • Design Thinking 
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Gerontology
  • Global Environmental Sustainability
  • Graphic Design
  • Media Studies
  • Merchandising
  • Real Estate
  • Psychology

Any minor or undergraduate certificate at CSU in these or other areas will satisfy for the aforementioned focus area requirement.

A minor in Construction Management completed in full, will satisfy for the aforementioned focus area requirement.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
DM 192BFirst Year Seminar: Pre-Interior Architecture and Design   1
INTD 110Visual Expression of Interior Environments (GT-AH1)X 3B3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) X1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) X1B1
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3) X3C3
Select one course from the following:   3
Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1)  3B 
Introduction to Design Thinking (GT-AH1)  3B 
Introduction to Landscape Architecture  3B 
INTD 110 Required for selective advancementX   
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CON 151Construction Materials and MethodsX  3
INTD 129Introduction-Interior Architecture DesignX  3
INTD 166Visual Communication-DrawingX  3
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)  1B1
Biological and Physical Sciences  3A4
Elective   1
CO 150 and AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
INTD 129 and INTD 166 required for selective advancement.X   
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 210Studio I-Interior Architecture and DesignX  3
INTD 266Visual Communication-Digital Multi-Media X 3
Focus Area Electives (See Major Requirements Tab.)   6
Elective   3
INTD 266 must be completed by the end of Semester 3.X   
 Total Credits   15
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 276Studio II-Interior Architecture and DesignX  3
Focus Area Elective (See Major Requirements Tab.)   3
Advanced Writing  23
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
Elective   3
PSY 100 must be completed by the end of Semester 4. X   
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 310Studio III-Interior Architecture and DesignX  4
INTD 330Lighting DesignX  3
INTD 335Interior Architecture and Design Technologies   3
INTD 350Codes-Health and SafetyX  3
Select one course from the following: X 3
Historic Textiles    
American Architectural History    
 Total Credits   16
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 340Interior Materials and ProductsX  3
INTD 359History of Interior Architecture and Design X 3
INTD 376Studio IV-Interior Architecture and DesignX  4
INTD 410Evidence-based Design TheoryX 4A3
Elective   3
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 456Professional Practice-Interior Arch Design  4B3
INTD 476Capstone-Interior Architecture and DesignX 4C4
Biological and Physical Sciences  3A3
Historical Perspectives  3D3
Elective   3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 487InternshipX  12
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   12
 Program Total Credits:   120