A female professor and a student demonstrate how to use virtual reality tools to design a project.

The Interior Architecture concentration in the Interior Architecture and Design major 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 IA concentration in the Interior Architecture and Design major is accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Faculty hold professional certifications in NCIDQ, LEED AP, and WELL AP.

Students in the Interior Architecture concentration will acquire knowledge and skills to prepare them to become interior design professionals as qualified by education, experience, and National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. Students will apply understanding of multiple processes that are involved in the practice of interior architecture and interior design to develop creative design solutions for building interiors, including programming, research-informed and evidenced-based design, building information modeling, construction documentation and detailing. Core skills developed will align with current Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) standards. 

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

Effective Fall 2024

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program Concentration:
First year students in the Interior Architecture and Design Major will not declare a concentration until spring semester. Students may apply to the Interior Architecture concentration through the Selective Advancement Design Scenario. Students who qualify for the Selective Advancement Design Scenario must have a minimum grade of C in INTD 110, INTD 129, INTD 166, and a cumulative reported GPA of 2.500 or better to participate. All majors in the concentration 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
Historical Perspectives3D3
Electives 3
 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
Elective3 6
 Total Credits 28
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

In addition to required courses in the concentration, 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 in the Interior Architecture and Design Major will enter with an undeclared concentration; they will apply to the Interior Architecture concentration through the Selective Advancement Design Scenario. Students who qualify for the Selective Advancement Design Scenario must have a minimum grade of C in INTD 110, INTD 129, INTD 166, and a cumulative reported GPA of 2.500 or better to participate. Approximately 60 students are selected to advance to the Interior Architecture concentration. The Interior Architecture concentration is a cohort program ‐ after students pass the Design Scenario, semesters 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7, and 8 are sequential.

All majors in the concentration 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)X 1A3
DM 192BFirst Year Seminar: Pre-Interior Architecture and DesignX  1
INTD 110Visual Expression of Interior Environments (GT-AH1)X 3B3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)X 1B1
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)X 3C3
Select one course from the following:X  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 advancement.X   
 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)X 1B1
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A4
Elective X 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-MediaX  3
Focus Area Electives (See Major Requirements Tab.)X  6
INTD 266 must be completed by the end of Semester 3.X   
Historical Perspectives  3D3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 276Studio II-Interior Architecture and DesignX  3
Focus Area Elective (See Major Requirements Tab.)X  3
Advanced Writing X23
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion X1C3
Elective X 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 TechnologiesX  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 DesignX  3
INTD 376Studio IV-Interior Architecture and DesignX  4
INTD 410Evidence-based Design TheoryX 4A3
Elective X 3
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 456Professional Practice-Interior Arch DesignX 4B3
INTD 476Capstone-Interior Architecture and DesignX 4C4
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A3
Elective X 6
 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.    
 Total Credits   12
 Program Total Credits:   120