Two female students and a male student use graphic design equipment in the Nancy Richardson Design Center.

The Interior Products and Retailing (IPR) concentration in the Interior Architecture and Design Program prepares students to become design-specialist entrepreneurs in the interiors industry. Students learn in-depth knowledge of interior products and furnishings, design thinking processes, marketing and consumer behavior strategies, and relationship-building skills for business development. Faculty prepare students for positions as specialists who serve as expert intermediaries at the dynamic intersection between manufacturers of interior products and furnishings, architecture and design firms, retailers, and business partners. Internships, shadowing opportunities, vendor tradeshows, and networking events advance students’ specialist expertise. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Students in the Interior Products and Retailing concentration will acquire knowledge and skills to be design-specialists with business acumen. Students will develop expertise in understanding a holistic industry view of the marketing analysis, lifecycle, and merchandising of interior products and furnishings for commercial and residential interiors. Core knowledge and skills will include in-depth interior products and furnishings knowledge; sales, promotion, and customer service skills; marketing research strategies; design thinking skills; and business knowledge. 

The Interior Products and Retailing (IPR) concentration will prepare students for growing career opportunities in interior design-related specializations that do not require a design-studio education but do require deeper knowledge of interior products (e.g., furnishings, accessories), materials (e.g., textiles and finishes related to furniture and products), lighting, and retailing, merchandising, and business applications. 

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

Effective Fall 2024

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Concentration:
First year students in the Interior Architecture and Design Major will not declare a concentration until spring semester. To declare the Interior Products & Retailing concentration and advance to the second year in the program, students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.000) in INTD 110INTD 129 and INTD 166.

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
CON 151Construction Materials and Methods 3
DM 192BFirst Year Seminar: Pre-Interior Architecture and Design 1
IDEA 210Introduction to Design Thinking (GT-AH1)3B3
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
Biological and Physical Sciences3A4
Elective 1
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
DM 272Consumers in the Marketplace 3
INTD 201Two-Dimensional Fundamentals-Interior Design 3
INTD 251Computer-Aided Design for Interiors 3
INTD 255Furnishings and Products for Interiors 3
MGT 340Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship 3
Advanced Writing23
Biological and Physical Sciences3A3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Electives 3
 Total Credits 30
Junior
 
INTD 336Color 3
INTD 350Codes-Health and Safety4A3
INTD 351Three-Dimensional Thinking for Interiors 3
INTD 359History of Interior Architecture and Design 3
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following Business courses:1 6
Fundamentals of Management  
Fundamentals of Marketing  
Or two courses in the Certificate in Entrepreneurship
  
Upper Division Concentration Specialization Electives2 9
Upper Division Electives 3
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
INTD 405Capstone--Interior Products and Retailing4C3
INTD 455Housing in America-Cultural Societal Values4B3
INTD 487 (Internship)3Internship 6-12
Upper Division Concentration Specialization Elective2 3
Upper Division Electives4 9-15
 Total Credits 30
 Program Total Credits: 120

Concentration Specialization Electives 

AM 220Textiles3
AM 321Advanced Textiles3
AM 342Computer-Aided Textile Design3
AM 366Merchandising Promotion3
AM 460Historic Textiles3
AM 466Retail Environment Design and Planning3
DM 360/MKT 360Retailing3
IDEA 310EDesign Thinking Toolbox: Foundations of Woodworking1
IDEA 320EDesign Thinking Toolbox: Advanced Woodworking2
IDEA 320IDesign Thinking Toolbox: Advanced Metal Fabrication2
1

Students must complete a minimum of three selected business courses: MGT 340MGT 305MKT 305 or complete the Certificate in Entrepreneurship offered by the College of Business to satisfy graduation requirements for the Interior Products and Retailing Concentration. With advisor permission, students may substitute a Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Minor in Real Estate, Minor in Business Administration or a second Major in Business Administration for this requirement.

2

Students will choose a total of 12 credits from the Concentration Specialization elective list. 

3

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

4

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 not declare a concentration until spring semester. To declare the Interior Products & Retailing concentration and advance to the second year in the program, students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.000) in INTD 110INTD 129, and INTD 166.

Students must complete a 6-12 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.

 
Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
DM 192BFirst Year Seminar: Pre-Interior Architecture and DesignX  1
IDEA 210Introduction to Design Thinking (GT-AH1)X 3B3
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
 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 110, INTD 129 and INTD 166 are required during the first year.X   
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
DM 272Consumers in the MarketplaceX  3
INTD 201Two-Dimensional Fundamentals-Interior DesignX  3
INTD 251Computer-Aided Design for InteriorsX  3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion X1C3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 255Furnishings and Products for InteriorsX  3
MGT 340Fundamentals of EntrepreneurshipX  3
Advanced Writing  X23
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A3
Elective X 3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 336ColorX  3
INTD 350Codes-Health and SafetyX 4A3
Select one Business course from the following:X  3
Fundamentals of Management    
Fundamentals of Marketing    
Or one course in the Certificate in Entrepreneurship
    
Upper Division Concentration Specialization Elective (see list on Program Requirements tab) X 3
Upper Division Elective X 3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 351Three-Dimensional Thinking for InteriorsX  3
INTD 359History of Interior Architecture and DesignX  3
Select a Business course not previously taken from the following:X  3
Fundamentals of Management    
Fundamentals of Marketing    
Or one course in the Certificate in Entrepreneurship
    
Upper Division Concentration Specialization Elective X 6
***PSY 100 and IDEA 210 must be completed prior by the end of the 6th semesterX   
 Total Credits   15
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 405Capstone--Interior Products and RetailingX 4C3
INTD 455Housing in America-Cultural Societal ValuesX 4B3
Upper Division Concentration Specialization Elective (see list on Program Requirements tab)X  3
Upper Division Electives X 6
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
INTD 487InternshipX  6-12
Upper Division ElectivesX  3-9
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   120