Interior Design

Majors & Minors
Interior Design

Interior Design

“The day I decided that interior design was where I wanted to be was the first time I actually felt excited for college.”

Meet interior design major Leah Leonard

You should major in interior design if:

You believe in creative and technical solutions to problems.
You love functionality as much as you love design.
You have a good eye for interior environments.

In �鶹��ý Lafayette’s interior design program you will learn to enhance quality of life and culture by creating interior environments that are functional and beautiful. Explore your creative ideas in your own designated workspace in our dynamic studio setting. Learn creativity with making spaces, assessing user needs, using interior materials, lighting, and construction. Conclude your education with a self-defined capstone project that launches you into the dynamic profession of Interior Design.

�鶹��ý Lafayette’s interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). A CIDA accredited degree is a critical first step to become a certified designer by the Council of Interior Design Qualifiers () and earning State Licensure (). .

Interior Design at �鶹��ý Lafayette

What's Interior Design Like?

Design studio work
Community outreach
Creative problem solving
Presenting
Visual communication
Professional engagement

Gain a competitive edge with digital technology

Prepare for the design industry by mastering up-and-coming and well-established software used in the industry.

Life as an Interior Design Major

A �鶹��ý Lafayette interior design student making sure pieces of her presentation are level on the wall.

Use Design to Make a Difference

Interior design majors work with on-campus groups at �鶹��ý Lafayette and local non-profit organizations as part of the Studio for Interior Design. Get experience with real-life design situations in the community, integrating current trends in the materials and furniture industries, and learning effective ways to use space to solve real problems.

Travel Opportunities

Travel across the U.S. to expand your educational horizons, enhance your studio work, and network with professionals. Travel to Houston, Dallas, New York, and Chicago on these annual trips with interior design faculty. You can also study design in Italy and France with �鶹��ý Lafayette’s Study Abroad program.

Interior Design Student Organization

Get involved on campus with an organization or association specifically for students in the School of Architecture and Design. Join the International Interior Design Association or Tao Sigma Delta to make connections that will last a lifetime. Members meet with design professionals, participate in field trips to showrooms and design offices, and engage in mentoring programs with local professionals.

Annual Student Conference

Attend the annual International Interior Design Association (IIDA) conference in Dallas, where students get special access to design firms and showrooms. You can also participate in a full-day event of mock interviews and portfolio reviews with leading design professionals from some of the largest national design employers.

Our interior design program welcomes all.

Non-traditional students thrive in our program, whether you’re a parent just starting out or a business owner looking for a second career.

Join a close-knit community.

Small class sizes foster a community within the interior design program where life-long relationships are made, and everyone finds help when they need it.

Learn skills perfect for any design career.

Interior design students are trained to solve any design problem and have a keen eye for detail, an ideal skillset to take advantage of any design opportunity.

Interior Design Courses According to Students

Freshman Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year

DSGN 101: Basic Design I

I truly believe that without that initial studio class, I would not be the person I am today. Even continuing into my sophomore year, studio is still my favorite class. The professors are incredible and know how to push you to your limits while still teaching you important lessons. Studio classes are overall super beneficial and probably the most fun I have had in college.”

Leah Leonard, Interior Design Major

INDS 331: Interior Lighting Design

We learned about the importance of lighting in a space, how to calculate how much light is needed, light temperature, and much more. We also had the chance to design our own light fixture! It was super cool to learn what goes into light design and to learn how to wire a light.”

Caroline Ferrell, Interior Design Major

DSGN 376: Intermediate Design Media

We got to put together all the materials we need to search for a job after graduation. We designed a logo, which we then used to design business cards, a cover letter, a resume, and a portfolio. Kiwana is such a great teacher and she made the class really fun! We learned a lot about what goes into a design.”

Caroline Ferrell, Interior Design Major

Interior Design Careers

Justine Hebert

“Now that I am almost six years into owning my design business and achieving my original goal, my goals have changed. My new goals are to work on projects that are impactful to the user in a positive way, such as their well-being, and to be environmentally conscious by using sustainable designs and finishes.”

Interior Design, '11

Owner and President at J Design

Meet Justine Hebert

Jobs in Interior Design

Commercial Interior Designer
Residential Interior Designer
Workplace Designer
Commercial Furniture Sales
Exhibition Designer
Interior Materials Designer

Program Requirements

Admissions Requirements

To major in interior design, you must meet the University's admissions requirements.
See the full admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements

To complete a major in interior design, you will be required to maintain a grade of “C” or better in all courses required for the interior design degree and a cumulative GPA of 2.4 or better to graduate.

All second-year students in interior design are required to have your own personal computer to run design software. .

To complete a minor in interior design, you will need to complete 18 credits hours of interior design courses, with a minimum of 6 credit hours being at the 300 or 400 levels.

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 Interior Design granted by the University of �鶹��ý at Lafayette meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).

Resources

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Learn about the architecture program

More about the industrial design program

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Interior Design

Meet interior design major Leah Leonard