Overview
http://www.design.iastate.edu/interiordesign/index.php
The department offers the degrees Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design, Master of Arts (M.A.) in Interior Design, and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Interior Design.
BFA Interior Design
Emphasis is on the student's application of design processes to creatively solve problems of the interior environment based on knowledge of human safety, functional utility, and physical, psychological, and contextual fit. Graduates in interior design are competent in visual communication (sketching, drafting, and computer-aided design), design problem solving, space planning, lighting and color specification for interiors, finish and furniture selection, detailing interior construction, and application of human factors. The curriculum is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) as providing professional-level education.
Transfer students with studio credits from other colleges and universities must present a portfolio of work done in those courses to determine if these credits can be applied toward specific studio requirements. Students are required to present their portfolio upon admission and prior to registration for classes. Arrangements for this process must be made with department advisors.
Graduate Study
A 34-graduate-credit program is offered leading to the Master of Arts, for students planning to undertake professional or design research-oriented pursuits. (NOTE: Applicants without a previous undergraduate degree in interior design may be required to complete up to 40 additional credits of deficiency work).
A 60-graduate-credit post-professional graduate program is also offered leading to the degree Master of Fine Arts.
Student Learning Outcomes
All graduating students with a BFA in Interior Design will:
- Develop an understanding of the design process to creatively solve a design problem and apply the design elements and principles to design solutions.
- Communicate ideas and design solutions effectively in written, oral, and visual form, including presentations of studio-based work.
- Collaborate in team-based projects with other students in interior design and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, including an understanding of the role of interior designers in practice.
- Apply research and theories to projects, including the evidence of human-centered design in the built environment; develop an appreciation of global cultures and the history of interiors, architecture, and art.
- Demonstrate knowledge in the technical aspects of interior design, specifically in light and color, products and materials, environmental systems and human wellbeing, construction, and regulations and guidelines.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum in Interior Design leads to a 129-credit undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design including completion of the Core Design Program.
Admission into the professional program follows completion of the Core Design Program and depends upon available resources. Information on admission criteria to each professional degree is posted each year on the College admissions website.
Total Degree Requirement: 129 cr.
Only 65 credits from a two-year institution may apply, which may include up to 16 technical credits; 9 P-NP credits of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA; Completion of all requirements listed below.
International Perspective: 3 cr.
U.S. Cultures and Communities: 3 cr.
Communication: 10 cr.
(C or better grade ENGL 1500 and ENGL 2500)
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| One course from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Humanities: 6 cr.
6 credits from program curriculum sheet.
Social Sciences: 6 cr.
6 credits from program curriculum sheet.
Math/Physics/Biol. Sciences: 6 cr.
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Probability | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Ideas | ||
| College Algebra | ||
or MATH 1500 | Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | |
| Three credit hours from program curriculum sheet. | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
General Education Courses: 9 cr.
9 credits from program curriculum sheet; 6 credits of course level 3000-4000.
College of Design Core: 13 cr.
| DSNS 1020 | Design Studio I | 4 |
| DSNS 1150 | Design Collaborative Seminar | 1 |
| or DSNS 1100 | Design Exchange Seminar I | |
| DSNS 1310 | Drawing I | 4 |
| DSNS 1320 | Digital Design Literacy | 1 |
| DSNS 1830 | Design in Context | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
General Design History: 6 cr.
Select 6 credits from any College of Design history courses.
Interior Design: 61-63 cr.
| ARTID 2500 | Fundamentals of Interior Design | 2 |
| ARTID 2510 | Human Factors in Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTID 2610 | Graphic Communication for Interior Design I | 3 |
| ARTID 2630 | Graphic Communication for Interior Design II | 3 |
| ARTID 2650 | Interior Design Studio I | 4 |
| ARTID 2670 | Interior Design Studio II | 4 |
| ARTID 3500 | Interior Finish Materials | 3 |
| ARTID 3510 | Interior Regulations and Guidelines | 3 |
| ARTID 3520 | Interior Building Systems | 3 |
| ARTID 3530 | Interior Construction and Details | 3 |
| ARTID 3550 | Interior Design History/Theory/Criticism I | 3 |
| ARTID 3560 | Interior Design History/Theory/Criticism II | 3 |
| ARTID 3600 | Interior Design Internship Seminar I | 1 |
| ARTID 3610 | Interior Design Internship Seminar II | 1 |
| ARTID 3650 | Interior Design Studio III | 4 |
| ARTID 3670 | Interior Design Studio IV | 4 |
| ARTID 4600 | Interior Design Internship Documentation | 1 |
| ARTID 4610 | Interior Design Professional Practices | 2 |
| ARTID 4650 | Interior Design Studio V | 4 |
| DSNS 5460 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio | 4-6 |
| Select course from ARTID 5690-5790 Advanced Studies in Interior Design | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 61-63 | |
Studio/Business Option: 6 cr.
6 credits from program curriculum sheet.
Electives: 4-6 cr.
Complete electives sufficient to complete graduation requirements.
Interior Design, B.F.A.
Four Year Plan
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DSNS 1020 or 1310 | 4 | DSNS 1020 or 1310 | 4 |
| DSNS 1150 | 1 | DSNS 1830 (or Gen Edu) | 3 |
| DSNS 1320 | 1 | ENGL 2500 (or Gen Edu) | 3 |
| DSNS 1830 (or Gen Edu) | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| ARTID 2500 | 2 | LIB 1600 | 1 |
| Gen Edu | 3-4 | ||
| 17-18 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTID 2500 | 2 | ARTID 2510 | 3 |
| ARTID 2610 | 3 | ARTID 2630 | 3 |
| ARTID 2650 | 4 | ARTID 2670 | 4 |
| ARTID 3530 | 3 | ARTID 3500 | 3 |
| ARTID 3550 | 3 | ARTID 3560 | 3 |
| Gen Edu | 1 | (DSNS 3010-Rome Prep) | 0-1 |
| 16 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTID 3600 | 1 | ARTID 3520 | 3 |
| ARTID 3650 | 4 | ARTID 3610 | 1 |
| Studio/Bus Option | 3 | ARTID 3670 | 4 |
| Gen Design Edu or Gen Edu | 3 | Gen Design Edu | 3 |
| ARTID 3510 | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| Gen Edu | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTID 4650 (Gen Edu ) | 4 | ARTID 4610 | 2 |
| ARTID 4600 | 1 | DSNS 5460 | 4-6 |
| Advanced Studies in Interior Design (or Gen Edu) | 3 | Advanced Studies in Interior Design (or Gen Edu) | 3 |
| Studio/Bus Option | 3 | Gen Edu or Elective | 3 |
| Gen Edu | 3 | ||
| Gen Edu or Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 12-14 | ||
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Interior Design Program at ISU may apply for concurrent undergraduate/graduate status prior to their final semester of their undergraduate program. If accepted, students will be allowed to register for six graduate credits and apply the credits to an M.A. degree.
Graduate Study
The Department of Interior Design offers two graduate degrees in interior design: a five-semester Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and a three-semester Master of Arts (M.A.), each of which requires a thesis. The degree programs encourage interdisciplinary work within the College of Design and across related fields within the university. We currently offer double-degree programs and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) with a home department in Interior Design. Financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships is available on a competitive basis.
Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design (MFA)
The MFA is a terminal degree in Interior Design with a required thesis and a creative component. It is designed for students with undergraduate degrees in Interior Design or closely related disciplines and for students from other disciplines who complete required prerequisites in the Department of Interior Design. The MFA in Interior Design Program prepares students to become professionals in practice, teaching, and research.
The MFA program encourages students to research and engage diverse contemporary issues within design specializations across the field of Interior Design. Faculty in the program provide students with opportunities to engage and address social, cultural, environmental, historical, practical, and other concerns within regional, national, and international contexts. They amalgamate traditional methods and contemporary technologies and encourage students to develop new processes and methods as needed. Faculty members promote inclusive designs that accommodate current and future needs across diverse cultures and populations. The Interior Design Graduate Programs expect graduates to approach research and interdisciplinary coursework with dedication and commitment.
The MFA curriculum has an intensive five-semester course sequence that emphasizes foundations of interior design including methods, theory, process, the human condition, and studio. Design seminars offer training in varied interior design specializations including preservation and cultural heritage, inclusive design, lighting, color theory, research methods, and environmental design. The program offers study abroad opportunities, studios with specialized faculty, and independent study projects. Interdisciplinary option studios apply and integrate core-course content with technical proficiency in areas of preservation and cultural heritage, healthcare, design for elderly populations, and hospitality, among others. During the last two semesters students explore interior design through focused research and a written thesis. The MFA program concludes with a public defense of the thesis that includes a thesis exhibition with graphic representations of the research. Students admitted to the program hold undergraduate degrees in a broad range of fields. A student without an undergraduate degree in interior design or interior architecture must complete the curriculum’s prerequisites listed in curriculum sheets posted on the Graduate Programs in Interior Design’s website. Students with undergraduate degrees in closely related to design fields may be eligible to waive part of the prerequisites in the program.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), 60 Credits
Design Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship: Select 9 credits
| ARTID 5690 | Advanced Studies in Interior Design: Variable Topics | 3 |
| ARTID 5700X | Social Entrepreneurship in Aging | arr † |
| ARTID 5710 | Advanced Visualization in Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTID 5720 | Preservation & Cultural Heritage | 3 |
| † Arranged with instructor. | ||
Equitable and Inclusive Environments: Select 9 credits
| ARTID 5510A | Design Humanics: Sensory Perception & Ergonomic Factors | 3 |
| ARTID 5510B | Design Humanics: Environment & Behavior | 3 |
| ARTID 5730 | Advanced Color Theory | 3 |
| ARTID 5740 | Inclusive Environments | 3 |
Methods and Practicum: 9 credits
| ARTID 5520A | Evidence-Based Design: Investigation Analysis | 3 |
| or ARTID 5520B | Evidence-Based Design: Synthesis | |
| or ARTID 5520C | Evidence-Based Design: Communication | |
| or ARTID 5520D | Evidence-Based Design: Procedural Alternatives | |
| ARTID 5540 | Interior Design Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| ARTID 6600 | Research Methods (or DSNS 5010 Introduction to Research Design) | 3 |
Studio Courses: 20 credits
| ARTID 6680 | Advanced Experimental Interior Design | 4 |
| ARTID 6680 | Advanced Experimental Interior Design | 4 |
| DSNS 5460 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio * | 6 |
| DSNS 5460 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio * | 6 |
- *
This course is offered for variable credits. Students should select a section offered for 6 credits.
Thesis and Creative Component: 12 credits
| ARTID 6990A | Thesis | 6 |
| ARTID 6990B | Thesis-Exhibition | 6 |
Electives: 8 cr.
Total: 60 credits
Master of Arts in Interior Design (M.A.)
The post-professional Master of Arts (M.A.) in Interior Design is a 34-credit research degree with required a graduate thesis. The M.A. degree is open to applicants who hold a professional degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture from an accredited program. The M.A. in Interior Design degree prepares students to become competent professionals in Interior Design practice, while the written research thesis contributes to the body of knowledge in the field.
M.A. candidates are required to develop a thesis proposal with a statement of purpose, research questions, literature review, methods summary, and outline of proposed chapters. A first professional degree is also open for applicants with non-professional degrees in various fields with the completion of required prerequisites in the Department of Interior Design. A first professional M.A. for graduates in closely related design fields may allow some prerequisite courses to be waived.
Master of Arts in Interior Design (M.A.), 34 Credits
Design Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship: Select 6 credits
| ARTID 5690 | Advanced Studies in Interior Design: Variable Topics | 3 |
| ARTID 5700X | Social Entrepreneurship in Aging | arr † |
| ARTID 5710 | Advanced Visualization in Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTID 5720 | Preservation & Cultural Heritage | 3 |
| † Arranged with instructor. | ||
Equitable and Inclusive Environments: Select 6 credits
| ARTID 5510A | Design Humanics: Sensory Perception & Ergonomic Factors | 3 |
| ARTID 5510B | Design Humanics: Environment & Behavior | 3 |
| ARTID 5730 | Advanced Color Theory | 3 |
| ARTID 5740 | Inclusive Environments | 3 |
Methods: 6 credits
| ARTID 5520A | Evidence-Based Design: Investigation Analysis | 3 |
| or ARTID 5520B | Evidence-Based Design: Synthesis | |
| or ARTID 5520C | Evidence-Based Design: Communication | |
| or ARTID 5520D | Evidence-Based Design: Procedural Alternatives | |
| ARTID 6600 | Research Methods (or DSNS 5010 Introduction to Research Design) | 3 |
Studio Courses: 10 credits
| DSNS 5460 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio | 6 |
| ARTID 6680 | Advanced Experimental Interior Design | 4 |
Thesis: 6 credits
| ARTID 6990A | Thesis | 6 |
Total: 34 credits
Dual Degrees
Double-degree programs are offered with the Department of Architecture with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Interior Design and a Master of Architecture (MArch). The graduate program also offers a Ph.D. in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) with home department in Interior Design. Information about our programs and how to apply can be obtained from the department of Interior Design Graduate Program website and from the graduate school's departmental web page.