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 (MA) 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. Diversity: 3 cr.
Communication: 10 cr.
(C or better grade ENGL 150 and ENGL 250)
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 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 150 | 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 300-400.
College of Design Core: 13 cr.
| DSN S 102 | Design Studio I | 4 |
| DSN S 115 | Design Collaborative Seminar | 1 |
| or DSN S 110 | Design Exchange Seminar I | |
| DSN S 131 | Drawing I | 4 |
| DSN S 132 | Digital Design Literacy | 1 |
| DSN S 183 | 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 250 | Fundamentals of Interior Design | 2 |
| ARTID 251 | Human Factors in Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTID 261 | Graphic Communication for Interior Design I | 3 |
| ARTID 263 | Graphic Communication for Interior Design II | 3 |
| ARTID 265 | Interior Design Studio I | 4 |
| ARTID 267 | Interior Design Studio II | 4 |
| ARTID 350 | Interior Finish Materials | 3 |
| ARTID 351 | Interior Regulations and Guidelines | 3 |
| ARTID 352 | Interior Building Systems | 3 |
| ARTID 353 | Interior Construction and Details | 3 |
| ARTID 355 | Interior Design History/Theory/Criticism I | 3 |
| ARTID 356 | Interior Design History/Theory/Criticism II | 3 |
| ARTID 360 | Interior Design Internship Seminar I | 1 |
| ARTID 361 | Interior Design Internship Seminar II | 1 |
| ARTID 365 | Interior Design Studio III | 4 |
| ARTID 367 | Interior Design Studio IV | 4 |
| ARTID 460 | Interior Design Internship Documentation | 1 |
| ARTID 461 | Interior Design Professional Practices | 2 |
| ARTID 465 | Interior Design Studio V | 4 |
| DSN S 546 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio | 4-6 |
| Select course from ARTID 569-579 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 |
| DSN S 102 or 131 | 4 | DSN S 102 or 131 | 4 |
| DSN S 115 | 1 | DSN S 183 (or Gen Edu) | 3 |
| DSN S 132 | 1 | ENGL 250 (or Gen Edu) | 3 |
| DSN S 183 (or Gen Edu) | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| ARTID 250 (or Gen Edu) | 2-3 | LIB 160 | 1 |
| Gen Edu | 3 | ||
| 17-18 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTID 250 (or Gen Edu) | 2-3 | ARTID 251 | 3 |
| ARTID 261 | 3 | ARTID 263 | 3 |
| ARTID 265 | 4 | ARTID 267 | 4 |
| ARTID 353 | 3 | ARTID 350 | 3 |
| ARTID 355 | 3 | ARTID 356 | 3 |
| (DSN S 301-Rome Prep) | 0-1 | ||
| 15-16 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTID 360 | 1 | ARTID 352 | 3 |
| ARTID 365 | 4 | ARTID 361 | 1 |
| Studio/Bus Option | 3 | ARTID 367 | 4 |
| Gen Design Edu or Gen Edu | 3 | Gen Design Edu | 3 |
| ARTID 351 | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| Gen Edu | 3 | Gen Edu | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTID 465 (Gen Edu ) | 4 | ARTID 461 | 2 |
| ARTID 460 | 1 | DSN S 546 | 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 MA 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 (MA), 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 PhD 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 569 | Advanced Studies in Interior Design: Variable Topics | 3 |
| ARTID 570X | Social Entrepreneurship in Aging | 3 |
| ARTID 571 | Advanced Visualization in Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTID 572 | Preservation & Cultural Heritage | 3 |
Equitable and Inclusive Environments: Select 9 credits
| ARTID 551A | Design Humanics: Sensory Perception & Ergonomic Factors | 3 |
| ARTID 551B | Design Humanics: Environment & Behavior | 3 |
| ARTID 573 | Advanced Color Theory | 3 |
| ARTID 574 | Inclusive Environments | 3 |
Methods and Practicum: 9 credits
| ARTID 552 | Evidence-Based Design | 3 |
| ARTID 554 | Interior Design Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| ARTID 660 | Research Methods (or DSN S 501 Introduction to Research Design) | 3 |
Studio Courses: 20 credits
| ARTID 668 | Advanced Experimental Interior Design | 4 |
| ARTID 668 | Advanced Experimental Interior Design | 4 |
| DSN S 546 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio * | 6 |
| DSN S 546 | 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 699A | Thesis | 6 |
| ARTID 699B | Thesis-Exhibition | 6 |
Electives: 8 cr.
Total: 60 credits
Master of Arts in Interior Design (MA)
The post-professional Master of Arts (MA) in Interior Design is a 34-credit research degree with required a graduate thesis. The MA degree is open to applicants who hold a professional degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture from an accredited program. The MA 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.
MA 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 MA for graduates in closely related design fields may allow some prerequisite courses to be waived.
Master of Arts in Interior Design (MA), 34 Credits
Design Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship: Select 6 credits
| ARTID 569 | Advanced Studies in Interior Design: Variable Topics | 3 |
| ARTID 570X | Social Entrepreneurship in Aging | |
| ARTID 571 | Advanced Visualization in Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTID 572 | Preservation & Cultural Heritage | 3 |
Equitable and Inclusive Environments: Select 6 credits
| ARTID 551A | Design Humanics: Sensory Perception & Ergonomic Factors | 3 |
| ARTID 551B | Design Humanics: Environment & Behavior | 3 |
| ARTID 573 | Advanced Color Theory | 3 |
| ARTID 574 | Inclusive Environments | 3 |
Methods: 6 credits
| ARTID 552 | Evidence-Based Design | 3 |
| ARTID 660 | Research Methods (or DSN S 501 Introduction to Research Design) | 3 |
Studio Courses: 10 credits
| DSN S 546 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio | 6 |
| ARTID 668 | Advanced Experimental Interior Design | 4 |
Thesis: 6 credits
| ARTID 699A | Thesis | 6 |
Total: 34 credits
Dual Degrees
Double-degree programs are offered with the Department of Architecture with a Master of Arts (MA) in Interior Design and a Master of Architecture (MArch). The graduate program also offers a PhD 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.