Interior Design Program (B.F.A.)
Dive into a variety of transformative learning opportunities to shape creative, rational, socially and environmentally responsible interior design professionals.
An interior design major seeks to teach students the importance and value of the design process and design thinking, promote the awareness and knowledge of the contributions of the profession to the health, safety and well-being of people in the built environment, and to prepare graduates of the program to succeed as professional interior designers.
Curriculum
The four main goals of the interior design program woven into each project are:
- Be experiential
- Be contextual
- Be collaborative
- Be empathetic
The curriculum is interactive, haptic and performance-based, offering problem-solving experiences in all major areas of design practice.
Areas of design practice:
- Healthcare
- Retail corporate
- Residential
- Human factors and behaviors
- Materials
- History
- Building systems
- Construction
- Building codes and regulations
- Lighting
- Acoustics
- Professional practice
Upon graduation from this CIDA (Council of Interior Design Accreditation) Accredited program, students are eligible to begin the NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualification) certificate examination process.
Career Preparation
Through both academic and real-world design challenges, students graduate with a strong portfolio in hand, ready to pursue a career in interior design. Professional practice sequences and internship experiences provide an effective transition from college to professional employment.
Travel Study
To heighten cultural and global awareness, students engage in international or national travel study. Past professional travel studies include:
- Scandinavia
- India
- Italy
- New York
- Chicago
- Denver
Student Organization
The Interior Design Student Club holds monthly meetings, invites practitioners to speak, hosts lively social activities, organizes an annual professional development trip to a regional city such as Des Moines, Minneapolis or Omaha. Special events include Interior Design Week, organized by the students to publicize, educate and connect design students with practitioners.
More about: Interior Design Student Club Jacks Club Hub
Alumni
Meet Tessa
Our alumni work in creative capacities in organizations locally, regionally and nationally, such as:
- Gensler
- RSP Architects
- Shive-Hattery
- Lux, Perspective
- Architecture Incorporated
- TSP
- Koch Hazard Architects
- CO-OP Architecture
- FourFront Architecture
- Showplace
- Canfield Business Interiors
- Interstate Office Products
- and many more
Accreditation
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
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 Fine Arts granted by South Dakota State University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).
More information about NCIDQ Exam
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