Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Interior Design (B.S.)


Program:  Bachelor of Science
Department of Art and Design   
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Visual Arts Building 117 ~ 260-481-6709


The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Interior Design prepares graduates for the interior design profession, in commercial and residential design. The interior design curriculum provides a solid and diverse experience for students to develop fundamental technical and conceptual skills through the sequential course structure from freshmen to senior level. Along with the interior design studio courses, the program electives allow students to gain knowledge and experience in technical areas, such as building systems and construction.

The two sequential capstone courses and departmental-approved interdisciplinary topic courses allow students to develop an area of design specialty for their senior project for exhibition. These projects include health care design, educational design, hospitality design, retail design, residential design, as well as many other design specialties. In the final semester, a practicum/internship experience is required, where students work in a professional setting.

Declaring this major - B.S. Interior Design

  • Students who wish to pursue a B.S. degree in Interior Design can declare this major during the admissions process or inquire within the Department of Art and Design if they wish to declare or change to this major after admission. 

Upon completing their degree, all B.S. Interior Design graduates will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  • Understand the basic principles and applications of design and color in two and three dimensions, particularly with regard to human response and behavior. Design principles include, but are not limited to, an understanding of basic visual elements and principles of organization and expression.
  • Apply their knowledge of design and color principles in a wide variety of residential and nonresidential projects. This requires an in-depth knowledge of the aesthetic properties of structure and surface, space and scale, materials, furniture, artifacts, textiles, lighting, and the ability to research and solve problems creatively in ways that pertain to the function, quality, and effect of specific interior programs.  Knowledge of human factors and theories of human behavior related to the built environment can inform interior design.
  • Develop design solutions that pertain to the functional and behavioral requirements of specific interior design problems. Students are expected to synthesize the design solutions by using materials, furniture, textiles, color, lighting, and space planning. This requires that students understand the technical issues of human factors, including areas such as programming, environmental control systems, anthropometrics, ergonomics, and proximities. The ability to integrate human factor considerations with design elements is essential.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the technical aspects of construction and building systems and energy conservation, as well as working knowledge of legal codes and regulations related to construction, environmental systems, and human health and safety, and the ability to apply such knowledge appropriately in specific projects.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate concepts and requirements to the broad spectrum of professionals and clients involved or potentially involved with interior design projects. Such communication involves verbal, written, and representational media in both two and three dimensions, and encompasses a range from initial sketch to finished design.
  • Demonstrate functional knowledge of production elements such as installation procedures, project management, and specification of materials and equipment.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the history of art, architecture, decorative arts, and interior design.
  • Demonstrate functional knowledge of basic business practices and ethical practices in interior design.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of research theories and methodologies related to or concerned with interior design.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply their learning and become oriented to the working profession, through field experience, internships, or participation in interior design organizations.

Accreditation:

  • The Department of Art and Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Program Delivery:

  • Department of Art and Design courses are offered on campus, with some distance and hybrid course offerings. 

General Requirements:

Program Requirements:


To earn the B.S. degree, you must fulfill the requirements of Purdue University Fort Wayne (Regulations) and the College of Visual and Performing Arts (Colleges). Students completing the Interior Design major must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA within the Content Field.

The Bachelor of Science degree is divided into three parts; 33 credit hours of General Studies, 87 credit hours of Content Field (First Year Interior Design (24 CR), Second Year Interior Design (21 CR), Third Year Interior Design (24 CR), and Fourth Year Interior Design (9 CR), and 3 credit Interdisciplinary Design Topic course. A total of 120 credit hours of study is required for graduation. Students in the Department of Art B.A. program must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Interior Design 4-Yr. Plan:  

General Education Requirements Credits: 33


  • Click on the General Education  Requirements link for details
  • A grade of C- or higher is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements. Courses may be retaken if the minimum grade requirement is not met.
  • Interior Design students may not take the following Art and Design courses for General Education credits; this includes AD 10101, AD 10801, AD 13300, AD 16500, and AD 23900.

Category A1 Written Communication Cr. 6.

Category A2 Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.

Category A3 Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.

Category B5 Social/Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.

Category B6 Humanistic/Artistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.

Category B7  Interdisciplinary or Creative Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.

  • Any B7 course except ARET 12300, 22300, or INTD 33000

Category C8 Capstone Cr. 3.

Interior Design Content Field: Credits 87


A grade of C- or higher is required in each course used to satisfy the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design curriculum. Courses may not be re-taken in order to fulfill this requirement. New courses approved and added to the curriculum in future catalogs may satisfy Interior Design Elective courses.

Third Portfolio Review:


  • Students in the second semester (after completion of INTD30800) of their junior year, and upon completion of 75 credit hours, of which 48 credit hours must be studio courses, will submit a portfolio for review.

    • The portfolio must contain work representing the best and fullest range of work completed in the freshman, sophomore, and junior Interior Design courses.
    • Students will receive detailed information regarding this review in the spring semester of their junior year.
    • Successful students will be allowed to enroll in their remaining coursework in senior capstone courses that lead to the senior exhibition.
    • Students whose work does not meet the standards of the department reviewers may be required to resubmit the portfolio next year.

Minimum Grade Requirements


Students must have a minimum grade of C- or better in all classes for credit toward their degree. Classes below a C- grade may be retaken for a qualifying grade as needed.

Credit By Self-Acquired Competency


Credit by Self-Acquired Competency is at the discretion of the department and evaluated on an individual basis.

Self-Paced Courses


Independent Study classes are sometimes available and at the discretion of both the course instructor and chair of the department.

Total Credits: 120


Student Responsibility


You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.