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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Interior Design (B.S.)
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 Return to: Program Descriptions
Program: B.S. Interior Design
Department of Art and Design
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Visual Arts Building 117 ~ 260-481-6709 ~ Art and Design
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.
Student Learning Outcomes - 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.
Admission to B.S. Program with a Major in Interior Design:
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 (see below). Students who wish to pursue the B.S. degree in the Art and Design department 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. All students are admitted to the program as B.S. degree candidates and must successfully submit a third-year portfolio for faculty review.
The Bachelor of Science degree is divided into three parts; 30 credit hours of General Studies, 90 credit hours of Content Field (Interior Design Studio (45 CR), Art, Design and Related Technologies (27 CR), Art and Design History (12 CR) Required Electives (6 CR). A total of 120 minimum credit hours of study is required for graduation. Students in the Department of Art and Design B.S. program must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
| I. General Education |
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30 |
| II. Content Field |
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90 |
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College Scorecard
The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=5004&fos_credential=3 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; 30 credit hours of General Studies, 90 credit hours of Content Field (First Year Interior Design (21 CR), Second Year Interior Design (24 CR), Third Year Interior Design (30 CR), and Fourth Year Interior Design (12 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 30
General Education Requirements The General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better: - Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1 Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2 Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3 Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
- Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4 Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5 Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6 Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7 Artistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8 Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
- At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness
Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements . General Education Recommendations
Below is a list of courses that are recommended for you to complete as part of your General Education program. The General Education program at PFW requires that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better. Content Field: Credits 90
The B.S. program at PFW requires that students pass all courses with a grade of C- or better. New courses approved and added to the curriculum in future catalogs may satisfy Interior Design Elective courses. First-Year Interior Design Courses: Credits 21
Second-Year Interior Design Courses: Credits 24
Third-Year Interior Design Courses: Credits 30
Third Portfolio Review:
The Third-Year Portfolio is a mandatory evaluative review for all interior design majors. In the spring of their junior year, and upon completion of the following interior design courses; INTD11100 Introduction to Interior Design I, INTD 11200 Interior Design, INTD12100 Freehand Sketching, INTD13100 Decorative materials & Accessories I, INTD 13200 Decorative Materials & Accessories II, INTD20100 CAD for Interior Design, INTD24100 Lighting and Color, INTD 30600 Interior Furniture Style I, INTD 30800 Interior Design II, students will submit a portfolio to be reviewed by the Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside interior design courses will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success. The Department of Art and Design will send out a portfolio template and detailed information regarding the portfolio review process. Students who do not meet the minimum score of 70% will be deferred and asked to re-submit a portfolio the following semester. Fourth-Year Interior Design Courses: Credits 9
Interior Design Elective Course: Credits 3
Interdisciplinary Design Topic Courses: Credits 3
- Choose one course of the following department approved Interdisciplinary Topics courses. Cr. 3. Residential Design Special Populations - Aging Healthcare Design Educational Design Hotel and Restaurant Design Office Building design Electives
Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120. Credit By Self-Acquired Competency
Credit by Self-Acquired Competency is at the discretion of the department and evaluated on an individual basis. Recommendations, Requirements, Transfers, and Policies
Recommendations Students should schedule classes within the B.S. program under the guidance of the official departmental academic advisor. Residence Requirements For a bachelor’s degree, registration in and completion of at least 33 credits of resident course credit at the Second-Year Studio Foundation level or above, including at least 15 credits at the Junior level or above, in courses applicable to the major. Transfer and Returning Student Credit All studio and art history courses transferred from another institution or former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne art programs must be evaluated by appropriate faculty in the Department of Art and Design program before they may be applied to a student’s degree requirements. See Transfer and Returning Student Credit Review. Transfer and Returning Student Credit Review Courses in studio art that have been transferred to Purdue Fort Wayne from another institution or former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne art programs are not counted as part of the Art and Design major unless they have been reviewed by the Art and Design faculty. For a review of transferred studio credit, the student should provide the viewer with a portfolio consisting of representative work in each area (e.g. painting, sculpture, etc.) for which the transfer credit is desired. The portfolio should include both studies and finished work and be as encompassing as possible. Academic Notice/Separation Policies If a student does not meet the university’s GPA standard, they will be notified that they have been placed on academic notice and will be asked to make progress towards meeting campus standards. Department of Art and Design programs have their own academic standards as stated above. If a student is not meeting these standards, they will be notified and placed on departmental academic notice. If a student does not make positive progress towards meeting the academic standards of the department within twelve (12) credit hours of study, they will be subject to academic separation from the Department of Art and Design program. 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 minimum
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. |
Return to: Program Descriptions
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