B.A. in Interior Design

The mission of the M. Wilhelmina Boldt Interior Design undergraduate program is to prepare students for careers as creative, ethically responsible, proficient interior designers. The curriculum combines the Liberal Arts Core requirements with professionally directed coursework to develop practitioners with a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and concern for the well-being of people and the environment. Graduates enter practice as entry-level interior designers for both residential and commercial interior spaces possessing a theoretical and practical knowledge in design, space planning, and programming. Graduates may pursue careers with interior design firms, architectural firms, corporate facilities, and government agencies. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Internships are available during the junior and senior years with nationally recognized architectural and design firms, furniture and interior retailers, contract designers, and other organizations utilizing design consultants. The program offers exhibitions of student and professional work, takes students on field trips, and taps the resources of the Washington, DC, design community. Upon successful completion of the interior design program, students will be able to articulate a global view and integrate considerations of social, cultural, economic, and ecological contexts in their work; demonstrate awareness of the role of interior designers in the design process and the value of integrated design practices and effectively collaborate with multiple disciplines in developing design solutions; demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles and processes that define the profession of interior design and the value of interior design to society; apply knowledge of human experience and behavior to designing the built environment; employ all aspects of the design process to creatively solve a design problem; communicate effectively in both oral and written formats; apply knowledge of history and theory of interiors, architecture, decorative arts, and art when solving design problems; apply elements and principles of design; use color effectively in communication and design work; develop design solutions that integrate furnishings, products, materials, and finishes; use effectively the principles of lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality in relation to environmental impact and human well-being; demonstrate an understanding of interior construction and its interrelationship with base building construction and systems; and formulate designs that are in compliance with laws, codes, standards, and guidelines that impact human experience of interior spaces. Interior design majors are encouraged to join the student Interior Design Alliance, which supports individual memberships in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).