Future Students

Academics

Interior Design

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences


 

QUICK JUMP
  Interior Design
  Requirements and Sample Courses
  Careers in Interior Design
  Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
  Scholarships and Financial Aid
  Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
  Contact Information

Interior Design

The interior design field focuses on enhancing the function and quality of interior spaces to improve quality of life, productivity, health, safety, and welfare. Interior design is a fine arts discipline tempered by the human sciences.

Offered at WSU:
• Bachelor of arts, master of arts, doctor of design
Available at:
• Pullman (bachelor's degree only)
• Spokane (master's and doctoral degrees only)

First- and second-year courses are taught in Pullman; third- and fourth-year courses are taught in Spokane. M.A. and doctor of design are offered in Spokane only.

Requirements and Sample Courses

—Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design
Requirements to enter the program are the same as those for the University. Like all undergraduate degrees offered at Washington State University, interior design students must complete 40 credits of general education requirements. Highly recommended general education courses for interior design students include those that explore human relationships (psychology, sociology, and diverse populations), the built environment, and all forms of communication (graphic, oral, and written).

Completing the undergraduate program requires 80 credits of interior design course work. After two years of study, students will present a portfolio to the faculty for certification into the major and advancement to upper-division courses. (Transfer students will be evaluated through their portfolio.)

The backbone of the interior design curriculum is the studio experience. First-year projects focus on applying the basic elements and principles of design in two dimensions. The sophomore year introduces design in three dimensions and technical courses (materials and components, textiles). Upper-division courses merge aesthetics with technical issues through a variety of projects ranging from residential spaces to large commercial firms. Computer and hand skills are threaded throughout the curriculum.

Students complete their final two years at WSU Spokane at the Interdisciplinary Design Institute. The institute represents a unique collaboration among the design disciplines, with students and faculty from interior design, architecture, and landscape architecture working and learning together in a team-oriented, urban environment. When they graduate, students will be able to take initiative, make critical judgments of their own designs as well as those of others, and operate within a team context, all of which contribute to their future success as professionals.

SAMPLE COURSES
Design Communications
Materials and Components
Advanced Detailing and Construction
History of Interior Design
Perception and Communication - studio course covering a broad range of topics (e.g., aesthetics, human behavior, spatial organization, place theory) and project types (e.g., residential, retail, office, hospitality, commercial)

NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.

Careers in Interior Design

Designers work in a wide range of settings, both commercial and residential. A majority of designers practice at least part of the time in both the residential and commercial areas. Most commercial designers concentrate within design specialties, such as designing for the hospitality or health care industries. Some specialize further by designing restaurants or residential kitchens and baths, interiors for airplanes or yachts, or historic conservation or restoration.

The professional interior designer:
• analyzes client’s needs, goals, and life safety requirements.
• integrates findings with knowledge of interior design.
• formulates preliminary design concepts that are aesthetic, appropriate, functional, and in accordance with codes and standards.
• develops and presents final design recommendations through appropriate presentation media.
• prepares working drawings and specifications for interior detailing, fixtures, and furnishings in compliance with accessibility guidelines and applicable codes.
• collaborates with professional services of other licensed practitioners in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical, and load-bearing design as required for regulatory approval.
• prepares and administers bids and contract documents as the client’s agent.
• reviews and evaluates design solutions during implementation and upon completion.

For a list of design-oriented occupations, go to the American Society of Interior Designers: http://www.asid.org.

Interior Architect, Furniture Designer, Textile Designer, Consultant, Drafter, Kitchen Designer, Bath Designer, Green Design, Sustainability, Home remodeling, Ergonomics, Product Representative , Health care , Decorator, Renovation

Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Effective people skills
• Strive for originality
• Embrace challenges
• Desire to be life-long learners
• Passion for the fine arts

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Interior design students may be eligible for financial assistance offered through the college as well as University-wide scholarships.

Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You

Students often supplement their major with a minor or supportive work from disciplines such as:
• Apparel, merchandising, and textiles
• Architecture
• Business
• Fine arts
• Landscape architecture
• Psychology
• Sociology

Contact Information
Department of Interior Design
Washington State University
PO Box 642435
Pullman, WA 99164-2435
bkemper@wsu.edu
509-335-4118
 
Interior Design at WSU Spokane
Interdisciplinary Design Institute
WSU Spokane
PO Box 1495
Spokane, WA 99210-1495
jturpin@wsu.edu
509-358-7511
 

Strengths of the Program

  • Ranked 8th in the nation based on the satisfaction of professionals and firms that hire new graduates and twelfth in technology and facilities, according to Design Intelligence Magazine.
  • The state's only four-year program accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research.
  • WSU faculty's creative projects in interior design and fine arts are recognized by regional, national, and international design awards and publications.
  • Students broaden their perspectives beyond the northwest through internships; field trips to San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix; and study abroad programs in Europe.
  • Get involved in regional, national, and international competitions.
  • Grow professionally through WSU's student chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers.
  • A master of arts in interior design at WSU can be completed in one additional year (master's courses are offered at Spokane).
  • Experience the unique interdisciplinary studio setting at WSU Spokane during your senior year with architecture and landscape architecture students.
  • Transfer directly from Bellevue and Spokane Falls community colleges to WSU Spokane for completion of the bachelor's degree.
Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us