DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Undergraduate Department of Interior Architecture & Design
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Website: https://interiordesign.fsu.edu
Chair: Jim Dawkins; Associate Chair: Amy Huber; Associate Professors: Dawkins, Huber, Kim, Lee, McLane, Ransdell, Sickler, Webber; Assistant Professors: Londy, Mick, Robinson; Specialized Faculty: O'Keefe; Adjunct Faculty: Ashcroft, Fishburne, Markham, Mozo, Saginario, Varnedoe; Professors Emeriti: Butler, Koenig, Munton, Myers, Ohazama, Pable, Waxman, Wiedegreen
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design addresses design issues in all interior spaces, including both residential and nonresidential. Students are prepared to meet professional requirements and criteria for the practice of interior design, membership in professional organizations, and state registration and licensure.
Accreditations
The interior design program leading to the Bachelors of Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 and NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design).
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
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 Interior Design degree granted by Florida State University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Founded in 1944, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 328 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors. For more information about NASAD, visit: https://nasad.arts-accredit.org/.
The competencies taught include elements and principles of design, design analysis, space planning and programming, drafting and technical drawing, computer-aided design and building information modeling, graphic presentation of design solutions, design history, sustainability, construction systems, construction documents, and includes comprehensive design studios addressing a variety of design sector projects including residential, healthcare, retail, workplace, and hospitality. There are active student chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The faculty includes members of ASID, IIDA, the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), and holders of certificates in Certified Aging in Place (CAPS), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the WELL Building Standard (WELL).
The undergraduate program offers the Bachelor of Science (BS) and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in interior design. Students must consult the “Undergraduate Degree Requirements” chapter of this General Bulletin for BA degree requirements.
Digital Literacy Requirement
Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:
Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically
Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement. Undergraduate majors in interior design satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C” or higher in IND 3469.
State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for Interior Design
The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.73.
FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Interior Design. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit: https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/162/233.
Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.
Degree Requirements
The undergraduate degree program consists of 74 credit hours of coursework in interior design. Students are also required to participate in an internship for three credit hours prior to graduation. Any exceptions must be submitted to the chair for review.
Specific degree requirements include the following:
1. CoreFSU Curriculum: of the required and elective credit hours, three must be taken in ARH 2051, an art history course, in the first year and three must be taken in MAC 1105, a math course, in either the first or second year. Refer to the ‘CoreFSU Curriculum' section in the “Undergraduate Degree Requirements” chapter of this General Bulletin for specific degree requirements. Contact the program advisor for further information if needed.
2. Foundation classes: nine credit hours
3. Interior design studio courses: 24 credit hours
4. Technical and graphic design courses: 23 credit hours
5. Lecture-based support courses: nine credit hours
6. History of interiors and architecture: six credit hours
7. Internship: three credit hours
8. Electives in interior design: none required, but students must have at least 120 hours to graduate from the University.
Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree (only)
1. Electives in art-related courses must also meet University humanities requirement.
2. Language requirement is the equivalent of two years of language proficiency (no credit requirement).
Refer to the ‘CoreFSU Curriculum' section in the “Undergraduate Degree Requirements” chapter of this General Bulletin for specific degree requirements.
Requirements for a Major in Interior Design
The program is a specialized admissions major with required sequential course offerings and elective courses in interior design. Three foundation courses are offered during the first year of study (IND 1203, 1204, and 1206). All foundation classes must be taken at FSU. To be eligible for review, students must earn a B- or higher in all three IND classes and have a college GPA of 3.0 or higher. In a First Year Review of design work generated from these three classes, along with the student's cumulative college GPA and faculty evaluation of attitude and work ethic, up to thirty-six students are chosen to move forward into the second year and are formally accepted into the major. It is recommended that transfer students take all three first-year foundation courses at Florida State University during the spring term and then go through First Year Review at the end of the spring term.
A specific listing of courses required for a major in interior design is available on the department website at https://cfa.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ID-Four-Year-Curriculum-Incoming-Students-08.15.24.pdf.
A minor is not required but may be obtained in other areas (departmental advisement required prior to electing a minor).
Students majoring in interior design must maintain the minimum 3.0 GPA for term and overall averages and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all interior design classes. Students must repeat classes in which they earn a grade below a “C”, but only two classes may be repeated. Students who need to repeat more than two classes in the program will be removed from the program.
Honors in the Major
The Department of Interior Architecture & Design offers a program in honors in the major to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent research as part of the undergraduate experience subject to faculty availability. For requirements and other information, see the “University Honors Office and Honor Societies” chapter of this General Bulletin.