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Wentworth’s Bachelor of Science in Interior Design stresses the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills. The curriculum includes the study of art and design history, innovation in new materials and building technologies, and human behavior.
Under the direction of an experienced faculty, you’ll apply your growing knowledge and skills in classrooms, labs, and studios. You’ll also have the opportunity to conduct collaborative classwork and community-service and extracurricular projects with students from other disciplines.
Our Bachelor of Science in Interior Design program, which is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), was ranked among the top 10 undergraduate interior design programs in the United States by Design Intelligence, a publication of the Design Futures Council. The degree was also ranked #1 in Best Bachelor's Degrees in Interior Design by Best Accredited Colleges.
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The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.
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 Bachelor of Science degree granted by Wentworth Institute of Technology meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). More information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility.
For program objectives, outcomes and enrollment and degree data, please visit the Interior Design Accreditation page.
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The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design is four-year program, starting in the fall semester of the student’s first year and planned to end in the summer semester of the student’s fourth year. Each graduate will complete eight academic semesters plus two semesters of full-time cooperative work experience. The first co-op work semester is scheduled in the third year, and the second in the fourth year. An optional co-op experience is offered in the summer between the second and third year. Select foundation courses in the first semester are shared with the Industrial Design program. A portfolio is not required for admission.
Visit the Course Catalog for information about program requirements.
For an overview of the year-by-year experience in the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design program, see "What You'll Learn" below.
What You'll Learn
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Year 1
You’ll establish a foundation for your Interior Design program by taking introductory courses in visualization, color & composition, and plane & solid geometry, which will instill core design concepts that you’ll use throughout the program. You’ll begin work in the studio, where you'll apply design principles and various forms of organization are explored through two and three-dimensional design exercises.
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Year 2
Second-year interior design students continue their studio work and expand their knowledge with courses like Conceptual Physics, which surveys physics and its applications to modern life. You’ll also learn more about the materials that you’ll work with and continue to establish a firm understanding of visualization concepts and interior design history.
An optional pre co-op work term is available to students during the summer semester.
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Year 3
In the fall and summer semesters of your third year, you’ll take courses like Behavior Aspects of Design, where you’ll look at the psychological and social research that assesses the dynamic relationship between human behavior and the physical environment with an emphasis on interior spaces. In Lighting, you’ll delve into how various forms of light can influence the perception of a visual space.
In the spring, you’ll begin the first of two required co-ops.
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Year 4
In the fall, you’ll go on your second required co-op to gain more hands-on industry experience.
The remainder of your program includes Professional Practice which examines business and legal aspects of interior design practice by focusing on financial and project management, marketing, and personnel issues. You’ll also finish your program with your senior capstone project.