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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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Wentworth Interior Design graduates obtain well-paying jobs in a range of fields. Median starting salary of an Interior Design major is $55,000.
Average hourly co-op pay for Interior Design majors is $19.92.
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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.
View the Course Catalog below 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.
Total credits for degree: 131
This is a four-year full-time program, which begins in the fall semester of the student’s first year and is planned to end after the summer semester of the student’s fourth year.
Plan of Study Grid Freshman Year Fall Semester Credits DSGN1000 VISUALIZATION I/DRAWING I 3 DSGN1100 DESIGN MAGIC 2 INTD1000 INTERIOR STUDIO I 4 MATH1000 COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 4 English Sequence 4 Credits 17 Spring Semester DSGN1200 COLOR & COMPOSITION 4 INTD1500 INTERIOR STUDIO II 4 INTD1750 DRAWING II 3 PHYS1000 COLLEGE PHYSICS I 4 English Sequence 4 Credits 19 Sophomore Year Fall Semester INTD1600 HISTORY OF INTERIORS 3 INTD2000 INTERIOR STUDIO III 4 INTD2100 MATERIALS 3 INTD2250 DRAWING III 3 HSS Elective 4 Credits 17 Spring Semester INTD2500 INTERIOR STUDIO IV 4 INTD2600 HISTORY OF INTERIORS II 3 INTD2700 BUILDING SYSTEMS I 3 INTD2800 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES 4 HSS Elective 4 COOP2500 INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVE EDUCATION 0 Credits 18 Summer Semester COOP3000OPTIONAL COOP EDUCATION Credits 0 Junior Year Fall Semester INTD3010 INTERIOR STUDIO V 4 INTD3100 CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS 3 INTD3300 BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN 3 INTD3400 BUILDING SYSTEMS & INTERIOR SPECIFICATION 3 HSS Elective 4 Credits 17 Spring Semester COOP3500 COOP EDUCATION 1 Credits 0 Summer Semester INTD3510 INTERIOR STUDIO VI 4 INTD3600 LIGHTING 4 Design Elective 4 HSS Elective 4 Credits 16 Senior Year Fall Semester COOP4500 COOP EDUCATION 2 Credits 0 Spring Semester INTD4010 INTERIOR STUDIO VII 4 INTD4100 BUILDING REGULATIONS 3 INTD5000 SENIOR PROJECT: RESEARCH 3 HSS Elective 4 Credits 14 Summer Semester INTD4600 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 3 INTD5500 SENIOR PROJECT: DESIGN 6 HSS Elective 4 Credits 13 Total Credits 131 ENGL/HSS Note
Students in the Interior Design major are required to complete a minimum of 32 credit hours in English, humanities, and social sciences, including:
- Two or three semesters of English, according to placement;
- At least one elective in Art History;
- At least one elective in Psychology or Sociology.
The remaining credit hours may be satisfied with electives in any of these Humanities and Social Science fields: COMM, CSAS, ECON, ENVM, HSSI, HIST, HUMN, LITR, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, SOCL.
Studio Grade Requirement
The School of Architecture and Design has a studio grade requirement that applies to all undergraduate design studio courses from the sophomore year onward. Students in the Bachelor of Science programs are responsible for demonstrating improvement and growth each semester and are held to the following standard in their design studios:
A final grade below C is considered a sub-standard grade, indicating that the student is not meeting expectations. Students who earn a final grade of C-, D+, or D for two consecutive semesters are not permitted to continue in the studio sequence until they successfully repeat the second studio for which they received a sub-standard grade.
Student Testimonials
MacKenzie Wall
"I am a part of the Student Association of Interior Design (SAID) and I've been a member since the beginning of my freshman year, but I was also elected as Secretary for the spring of my sophomore year into the fall of my junior year. Being a part of this club has allowed me to network within my field and make connections in the industry, and my position as secretary has also allowed me to develop leadership skills."
Virtual Tour
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.