
Examples of Possible Careers*
Architectural and engineering managers
- 2.6% slower than the average
- 198,100 number of jobs
- $149,530 potential earnings
Commercial and industrial designers
- -3.5% decline
- 42,200 number of jobs
- $71,640 potential earnings
Designers, all other
- -1.9% decline
- 13,600 number of jobs
- $63,750 potential earnings
Interior designers
- -4.9% decline
- 77,900 number of jobs
- $57,060 potential earnings
Contact Information
- Program Coordinator: Ronn Daniel | rdanie25@kent.edu | 330-672-2917 | caed_info@kent.edu
- Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor
Fully Offered
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
*Note
Source of occupation titles and labor data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design degree seeks to exemplify design excellence, make interior spaces for human well-being and to continually expand the reputation and rigor of the program. The program educates highly skilled and empathetic interior designers through a diverse curriculum that emphasizes research, creativity, professionalism and leadership in an era of social and technological change. Competencies achieved in the program include fundamental design skills tempered with the application of research and creative inquiry; knowledge of materials, methods and systems; space planning and programming; professional practice knowledge and critical thinking; gaining experiences through a guided internship; inquiry into human factors in design; and the comprehensive designing of interior spaces with vigilance toward the health, safety and welfare of the public.
The college offers a semester abroad for qualified third-year students in the Interior Design major. The study abroad program is housed in the heart of historic Florence, Italy. The program is open to all students who have made satisfactory progress toward completion of their undergraduate program.
Interior Design students may apply early to the Master of Healthcare Design degree and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.
Accreditation
The B.A.degree in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study and to apply to membership in professional interior design organizations. The program meets the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
Freshmen Students: There is open admission to the Interior Design major, but early application is advised. For direct admission, students must have a minimum 2.75 overall high school GPA and a minimum 22 ACT composite score or a minimum 1100 SAT total score.
Admission to Non-Degree General major: Students who do not qualify for admission to the Interior Design major may qualify for admissions to the college's non-degree General major. Students in the General major are assigned to freshman orientation classes with all College of Architecture and Environmental Design majors. These classes aid in understanding the broad range of career options within the environmental design professions. Students should take regular coursework in preparation to attempt entry into one of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design majors or may consider alternative degree program options. Students should meet with their advisors to aid in making decisions regarding their degree program and major. In order to move forward with a minimum loss of credit hours, students are strongly recommended to choose an alternate degree program within or outside the college prior to completing 45 credit hours.
Transfer, Transitioning and Former Students: For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.
English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Understand the foundations of the interior design discipline: history, theories of design, technical knowledge, human factors, human sciences, design thinking and professional practices.
- Understand the complex relationships between design practice, materials, technology, sustainability and social issues in the built environment.
- Conduct and apply technical, historical, material and cultural research, using quantitative and qualitative methods to design projects.
- Understand how a variety of building materials, finishes and systems are used, assembled and interconnected in construction.
- Skillfully manipulate two- and three-dimensional representational techniques using a wide range of media.
- Demonstrate effective visual, verbal and written communication skills.
- Contribute effectively to multidisciplinary, diverse teams prepared to practice in complex, multicultural global contexts.
- Create interior spaces at varying scales, in various contexts and for varying purposes, using research, critical thinking, analysis and problem solving, which respond to user needs and promote human well-being.
- Create interior spaces that conform with required codes, standards and regulations to protect the life, safety, health and wellness of the building occupants.
- Develop an ethical bearing that addresses sustainability, social justice, leadership, responsibility to clients and society and respect for difference and equity.
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
Requirement | Credits/Courses |
---|---|
Destination Kent State: First Year Experience | 1 |
Course is not required for students with 25 transfer credits, excluding College Credit Plus, or age 21+ at time of admission. | |
Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) | 2 courses |
Students must successfully complete one domestic and one global course, of which one must be from the Kent Core. | |
Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) | varies |
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience. | |
Kent Core (see table below) | 36-37 |
Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
Upper-Division Requirement | 39 |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 |
Kent Core Requirements
Requirement | Credits/Courses |
---|---|
Kent Core Composition (KCMP) | 6 |
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) | 3 |
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) | 9 |
Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) | 6 |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 |
Kent Core Additional (KADL) | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
AED 10101 | DESIGN FOUNDATIONS STUDIO I (min C grade) | 3 |
ARCH 10011 | GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY I (KFA) | 3 |
ARTH 22007 | ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) | 3 |
ID 10112 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO I | 4 |
ID 10601 | REPRESENTATION AND VISUALIZATION I | 2 |
ID 14011 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERIOR DESIGN (min C grade) | 1 |
ID 20012 | GLOBAL HISTORY OF INTERIORS | 3 |
ID 20221 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO II | 5 |
ID 20232 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO III | 5 |
ID 20401 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS I: INTERIOR MATERIALS | 3 |
ID 20402 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS II: BUILDING SYSTEMS AND CODES | 3 |
ID 20602 | REPRESENTATION AND VISUALIZATION II | 2 |
ID 30321 | INTERIOR DESIGN THEORY | 3 |
ID 30331 | DESIGN WRITING FOR INTERIORS (WIC) (min C grade) | 1 |
ID 30341 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO IV | 5 |
ID 30352 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO V | 5 |
ID 30391 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR IN INTERIOR DESIGN | 3 |
ID 30403 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS III: LIGHTING AND ACOUSTICS | 3 |
ID 30501 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES I | 3 |
ID 30603 | REPRESENTATION AND VISUALIZATION III | 2 |
ID 40311 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND RESEARCH | 3 |
ID 40404 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS IV: ADVANCED MATERIALS AND ASSEMBLIES | 3 |
ID 40461 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO VI | 5 |
ID 40472 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO VII | 5 |
ID 40502 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES II | 3 |
ID 44592 | PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN INTERNSHIP (ELR) (min C grade) | 2 |
College of Architecture and Environmental Design Upper Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level), choose from the following: | 6 | |
Architectural Studies (ARCS) | ||
Architecture (ARCH) | ||
Architecture and Environmental Design (AED) | ||
Construction Management (CMGT) | ||
Interior Design (ID) | ||
Business Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
Accounting (ACCT) | ||
Business (BUS) | ||
Computer Information Systems (CIS) | ||
Economics (ECON) | ||
Entrepreneurship (ENTR) | ||
Finance (FIN) | ||
Human Resource Management (HRM) | ||
Management (MGMT) | ||
Management and Information Systems (MIS) | ||
Managerial Marketing (MMTG) | ||
Marketing (MKTG) | ||
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
COMM 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | 3 |
MATH 11010 | ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) | 3 |
PSYC 11762 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) | 3 |
or SOC 12050 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) | |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 |
Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
Kent Core Humanities | 3 | |
Kent Core Social Sciences | 3 | |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
Kent Core Additional | 3 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 123 |
Progression Requirements
- A minimum 2.500 overall GPA is required for advancement to the second year.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.500 | 2.000 |
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Semester One | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
! | AED 10101 | DESIGN FOUNDATIONS STUDIO I | 3 |
ARTH 22007 | ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) | 3 | |
! | ID 14011 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERIOR DESIGN | 1 |
MATH 11010 | ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) | 3 | |
PSYC 11762 or SOC 12050 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) or INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) | 3 | |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Semester Two | |||
COMM 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | 3 | |
ID 10112 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO I | 4 | |
ID 10601 | REPRESENTATION AND VISUALIZATION I | 2 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Three | |||
Minimum 2.500 overall GPA is required for advancement to second year | |||
ARCH 10011 | GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY I (KFA) | 3 | |
ID 20221 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO II | 5 | |
ID 20401 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS I: INTERIOR MATERIALS | 3 | |
ID 20602 | REPRESENTATION AND VISUALIZATION II | 2 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 16 | ||
Semester Four | |||
ID 20012 | GLOBAL HISTORY OF INTERIORS | 3 | |
ID 20232 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO III | 5 | |
ID 20402 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS II: BUILDING SYSTEMS AND CODES | 3 | |
ID 30331 | DESIGN WRITING FOR INTERIORS (WIC) | 1 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Five | |||
Kent Core Composition courses (6 credit hours) must be completed | |||
ID 30321 | INTERIOR DESIGN THEORY | 3 | |
ID 30341 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO IV | 5 | |
ID 30403 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS III: LIGHTING AND ACOUSTICS | 3 | |
ID 30603 | REPRESENTATION AND VISUALIZATION III | 2 | |
College of Architecture and Environmental Design Upper Division (30000 or 40000 level) Elective | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 16 | ||
Semester Six | |||
ID 30352 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO V | 5 | |
ID 30391 | VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR IN INTERIOR DESIGN | 3 | |
ID 30501 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES I | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Third Summer Term | |||
ID 44592 | PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN INTERNSHIP (ELR) | 2 | |
Credit Hours | 2 | ||
Semester Seven | |||
ID 40311 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND RESEARCH | 3 | |
ID 40404 | INTERIOR DESIGN METHODS AND MATERIALS IV: ADVANCED MATERIALS AND ASSEMBLIES | 3 | |
ID 40461 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO VI | 5 | |
College of Architecture and Environmental Design Upper Division (30000 or 40000 level) Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 17 | ||
Semester Eight | |||
ID 40472 | INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO VII | 5 | |
ID 40502 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES II | 3 | |
Business Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 123 |