Leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design

The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Graduates of the program may seek employment as interior design professionals in interior design and architectural firms, corporations, institutions, government offices, or as design and sales professionals for systems furnishing and interior design product manufacturers. Some graduates have pursued advanced degrees in interior design, architecture, fine arts, facilities management, and business administration. After 3,520 hours of qualified professional work experience (half of which may be completed as a student via co-op), graduates may be eligible to sit for one section of the three NCIDQ examination sections for professional certification.

Student Outcomes

Upon graduation from the interior design program students should be able to demonstrate:

• creativity and artistic vision
• fluency with a design process
• broad intellectual depth
• technical skills and the craft of making
• knowledge of the business of design
• the ability to work efficiently both independently and collaboratively in teams
• an understanding of professional fiduciary responsibilities to the general public including but not limited to ethical practice, regulatory requirements, and resource conservation and sustainability

Study Abroad

The School of Architecture and Design has a long tradition of offering semester-long study-abroad programs for undergraduates in international locations. The programs are led by Wentworth faculty members in collaboration with scholars residing in those cities.  During their time abroad, students enrich their cultural and professional perspectives through study-travel and working closely with local design professionals.  Study-abroad curriculum is aligned with required courses in Boston, allowing normal progress toward graduation. 

Cooperative Work Experience

The undergraduate Interior Design program has a substantial and well-established cooperative education component embedded in the curriculum. BS in Interior Design students spend two semesters working in a professional setting. The program collaborates with the Institute’s Center for Cooperative Education and Career Development to reinforce the learning content of these experiences. Prior to their first cooperative education semester, students take COOP2500 INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, which prepares students for their co-op search and for on-the-job success.

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.

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.