Interior Design Bachelor of Science
Leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design
This is a 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 junior year, and the second in the senior year. An optional co-op experience is offered in the summer between the sophomore and junior year. Select foundation courses in the first semester are shared with the Industrial Design program. A portfolio is not required for admission.
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. During the academic year 2023-24, a semester-abroad program will be offered in Berlin, Germany.
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 placements.
Total credits for degree: 131
Design Studio Grade Requirement
The following grade requirement must be achieved to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. This requirement applies to: INTD1000 INTERIOR STUDIO I, INTD1500 INTERIOR STUDIO II, INTD2000 INTERIOR STUDIO III, INTD2500 INTERIOR STUDIO IV, INTD3010 INTERIOR STUDIO V, INTD3510 INTERIOR STUDIO VI, INTD4000 INTERIOR STUDIO VII, and INTD5500 SENIOR PROJECT: DESIGN.
The final grade must be a C or better if the final grade in the previous design studio was less than a C. Students who receive a grade below a C 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 substandard grade.
| 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 |
| INTD1600 | HISTORY OF INTERIORS | 3 |
| INTD1750 | DRAWING II | 3 |
| English Sequence | 4 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| INTD2000 | INTERIOR STUDIO III | 4 |
| INTD2100 | MATERIALS | 3 |
| INTD2250 | DRAWING III | 4 |
| PHYS1000 | COLLEGE PHYSICS I | 4 |
| HSS Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 19 | |
| 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 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP3000 | PRE CO-OP WORK TERM (OPTIONAL) | 0 |
| Credits | 0 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| INTD3010 | INTERIOR STUDIO V | 4 |
| INTD3100 | CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS | 4 |
| INTD3300 | BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN | 3 |
| INTD3400 | BUILDING SYSTEMS & INTERIOR SPECIFICATION | 3 |
| HSS Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COOP3500 | COOP EDUCATION 1 | |
| Credits | 0 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| INTD3510 | INTERIOR STUDIO VI | 4 |
| INTD3600 | LIGHTING | 3 |
| Design Elective | 3 | |
| HSS Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| 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 are required to complete:
-
At least one course in Humanities: CSAS, HSSI, HIST, HUMN, LITR and PHIL
-
At least one course in the Social Sciences; CSAS, HSSI, COMM, ECON, ENVM, POLS, PSYC, and SOCL
-
The remaining course from either the Humanities or Social Sciences category.
Students with a three English course sequence may use the third English course to satisfy a Humanities requirement.
A minimum of 28 credits total, including English, humanities, and social science credit, is required to complete the humanities and social sciences graduation requirement.
For BINT students, two English courses (8 credits) and six HSS courses (24 credits) are required to complete. Of the six HSS requirements, BINT students must complete the following:
- An Art History Elective (choose one of the courses below)
- A PSYC/SOCL Elective (choose one of the courses with PSYC or SOCL prefixes)