BA in Interior Design

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Florida State University

Program Overview

The BA in Interior Design at Florida State University develops students’ ability to create human-centered interior environments through design theory, studio practice, architectural and interiors history, technical communication, sustainability, and advanced design technologies. It is suited to students interested in residential and commercial interiors, with studio experiences spanning healthcare, workplace, retail, mixed-use, hospitality, and other specialized environments.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their design foundation through IND 1206 Intro to Interior Design, IND 1203 Design Fundamentals I, and IND 1204 Design Fundamentals II, learning the principles of interior design and developing two- and three-dimensional design projects. They also study ARH 2051 History and Criticism of Art II and complete the First Year Review, which requires the foundation courses and an overall 3.00 GPA for progression into the major.

Year 2: Students move into more technical and historical study through IND 2300 Graphic Techniques I, IND 2310 Graphic Techniques II, IND 3465 Computer-Aided Design I, IND 3440c Furniture Design, and IND 4101/IND 4131 History of Interiors I and II. IND 3217c Interior Design Studio I and IND 2620 Responsible Design strengthen students’ ability to develop design solutions while considering people, materials, context, and responsible design practices.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more technically focused through IND 4218c Interior Design Studio II, IND 3470 Construction Systems, IND 3474 Construction Documents, and IND 3480 Materials and Methods. Students also undertake IND 3469 Computer-Aided Design II and IND 4242c Interior Design Studio III, while IND 3431 Lighting and IND 3529/IND 3533 Portfolio Development I and II develop their technical presentation and professional portfolio skills.

Year 4: Students complete advanced design work through IND 4243c Interior Design Studio IV and IND 4245c Interior Design Studio V, with the program’s studios progressing toward complex residential, commercial, and hospitality applications. IND 4947 Internship provides professional experience, while IND 4506 Business Practices for Interior Designers develops knowledge relevant to professional practice and the final portfolio.

Focus Areas: Interior design studios, residential design, healthcare environments, workplace and office design, retail, mixed-use environments, hospitality, furniture design, lighting, responsible design, sustainability, computer-aided design, construction systems, construction documents, materials and methods, interiors and architecture history, graphic communication, portfolio development, and professional business practices.

Learning Outcomes: Students develop skills in design analysis, space planning and programming, drafting and technical drawing, computer-aided design and building information modeling, graphic presentation, sustainability, construction systems, construction documentation, and evidence-based design. The curriculum also develops students’ ability to address human needs, accessibility, well-being, and inclusive interior environments while communicating design solutions professionally.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Florida State University’s undergraduate Interior Design program is CIDA-accredited and NASAD-accredited. FSU states that the CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, advanced study, and professional interior design organizations, and that the Interior Design degree meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the NCIDQ Examination, subject to applicable requirements.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): FSU’s official 2025 international-ranking documentation reports a QS World University Ranking of 573 for Florida State University; this is a university-level ranking rather than a program-specific Interior Design employability ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Florida State University’s BA in Interior Design gain practical experience through a sequential, studio-based curriculum covering residential, healthcare, office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality design. The program combines design development with research, prototyping, material testing, digital fabrication, and professional experience, giving students access to dedicated studios, CAD facilities, a design library, fabrication labs, and specialized materials-testing spaces. Internships are required for undergraduate students, with FSU helping students identify opportunities with interior design and architectural firms in Florida and across the United States.

These program-specific opportunities give students hands-on experience with design, fabrication, materials, and professional practice:

Design Studios: Six dedicated studios in the William Johnston Building support studio-based interior design work, critiques, collaboration, and interaction between undergraduate and graduate students.
CAD Lab: The William Johnston Building includes a dedicated CAD lab for computer-based design work, alongside print facilities and other design resources.
Studio D: The 3,000-square-foot Studio D: Design and Fabrication Studio provides hands-on prototyping for furniture and interior design and supports curriculum development, research, critical analysis, product development, and materials testing.
CNC Fabrication: Students can use a 4 × 4-foot ShopBot CNC router for digital fabrication and prototyping.
Laser Fabrication: Studio D includes Epilog laser printers in 24 × 18-inch and 40 × 28-inch sizes for digital fabrication work.
3D Printing: Ten Robo 3D printers are available through Studio D for creating physical prototypes and design models.
Woodworking: Studio D provides traditional woodshop equipment, allowing students to explore furniture construction and physical material development alongside digital fabrication.
Materials Testing: The Materials and Objects Testing Laboratory (MOTL) gives students experiential learning with interior products and investigates their suitability for hospitality, workplace, restaurant, residential, and other interior applications.
Furniture Prototyping: Students can develop small- and full-scale furniture and interior prototypes, connecting design concepts with fabrication and testing.
Computer Technology: Interior Design students are required to have a laptop capable of supporting their studio work, with FSU noting that software and technology requirements are updated as tools evolve.
Internships: Internships are required for all undergraduate Interior Design students and can be completed with local interior design and architectural firms or firms elsewhere in Florida and throughout the U.S.
Professional Preparation: The internship placement program is designed to support preparation for job placement across areas of design, with out-of-town internships particularly suited to the summer semester.
Design Library: The William Johnston Building includes a dedicated design library and resource room that support students’ design research and studio work.
Gallery & Critique Spaces: Students can present and discuss their work through the department’s gallery, lecture spaces, seminar rooms, and critique-oriented studio environment.
Research & Testing: Studio D supports research and critical analysis, including problem identification, contextual research, ideation, development, and testing of solutions for real-world design problems.
Design Focus: Studio coursework progresses through residential, healthcare, office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality design, allowing students to apply interior design methods to different professional environments.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Interior Design at Florida State University prepares graduates for professional interior design practice across residential, healthcare, workplace, retail, hospitality, and other interior environments, while also providing a foundation for advanced study. FSU reports that 100% of its interior design students complete at least one internship before graduation, and its School of Design reports an 89% average student job-placement rate within nine months of graduation.

Career Roles: Interior Designer, Interior Design Project Designer, Workplace/Commercial Designer, Design Consultant

Career Services: FSU’s Career Center provides career advising, a dedicated career liaison, career and internship fairs, NoleNetwork job opportunities, and employer connections specifically supporting Interior Design students.
Employment Outcomes: FSU reports an 89% average student job-placement rate within nine months of graduation across the School of Design, while 100% of interior design students participate in an internship before graduation.
Salary Range: FSU’s Career Center lists sample occupation salary ranges for Interior Design-related careers as $24,490–$46,890 introductory, $48,550–$77,440 mid-career, and $82,530–$149,590 experienced. These are sample occupation ranges rather than a guaranteed salary for graduates.
Internship Employers: FSU identifies Gensler, HOK, HKS Architects, Corgan, IA Interior Architects, Cooper Carry, Perkins & Will, DLR Group, and Axis Mundi among internship opportunities associated with Interior Design.
Industry Connections: FSU’s Interior Architecture & Design career events have brought students together with firms and organizations including Gensler, Corgan, HOK, HKS, Nelson Worldwide, Baker Barrios, Gresham Smith, Conn Architects, and SESCO Lighting for internships, interviews, and employment networking.
Gensler Connection: FSU alumni have held leadership and design roles at Gensler, including Tory Winn, Co-Managing Director of Gensler Atlanta, who has also recruited FSU students and participated in the program’s professional network.
Professional Accreditation: The undergraduate Interior Design degree is CIDA-accredited, preparing students for entry-level practice and meeting the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the NCIDQ Examination.
Professional Recognition: FSU’s Interior Design programs are also NASAD-accredited, providing an additional recognized quality framework for design education.
Licensure Pathway: For students intending to practice in Florida, FSU states that completion of the degree meets the educational requirement for the NCIDQ pathway; Florida registration additionally requires the applicable experience and examination requirements.
Graduate Outcomes: FSU’s graduate Interior Design page reports that since 2015, nearly 100% of graduate students have secured design-industry employment or entered advanced graduate programs within nine months of graduation, with alumni working at companies including Gensler, HOK, Corgan, and Daimler Chrysler.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA in Interior Design, students can pursue FSU’s MS in Interior Design (Advanced Professional), with project and thesis tracks, or the MFA in Interior Design. FSU also offers a Combined Pathways Program through which eligible undergraduate students can complete up to 12 graduate credits during their senior year that may count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, subject to separate graduate admission.