BFA Interior Design Track

Interior Design

The Interior Design studio art track is a professional preparatory program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Program coursework is based upon the dual strategies of conceptual development and technical proficiency and is intended to prepare students to assume leadership positions in the field. In addition, the program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada (click here for more about accreditation).

Creative thinking in Interior Design has a close relationship to all forms of artistic activity. Good designers use an understanding of society and culture to form critical judgments about people's lives.

Conceptually, our Interior Design program is based upon the principles of Interior Design as defined by John Kurtich and Garret Eakin in their book Interior Architecture. These include an emphasis upon the enclosing structure, both as a reference, and as a guide for the selection of furnishings, the importance of both three and four dimensional design thinking, the importance of light, and the use of color and materials to impart a human character.

University of Louisville studio and seminar settings are used to integrate these and other diverse liberal arts ideas with the practical and technical requirements of Interior Design.

Admission

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is primarily intended for professionally oriented students. Admission to this program is highly selective and enrollments are limited. Currently accepted majors for the BA in Art, track in Studio Art who have completed or are currently completing the 100-level foundations courses (ART 105, 106, and 107), plus are currently enrolled in DES 204 Foundation Interior Design and DES 361 Introduction to Interior Design (offered fall only), have a GPA in art and art history classes of 3.00, and a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 are eligible to apply for the program. BFA Applications for Interior Design are reviewed once yearly in November. If accepted to the program, students will take DES 362 Color Theory & Human Factors in Interior Design, 33 hours of courses at the 500-level in interior design, plus 6 hours of Art History survey courses and DES 347 Historic Interiors.

BFA Candidacy

Once admitted to the BFA program, students are expected to work closely with their mentor towards completion of the degree. All candidates must maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or above and a departmental GPA of 3.00 or above to remain in the BFA program once accepted. Interior Design candidates must meet with their mentor each semester to ensure they are performing adequately and following the proper class sequence.

Degree flight plan: https://catalog.louisville.edu/undergraduate/majors/art-fine-art-bfa/#flightplantext

Interior Design course list: https://louisville.edu/art/Undergraduate/courses-offered/interior-design-courses

Completing the BFA in Interior Design

In addition to completing the curricular requirements, BFA candidates must also pass their program's capstone requirement, part of the departments Learning Outcome Measurement. The Interior Design capstone consists of the students successful completion of the Professional Development course and presentation of a portfolio of work to professionals in the field during the Portfolio Day event.

The Mission of the Interior Design Track  

The mission of the Hite Institute of Art and Design is to educate students to function in the forefront of the art world; to inspire critical thinking, promote a diversity of perspectives, and engage in the most current scholarship in art history, theory, studio art, and curatorial practices. In addition, the Interior Design track mission is to prepare students to assume leadership positions, prepare students to create interior environments that improve the quality of human experience and prepare graduates for a life of self-education and creative problem-solving.  

For further information regarding the BFA in Interior Design, please contact:

Nathan Smith, M.Arch
Assistant Professor
Email Nathan Smith
Phone: 502.852-0979

The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)

The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 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 Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design granted by the University of Louisville meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.

Explore Student Work

Discover the remarkable achievements of our Interior Design studio art track students. View their innovative projects and gain insight into their creative processes by visiting: https://louisville.edu/art/Undergraduate/bfa-in-art-or-design/student-work/interior-design-program-student-work/