However, students who are serious about the career path should take an accredited course in interior design specifically, since a curriculum dedicated to this discipline will better prepare them for the demands of an interior design career. Bachelor’s Degrees in Interior DesignĪ bachelor’s degree in any subject may be sufficient to attain an interior designer job, assuming the student takes some design-related courses. You might spend less of your curriculum on liberal arts and science courses and more of your studies on your chosen major, although this difference can vary from one college to another. For example, you might focus on residential design specifically in one course, commercial in another and the use of textiles and finishes in yet another class. In an applied science program, you might take coursework in more focused areas of interior design study. Although this program is intended to serve as the foundation for further interior design study at the baccalaureate level, students will still get to practice their skills through a sequence of design studio courses as they work toward their associate’s degree. Although many of the classes you take in pursuit of an Associate of Arts degree in interior design are lower-division courses, you might still complete some more advanced coursework, such as a class in advanced presentation techniques. However, the curriculum will also include introductory coursework in design and construction, construction materials and methods, the basics of computer-aided design, drawing, three-dimensional design and the history of architecture and interiors. As such, the curricula of associate’s degree programs in interior design differ considerably depending on the type of program you choose.Īn Associate of Arts degree is likely to devote more of the curriculum to general education requirements.
#DEGREES FOR INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL#
Generally, Associate of Arts degrees are intended as stepping stones to interior design bachelor’s degrees, while Associate of Applied Science programs are meant to prepare students for professional industry standards. The two-year interior design degree programs offered at the associate’s level can take the form of either an Associate of Arts degree or an Associate of Applied Science degree. Whatever level of college education and career preparation you choose to pursue in interior design, here’s what you can expect from your schooling. The Education Needed to Be an Interior Designer In some states, interior designers must be licensed or registered through a process that typically requires a relevant degree, a minimum number of years of experience and a passing score on a test like the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation accredits about 180 professional-level (bachelor’s or master’s degree) interior design programs. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits more than 360 postsecondary colleges, universities, and independent institutes that have programs in art and design. Often, you need to acquire a couple of additional years of supervised work experience before you can attain a license. In some states, interior designers must be licensed before they officially hold this job title. If you opt to pursue a higher level of education, you’re looking at four, five or more years of study. Generally, the fastest you can get started working as an interior designer is two years, assuming that you pursue only an associate’s degree and you work in a state where licenses are not required. Interior designers with a college degree made over $15,000 more per year than those without one in 2019, according to trade magazine Architectural Digest. Earning a degree is also important for your financial future. One in ten interior designers reported having an associate’s degree, and the next most common level of education is a post-baccalaureate certificate. The most common level of education for interior designers – the one that accounts for 85 percent of the profession – is a bachelor’s degree, according to O*NET. IMAGE SOURCE: Pixabay, public domain What Degree Do You Need to Be an Interior Designer? Even interior design assistant roles sometimes require a college degree, and you will have a hard time finding employment as an interior designer without taking any college coursework. If you want to prepare for a career in interior design, at least some amount of college education is pretty much essential. Interior design encompasses the planning and design of both commercial and residential spaces. Interior designers are the professionals who design these inside spaces to be functional, aesthetically pleasing and safe. In residential, public and commercial structures, it’s often in the interior spaces where people live, work and do business.