This is an archived copy of the 2016-17 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.

Interior Design

Interior Design Major

A professional interior designer is one who is qualified by education, examination, and experience to identify, research and creatively solve problems relative to the function and quality of people's interior environments. The course of study in interior design leads to a first professional degree.

Students pursue courses in which creative and technical skills are applied within a structure to achieve the built interior environment. Design solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life of occupants, and are aesthetically attractive while adhering to code and regulatory information. Design solutions produce, protect, and enhance the health, safety and welfare of the public. Students learn how to approach design problems through a methodology that includes data gathering, product specification, identification of details, contractual documents, and design business procedures.

The first two years of the program introduces the fundamentals of design, visual and technical communication techniques (including drafting, CADD, perspective drawing, model building and rendering), and theoretical and practical applications (including anthropometrics, ergonomics, interior design technology, interior materials, and color theory). The interior design profession is exceedingly complex, and collaborating with design professionals and related disciplines in a team approach to problem solving is routine practice.

Upper-division course work is focused on a series of integrated studio experiences and supports courses including history, professional practice, building information modeling, and interior systems. The studio experience culminates in a capstone project. Studio experiences require that each student be exposed to a variety of projects at several different levels of complexity and different client project goals.

NDSU interior design students are required to complete a field experience between the third and fourth year of the program. Students accept a variety of positions throughout the United States. In the past few years students have completed field experiences in cities such as Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Denver, New York, and Shanghai (China).

Laptop computers are required equipment for all first-year students beginning the spring semester. These computers need to be built to operate industry specific programs.  Refer to the interior design program website for computer specifications.

Admission into second-year interior design courses requires a 3.0 institutional minimum cumulative grade-point average and a minimum grade of 'C' in all major core requirements.  Admission into the second-year of the interior design program is also based on the review of a completed application and letter of intent that demonstrates professional and academic interest.  This is submitted during the spring semester of the student's first year in the interior design program. Students must maintain the 3.0 institutional minimum cumulative GPA and earn a grade of 'C' or better in all major core requirements throughout the remainder of the program. Transfer students entering the interior design program should contact the program coordinator to review previously completed interior design or related course work.

The interior design program at NDSU is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Major Requirements

Major: Interior Design

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

Major Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA and a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all major core requirements.

Interior Design Core Requirements
ADHM 151Design Fundamentals3
ADHM 160Interior Design Careers1
ADHM 161Introduction to Manual Drafting3
ADHM 162Intermediate Manual Drafting3
ADHM 251Interior Design Studio I-Residential3
ADHM 253Interior Design Studio II-Office Design2
ADHM 254Interior Design Studio III2
ADHM 261Visual Communications3
ADHM 264Residential Systems2
ADHM 300Design Resource Management1-3
ADHM 315History of Interiors I (May satisfy general education category A)3
ADHM 316History of Interiors II (May satisfy general education category A)3
ADHM 351Interior Design Studio IV-Advanced Residential3
ADHM 353Interior Design Studio V-Large Scale Contract Design3
ADHM 363Commercial Lighting Design and Building Systems3
ADHM 365CADD for Interiors3
ADHM 366Textiles3
ADHM 367Textiles Laboratory1
ADHM 368Interior Materials2
ADHM 450Research and Project Development in Interior Design3
ADHM 452Comprehensive Interior Design Project6
ADHM 460Career Development and Professional Practice3
ADHM 461Building Information Modeling3
ADHM 491Seminar2-3
ADHM 496Field Experience3
CSCI 114Microcomputer Packages (May satisfy general education category S)3-4
or CSCI 116 Business Use of Computers
HD&E 320Professional Issues1
Department Requirement: Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Art History
Art History I
Art History II
Minor Program of Study Required16
One of the following minors is required: Business; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design; French; Spanish; German; Communication; History; Gerontology; Emergency Management; Natural Resource Management; other minor options may be approved by interior design faculty.
Total Credits90-94

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • Course taken Pass/Fail will not be used to satisfy any requirements other than total credits.                                                                                                                                                          

Plan of Study

The following plan suggest semester schedules that allow the student to complete his/her major/option degree program in a four year span. The arrangement of courses is based on which semesters the course is offered, the classification and the prerequisites and co-requisites required for successful completion. This Plan of Study should be used alongside the official curriculum guide and with assistance from your assigned advisor. Remember, this is only a guide and circumstances may change the plan.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 1513ADHM 1623 
ADHM 1601ADHM 2613 
ADHM 1613COMM 1103 
ENGL 1103ENGL 1203 
HD&E 1891Quantitative Reasoning3 
Social/Beh Science3Wellness2 
 14 17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 2513ADHM 2532 
ADHM 2642ADHM 2542 
ADHM 3653ADHM 3683 
ART 111, 210, or 2113CSCI 114 or 1163-4 
Science/Tech w/Lab4Science/Tech3 
 Minor Course3 
 15 16-17
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ADHM 3153ADHM 3001ADHM 4963
ADHM 3513ADHM 3163 
ADHM 3633ADHM 3533 
ADHM 4603ADHM 4613 
ADHM 4911HD&E 3201 
Minor Course3Social/Behavioral Sci3 
 Minor Course3 
 16 17 3
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 366
ADHM 367
4ADHM 4526 
ADHM 4503ADHM 4911 
Upper Div Writing3Minor Course3 
Minor Course3Minor Course3 
Minor Course as needed3Minor Course as needed3 
 16 16
Total Credits: 130-131