Program Overview

Interior Design, BS

The Interior Design program at The University of Alabama acknowledges the need for the interior design profession to remain active in providing for the safety, convenience, and aesthetic satisfaction of users in the 21st century and beyond.

Program Mission

The mission of the Interior Design Program is to provide the design skills necessary to prepare students for entry-level interior design practice and advanced study, including informed creative concepts developed through research that is synthesized and applied to design solutions.

Program Goals

The goals of the Interior Design Program are to equip students with the knowledge and skills to:

• Creatively solve design challenges presented in a variety of interior spaces, considering human needs based on age, gender, health, socioeconomics, and culture.
• Recognize the value of human diversity and develop appreciation and sensitivity for designs based on different traditions.
• Effectively solve design problems through team interactions and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Make responsible design choices for human well-being and the natural environment.

Curriculum

The program follows a logical sequence in the curriculum, which begins with knowledge and skill foundations that build from simple to more complex requirements with emphasis on the design process, critical thinking, user needs, and environmental awareness.

Required Courses

The following courses are required:

• ART 110: Drawing I (3 hours)
• ART 131: 3D Design (3 hours)
• CTD 102: Applied Design (0 or 3 hours)
• CTD 121: Intro to Interior Design (0 or 3 hours)
• CTD 221: Materials for Design (3 hours)
• CTD 225: Residential/Graphic Design (3 hours)
• CTD 226: Commercial Design (3 hours)
• CTD 250: Construction Procedures for ID (3 hours)
• CTD 262: Textiles for Interior Design (3 hours)
• CTD 321: History of Interiors I (3 hours)
• CTD 325: Design for Special Populations (4 hours)
• CTD 326: Design for Hospitality Int (4 hours)
• CTD 328: ID Professional Practice (3 hours)
• CTD 330: AutoCAD for Interior Design (3 hours)
• CTD 371: Lighting for Interiors (0 or 3 hours)
• CTD 422: Research and Theory for INTD (3 hours)
• CTD 425: Advanced Historic Design (4 hours)
• CTD 426: Advanced Design (0 or 4 hours)
• Art History (6 hours)
• Required Core Computer Course: CTD 427: ACAD (3 hours)
• Select two Studio Arts from the following or faculty-approved Studio Art (6 hours):
  • CTD 255: Comp Appl for Interior Design
  • CTD 319: Textile Design
  • CTD 340: Portfolio Development
  • CTD 353: Language of Design
  • CTD 355: Global Influences on Design

Total Hours

Total hours required for the program: 60-73 hours.

Transfers

All students interested in transferring from another institution into the Interior Design program should contact the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design at least one year prior to enrollment to verify transfer credits and plan for a required portfolio review.

Course Sequencing

Courses must be taken in sequence and cannot be skipped or doubled. A C- or higher is required to move to the next studio.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities include employment with interior design studios, interior design divisions of architectural firms, retail establishments, and corporate design departments, as well as independent business ownership.

Types of Jobs Accepted

Recent graduates have accepted jobs with architectural firms, interior design firms, and design product manufacturers. They have also accepted employment with private sector corporate businesses and public sector entities.

Jobs of Experienced Alumni

Experienced alumni have worked on various projects, including high-end residential design, preservationist work, and designs for the U.S. military. They have also become executives in the world of design materials and pursued graduate education at international schools of architecture.