Interior Design

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Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2021-2022

School of the Arts

Program description

The mission of the VCUarts Department of Interior Design is to provide an intellectually rigorous, studio-based experience grounded in the issues of interior architecture. Accredited since 1973, the department develops in its students an enduring passion and curiosity for their work, a determination to continually seek quality in their endeavors, an ability to reflect constructively upon their actions as individuals, and a responsibility for their lifelong education. The department focuses a student's professional activities while encouraging connections between these activities to a larger forum of ideas that enrich their culture and their environment.

Career opportunities

A degree in interior design can open up career opportunities in diverse areas of interior design as well as the potential to define one’s own career path. The interior design profession encompasses project types ranging from single-family residence to hospitals, from academic spaces to offices, hotels to restaurant, and retail spaces to religious facilities and other related design fields. Additionally, interior designers find opportunities in furniture and materials specification and sales, facilities and space planning, lighting design, production and set design, and visualization specialists.

Change of major requirements

Completion of the Art Foundation Program is a prerequisite for entry into all fine art and design departments.

Students are required to submit their application and required portfolio here.

Typical application deadlines are November 1 (for spring applicants) and April 1 (for fall applicants).

Bachelor-level job titles

Design Captain
Design Entrepreneur
Design Principal
Design Strategist
Design Thinking Consultant
Drafter
Interior Architect
Interior Designer
Project Manager

Graduate and professional level job titles

Design Professor
Interior Architect
Interior Designer
Project Designer

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

Interior Design

Plan of study in Bulletin

Interior Design

Requirements

Highest level of math required

Quantitative Foundations requirement only

Science required

Natural Sciences requirement only

Foreign language requirements

Additional tuition/fees

GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

2.5+ cumulative GPA

Contact information

Department name:

Department of Interior Design

Building/room location:

Pollak Building, Room 406

Phone:

(804) 828-1713

Email:

intdesign@vcu.edu

https://arts.vcu.edu/interiordesign/

Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):

Monroe Park

Major map

Year 1

Explore

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
Come to Pollak Open Nite, attend IDES info sessions in AFO, visit the department, connect with current students and faculty, and ask to sit in on critiques in order to get to know Interior Design at VCUarts.
Consult with your advisor to register for ARTF sections taught by IDES faculty, including the ARTF 139 project class in Interior Design.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations.
Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community.
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community.
Follow the Department of Interior Design on their social media channels @vcuarts.interiordesign on Facebook and @vcuartsinteriordesign on Instagram.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Join RAMmalogues to talk with peers about social identities in the context of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion in life at VCU.
Check out the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and follow @vcuomsa.
Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate.
Visit a study abroad fair and complete Rams Abroad 101.
Explore funding for international opportunities.
Attend visiting artist lectures and related events every semester and connect with them after lectures and at exhibition openings and engage in a dialogue about their work.
Look to connect with local arts and design-based groups like Art180 to engage with the Richmond Community.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Engage students and faculty in critiques on your portfolio development and its development.
Visit the Campus Learning Center and the Campus Writing Center for feedback on best practices and good study habits.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study.
Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow to connect with VCU traditions and alumni networking opportunities.
Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Develop your first design portfolio.
Follow or connect with designers and their work across the world to understand the breadth and diversity of interior design practice.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
Develop a time management plan for your studies in conjunction with the Campus Learning Center.
Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes or minors, and strategies for success in your program.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere.
If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association.
Attend Dimension events in the department.
Visit the Middle of Broad Studio (mOb studio) events held every first Friday.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Make friends with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
Explore social issues, develop cultural competency skills, and engage with faculty through iExcel pop-up courses.
Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty.
Apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
Volunteer with campus or community groups engaged in social justice and equity.
Participate in VCU Arts Qatar Day and apply for the Qatar Leadership Exchange.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
Apply for scholarships offered by IDES and by professional organizations like ASID, IIDA, NEWH and IFDA.
Connect and schedule an appointment with your VCUarts career advisor on Handshake.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Begin considering potential internship locales and types of design practices and start developing research files for them.
Revise and update your resume and design portfolio.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
Begin considering ideas for your senior thesis sequence.
Meet with mOb students and consider applying for the studio.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Design a community-engaged research project.
Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
Develop an Undergraduate Research Project proposal and submit it for funding within VCUarts and beyond.
Take a leadership role in Dimension or the IDES Student Leadership Group.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
Apply for a VCUarts Dean's International Study Grant to fund international, creative exploration.
Strongly consider a summer study abroad program within IDES or external to it.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
Update your ePortfolio.
Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
Attend career and internship fairs and find other professional development events sponsored by Dimension, ASID, IIDA, NEWH, or IFDA.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
Begin applying for summer internships from winter break through spring break.
Develop a cohesive graphic identity for your complete internship application dossier, including resume, portfolio, business card, stationery, thank you notes, and other collateral materials.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
Participate in the mOb studio by taking IDES 400 in the fall or IDES 491 in the spring.
Maximize your time in IDES 441 and IDES 442, Senior Design Seminar I and II, and develop and express your design ideas and skills by designing an independent thesis project with a VCUarts faculty member.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, Richmond Teacher Residency, or AmeriCorps.
Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Consider being a liaison for outreach to AFO students or high school applicants to VCUarts.
Consider being a mentor to new IDES students.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations.
Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation.
Explore elective courses and workshops in design activism, accessibility, and social justice.
Study at VCU Qatar.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools.
Join professional organizations like ASID, IIDA, NEWH and IFDA by taking advantage of student rates.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services.
Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
Invite your professional network and connections to view your work in the IDES BFA Senior Exhibition.
Refine the cohesive graphic identity of your design dossier, including resume, portfolio, business card, stationery, thank you notes, and other collateral materials, being sure to integrate your thesis.

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2021-2022

Interior Design

School of the Arts

Concentration(s):

No concentration

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY	DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY	EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS	PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore	Year 1	Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner. Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals. Come to Pollak Open Nite, attend IDES info sessions in AFO, visit the department, connect with current students and faculty, and ask to sit in on critiques in order to get to know Interior Design at VCUarts. Consult with your advisor to register for ARTF sections taught by IDES faculty, including the ARTF 139 project class in Interior Design.	Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations. Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community. Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks. If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council. Consider applying to the Honors College. Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community. Follow the Department of Interior Design on their social media channels @vcuarts.interiordesign on Facebook and @vcuartsinteriordesign on Instagram.	Join RAMmalogues to talk with peers about social identities in the context of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion in life at VCU. Check out the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and follow @vcuomsa. Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate. Visit a study abroad fair and complete Rams Abroad 101. Explore funding for international opportunities. Attend visiting artist lectures and related events every semester and connect with them after lectures and at exhibition openings and engage in a dialogue about their work. Look to connect with local arts and design-based groups like Art180 to engage with the Richmond Community.	Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Engage students and faculty in critiques on your portfolio development and its development. Visit the Campus Learning Center and the Campus Writing Center for feedback on best practices and good study habits.	Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study. Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page. Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow to connect with VCU traditions and alumni networking opportunities. Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor. Develop your first design portfolio. Follow or connect with designers and their work across the world to understand the breadth and diversity of interior design practice.
Experience	Year 2	Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience. Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes. Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center. Develop a time management plan for your studies in conjunction with the Campus Learning Center. Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes or minors, and strategies for success in your program.	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit. Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities. Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere. If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association. Attend Dimension events in the department. Visit the Middle of Broad Studio (mOb studio) events held every first Friday.	Make friends with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization. Explore social issues, develop cultural competency skills, and engage with faculty through iExcel pop-up courses. Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty. Apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Volunteer with campus or community groups engaged in social justice and equity. Participate in VCU Arts Qatar Day and apply for the Qatar Leadership Exchange.	Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work. Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job. Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio. Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value. Apply for scholarships offered by IDES and by professional organizations like ASID, IIDA, NEWH and IFDA. Connect and schedule an appointment with your VCUarts career advisor on Handshake.	Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships. Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest. Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans. Begin considering potential internship locales and types of design practices and start developing research files for them. Revise and update your resume and design portfolio.
Experience	Year 3	See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. Begin considering ideas for your senior thesis sequence. Meet with mOb students and consider applying for the studio.	Design a community-engaged research project. Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU. Develop an Undergraduate Research Project proposal and submit it for funding within VCUarts and beyond. Take a leadership role in Dimension or the IDES Student Leadership Group.	Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning. Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume. Apply for a VCUarts Dean's International Study Grant to fund international, creative exploration. Strongly consider a summer study abroad program within IDES or external to it.	Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor. Update your ePortfolio. Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience. Attend career and internship fairs and find other professional development events sponsored by Dimension, ASID, IIDA, NEWH, or IFDA.	Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship. Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility. Begin applying for summer internships from winter break through spring break. Develop a cohesive graphic identity for your complete internship application dossier, including resume, portfolio, business card, stationery, thank you notes, and other collateral materials.
Excel	Year 4	Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree. Participate in the mOb studio by taking IDES 400 in the fall or IDES 491 in the spring. Maximize your time in IDES 441 and IDES 442, Senior Design Seminar I and II, and develop and express your design ideas and skills by designing an independent thesis project with a VCUarts faculty member.	Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization. Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, Richmond Teacher Residency, or AmeriCorps. Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Consider being a liaison for outreach to AFO students or high school applicants to VCUarts. Consider being a mentor to new IDES students.	Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field. Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations. Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation. Explore elective courses and workshops in design activism, accessibility, and social justice. Study at VCU Qatar.	Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers. Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity. Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools. Join professional organizations like ASID, IIDA, NEWH and IFDA by taking advantage of student rates.	Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities. Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation. Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services. Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter. Invite your professional network and connections to view your work in the IDES BFA Senior Exhibition. Refine the cohesive graphic identity of your design dossier, including resume, portfolio, business card, stationery, thank you notes, and other collateral materials, being sure to integrate your thesis.