For best results, print using Chrome.
 Jump to the major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Interior Design

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
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5+ cumulative GPA
Transfer Maps

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 compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend a documentation workshop to prepare for the creation of your digital portfolio.
  • Participate in Spukhaüs and the Annual AFO Juried Student Show.
  • Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to 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.
  • 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.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
  • Create a digital portfolio or website for the Major Declaration. Attend a portfolio building workshop hosted by Art Foundation and the Workshop. Registration is on Handshake.
  • Thoughtfully write about your major and career goals for the Major Declaration
  • Research VCUarts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • 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.
EXPAND 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.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Register for the VCU Globe Program and begin tracking your global leadership growth!
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.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • 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 Financial Success Center 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
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with 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.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview 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.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • 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
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.
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • 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.
  • Participate in the mOb studio by taking IDES 400 in the fall or IDES 491 in the spring.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
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.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • 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
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Interior Design

School of the Arts

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend a documentation workshop to prepare for the creation of your digital portfolio.
  • Participate in Spukhaüs and the Annual AFO Juried Student Show.
  • Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.
  • Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to 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.
  • 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.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
  • Create a digital portfolio or website for the Major Declaration. Attend a portfolio building workshop hosted by Art Foundation and the Workshop. Registration is on Handshake.
  • Thoughtfully write about your major and career goals for the Major Declaration
  • Research VCUarts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities.
Experience Year 2
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • 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.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Register for the VCU Globe Program and begin tracking your global leadership growth!
  • 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.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • 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 Financial Success Center 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
  • Meet with 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.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview 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.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • 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.
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • 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.
  • Participate in the mOb studio by taking IDES 400 in the fall or IDES 491 in the spring.
  • 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.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • 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.