Interior Design means creating peoples' immediate physical environment. Interior designers plan the interiors of homes, public buildings and commercial establishments. They analyze clients' needs and requirements, lay out space, prepare working drawings and specify interior materials and finishes. They also specify appropriate heating and lighting plans, prepare budgets and construction drawings; and supervise the installation of the design project.

• Major Requirements
• Job Opportunities
• DHE Internship Program
• Field Trips
• NCIDQ
• Where Graduates Are Now

Major Requirements

Interior Design is a Professional Program with competitive admission.  For specific course requirements within the major, see the OSU General Catalog

An Interior Design degree from OSU will prepare you in a number of areas:

• Drafting--traditional and computer-assisted
• history of art, architechure and furniture
• Space planning for residential and commercial spaces
• Sustainability and green design
• Sketching and rendering
• Government regulation of buildings including materials and accessibility

To study interior design at OSU, you enroll in the Department of Design and Human Environment located in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Your faculty adviser provides you with academic advising and career counseling.

You will work in the computer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) lab. At the end of your junior year, you may choose a field experience for credit..

This major has a wireless laptop requirement.

Job Opportunities

With an Interior design degree from OSU, graduates have become interior designers for architecture and interior design firms.  Graduates have specialized in a particular aspect of design, such as kitchen design, space planning or lighting design. Graduates have also pursued careers as manufactuer's representatives who show lines to retail buyers.

Growth in population and increase in personal incomes are expected to spur demand for both residential and commercial interior designers.

Field Trips

Examples of possible course-related field trips

ASID Student Chapter and IIDA Campus Center:

• Student Career Day, Seattle Design Center, IIDA Student Rally, Portland, and IIDA Design "Crawl", Portland
• Tours of furniture manufacturers, rug dealers, wholesale design showrooms in Portland
• Tours of architecture and interiors firms in Portland
• Tour and lecture at the Lighting Demonstration Lab of Portland General Electric

NCIDQ

The professional examination administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification is the test for minimum competency for the profession of interior design. At the present time passage of the exam is required in order to use the title Interior Designer or Certified Interior Designer in 26 states and jurisdictions.

The examination is offered twice a year, has six sections testing different aspects of the professional body of knowledge, and lasts two days.

Eligibility to sit for the exam is determined by the NCIDQ and is based upon a combination of education and professional experience totaling 6 years.

Where Graduates Are Now - Recent Job Placements

The types of positions accepted by our Interior Design graduates are:

• Entry-level Interior Designer
• Interior Design Assistant
• Sales Support
• Bid Supervisor
• Space Planner
• Facilities Management Assistant
• Showroom Manager
• Project Coordinator
• Manufacturer's Representative
• Kitchen and Bath Assistant Designer

Placement Rate

Our placement rate for graduates in Interior Design for the last 3 years has been close to 100%, for those grads seeking jobs. Continued growth in residential and commercial design is expected.

Some examples of companies who have hired recent graduates: