Bachelor of Arts Interior Design

The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)— accredited Interior Design Program at Kent State University is dedicated to the understanding, development and improvement of the physical environment and the protection of the public.

A multidisciplinary approach to the design education of the individual is promoted to establish an understanding of the human experience in the environment. The program fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and professional responsibility within a diverse and collegial community of faculty and students. The Kent State University interiors curriculum has been developed to promote excellence through rigor of academics and to challenge the student body to explore, examine, deliberate and solve those situations that affect the individual and the environment in both physical, social and psychological manners.

To support this mission the Kent State Interior Design Program seeks to promote the following objectives and values:

• Recognize its accountability to the global impact of the resources, and social and cultural systems that are used in the profession.
• Actively fosters new ideas and collaboration with other disciplines in the college, university, state and country.
• Strive to encourage an open dialogue of ideas, critiques and diversity of views in the educational process.
• Support Kent State University and the College of Architecture and Environmental Design missions.
• The Interior Design Program combines the resources of strong and well-established programs in the university including the Architecture, Construction Management, the School of Visual Communication and Design, and the College of Business. The undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in a CIDA-accredited first professional degree program.

Learn more about retention, graduation rates, job placements and acceptance into graduate programs.

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CURRENT STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

PROGRAM LAYOUT

FIRST YEAR

The first year focuses on laying a foundation for understanding design in its many formats while providing the liberal education required of a university education. The College of Architecture and Environmental Design and interior design courses taken during the freshman year provide a broad introduction to design culture and introduce the organizational principles and tools needed by designers to interpret and shape the built environment.

SECOND YEAR

The second year provides interior design students an understanding of the relationship of the human to the spaces they inhabit. Technical skills are interwoven into the design process that encompasses an understanding of design in a historical and contemporary context. These concepts are balanced with the basic knowledge and guidelines that the profession uses to shape interior spaces. An awareness of materiality, sustainability and computer imaging completes the education during this year.

THIRD YEAR

The third year of the program is dedicated to furthering the student’s knowledge of building and design materials and the professional documentation used in design practice. A major focus of the year is to inform the student of the relationship of design and research. The year also serves to prepare the student for the required internship, which can be taken during the summer session between the third and fourth years. The opportunity to spend a semester abroad is woven into the curriculum so that students can take advantage of a global experience (see below).

FOURTH YEAR

The final year of the program culminates with two studios directed toward professional-level work. The last studio in the program sequence is focused on community engagement and design. Current issues that impact and shape the profession are addressed. The internship may also be taken during this year, if not completed during the previous summer.
 

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Visit the www.caedXgallery.com for student work and online exhibitions.