Interior Design

Your future in Interior Design

Are you innovative, detail-oriented and a creative problem solver? Are you a visual thinker? Do you enjoy drawing and understanding how spaces work? You should pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design at the University of North Texas.

Interior design is a multi-faceted profession utilizing creative and technical solutions. Interior designers also create working and living environments for people in residential and nonresidential spaces. Some commercial designers specialize in:

• Health care — designing comfortable environments for hospitals and health care facilities
• Hospitality design — creating dynamic interiors for hotels, restaurants, spas, and other venues
• Office design — focusing on space planning, workplace functionality and ergonomics
• Retail design — creating attractive spaces for boutiques, showrooms and malls

Many graduates work with established design and architectural firms or establish their own businesses after several years of professional experience.

What we offer

While aesthetic elements such as color and style are a part of interior design, our students also understand health and safety codes and regulations, environmental sustainability and business practices. We teach you how to:

• Analyze interior design problems
• Assess existing conditions
• Research and synthesize solutions
• Reivew the process for future improvements
• Visually and verbally present solutions

Through required and elective course work, you’ll learn about computer-aided design, lighting, green and sustainable design, design for special populations, and the history of furniture and architecture, among other subjects. Our faculty members have years of experience, both nationally and internationally, as independent designers, consultants and architects. Visit www.untintdes.blogspot.com for program updates.

Other opportunities include scholarship awards, design competitions and international study abroad courses. Scholarship information is available by visiting art.unt.edu/scholarships.html.

The Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (206 Grandville Ave., Suite 350, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503-4014, telephone 616-458-0400). This distinction means it meets or exceeds strict academic standards for excellence in education.

UNT is within easy commuting distance of Dallas and Fort Worth, where numerous nationally and internationally known interior design industry businesses can provide you valuable resources and experiences.

Our Residents Engaged in Academic Living Community brings art majors who live on campus together to enhance academic and social experiences. More information about the Art and Design Community is at www.unt.edu/housing.

The College of Visual Arts and Design is one of the nation’s most comprehensive visual arts schools and one of the best in the Southwest. It is housed in seven buildings, which include classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, studios, a workshop and a visual resources library.

What to expect

You will need to meet the College of Visual Arts and Design’s admission requirements to be qualified as a pre-major. The college’s admission requirements are outlined at art.unt.edu/admission-requirements.html.These requirements are in addition to the ones administered by the university.

Major status is granted after you complete necessary course work as well as:

• Pass a First Year Entry Portfolio Review and a Sophomore Portfolio Review
• Have at least a 2.5 GPA in required art courses
• Have a minimum 2.25 UNT GPA
• Complete an approved internship

You will usually satisfy the internship requirement during your junior or senior year. Academic credit is earned while you work with professional interior designers, architects, contractors and other industry professionals.

Our Career Center, Internships and Cooperative Education office, and professional academic advisors are among the many valuable resources that are available to you at UNT. The Career Center and the Internships and Cooperative Education office can provide advice about future employment opportunities as well as getting hands-on experience in your major. Academic advisors will help you plan your class schedule each semester.

How to enroll at UNT

High school students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Recommended Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, apply for admission at www.applytexas.org by March 1 and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Transfer students

If you’re attending a Texas community college, you should consult our Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to review your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Our Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you with a peer mentor and other campus resources. More than 3,500 students transfer to UNT each year. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at transition.unt.edu.