Your future in Interior Design
Interior design is a multi-faceted profession utilizing creative and technical solutions. Interior designers create working and living environments for people in residential and nonresidential spaces. Some commercial designers specialize in:
- Health care design — designing healing 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 start their own businesses after several years of professional experience.
What we offer
Our Interior Design program believes interior designers should provide sustainable solutions that improve the physical environment and protect inhabitants' safety.
In addition to aesthetic elements such as color and style, our students understand health and safety codes and regulations, environmental sustainability and socially responsible business practices. We teach you how to:
- Analyze interior design problems
- Assess existing conditions
- Research and synthesize solutions
- Review 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 our Interior Design blog for program updates.
Other opportunities available to you include scholarship awards, design competitions and study abroad courses. Information about the scholarships that are available to you is at our website.
The Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (206 Grandville Ave., Suite 350; Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503; telephone 616-458-0400). This distinction means the program 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 businesses can provide you valuable resources and experiences.
A Living-Learning Community brings together art and design majors who live on campus to enhance academic and social experiences.
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's housed in seven buildings, which include classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, studios, a workshop and a visual resources library.
What to expect
You'll need to meet the College of Visual Arts and Design's admission requirements to be qualified as a pre-major. These requirements are in addition to the ones administered by the university.
Major status is granted after you complete necessary pre-requisite course work as well as:
- Pass the Entry Review, administered the fall semester of your sophomore year
- Have at least a 2.5 GPA in required art courses
- Have a minimum 2.25 UNT GPA
The Interior Design degree plan also requires completing an approved internship, which is usually done 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, Learning Center and professional academic advisors are among the many valuable resources available to you at UNT. The Career Center can provide advice about internships, future employment opportunities and getting hands-on experience in your major. The Learning Center offers workshops on speed reading, study skills and time management. Academic advisors will help you plan your class schedule each semester.