The interior design degree establishes you as an expert in creating human-centered environments and understanding the relationship between people and their physical surroundings.
Program skills
The Interior Design curriculum provides an understanding of three-dimensional concepts as they relate to space, function and aesthetic resolution. Students gain excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills through group interaction and teaming. Students are exposed to color and lighting theory, materials specifications, business and career practices, universal design, ADA and sustainability as well as technical knowledge in building construction methods, passive and active environmental control systems, building codes and construction documents. Studio coursework includes residential, hospitality, retail, office, healthcare, multi-story/multi-purpose design and special topics, which may be community-based, charitable or socially relevant projects.
Program facilities equipment
The interior design studio has a dedicated studio workspace and lecture area. A reference library, media center, photographic equipment, and imaging sciences labs for computer output are available along with access to lighting and color labs. 3D printing, Imaging System Lab, state-of-the-art plotting center, and Construct Lab. Computer labs are equipped with Macintosh and PC systems. The software includes AutoCAD, Revit, Trimble SketchUp, Shaderlight, Vectorworks, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.
Program job titles reported
Commercial Designer; Customer Service Representative; Design Consultant; Educational Designer; Gallery Exhibitioner; Healthcare Designer; Hotel and Hospitality Designer; Interior Design Associate; Interior Designer; Interior Detailing Design Associate; Junior Interior Designer; Occupancy Planner; Office Designer; Project Manager; Render Specialist; Retail Designer; Set and Exhibit Designer; Showroom Design Consultant
Select program hiring partners
1849 Design; Arhaus Furniture; Best Tile; Buffalo Office Interiors; Clark Patterson Lee; Corning Incorporated; Ferguson Enterprises, LLC.; Gensler; Marc-Michaels Interior Design; Sedgwick Business Interiors; Staach; The H. Chambers Company; Wegmans Food Markets
75%
Outcome Rates*
57%
Knowledge Rate
| Outcome | % of Students |
|---|---|
| Employed | 75.00% |
| Full-time Graduate Study | 0% |
| Alternative Plans | 0% |
Accreditation
The interior design program maintains accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), which includes student achievement data.
Experiential Learning
Cooperative Education and Internships
What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete with real, relevant career experience that sets you apart. In the College of Art and Design experiential learning includes cooperative education and internships, international experiences, multidisciplinary projects, industry partnerships, and more. Participating in these opportunities is not only possible at RIT, but passionately encouraged.
Cooperative education, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities are optional but strongly encouraged for graduate students in the BFA in interior design.
Creative Industry Day
RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Day, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. You'll be able to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and permanent employment positions.