The best preparation for the future is an [interior design] education that will enable graduates to adapt to a changing world. Adaptation to change requires that graduates draw on history and on the experience of many cultures and apply the theories and methods of quantitative and qualitative investigation. A sound curriculum for professional interior design education must provide a balance between the broad cultural aspects of education, on the one hand, and the specialized practical content integral to the profession, on the other.
Council for Interior Design Accreditation: CIDA Professional Standards Report July 2009 www.accredit-id.org/
Program Details
Bellevue College’s Interior Design program has modeled the upper-division BAA curriculum on current knowledge and future trends in interior design education and practice. Guiding the curriculum design are CIDA standards for accredited interior design programs, NCIDQ certification standards for professionals, regional employer needs, general education requirements at Washington bachelor and associate degree institutions, and entrance requirements for interior design master degree programs.
The resulting curriculum incorporates discipline-based, general education, and elective courses that build progressive rigor and sophistication, and develop the broad knowledge and focused coursework characteristic of four-year degrees. It is designed to give students both methodology and skills that can be applied to the wide variety of employment situations encompassed within the field of interior design.
The Interior Design program consults a professional interior design advisory board to identify course elements that best prepare graduates for work in the field, including core technical knowledge and foundation skills identified by this group as critical to the success of interior design specialists. These elements also include a focus on critical thinking and problem solving, communication, teamwork, cultural sensitivity, and technical skills.
Interior designers are key participants in the total building design process. It is more important than ever for clients and the public to expect interior design professionals to demonstrate their competency in all areas of interior design. It is not enough for a provider of interior design services to understand just the aesthetics. The designed safety of interiors for home owners, business owners or users of public and private spaces requires much more in today’s complex world.
National Council for Interior Design Accreditation (NCIDQ) www.ncidq.org
In-depth practicum experience and a required capstone project encourage students to engage in self-directed investigation of interior design-related issues, and to customize their education to meet their interests and career goals.
The general education requirements for the BAA are an integral part of the degree and offer the breadth and depth, rigor and sophistication expected of an interior design bachelor degree program. BC has a well-designed general education program of long-standing that was commended by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, and this model was extended for the BAA in Interior Design.
Graduates of the BAA program will be well positioned to compete in a highly competitive field and to complete qualification requirements towards NCIDQ professional certification.
Program Goals
Graduates of the BAA in Interior Design should have the skills and abilities to be employed by companies specializing in interior design services, whether in interior design or architectural firms, practicing in commercial, institutional or residential interiors and space planning, providing furniture-related design and/or specifications, offering specialized consulting services, or participating in green building and sustainable design projects.
The goals of the program are to:
Prepare interior design bachelor‘s degree graduates who can adapt to substantial changes in their field, including changing industry and client expectations; as well as advances in technology, regulations and best practices.
Address increased employer demand for bachelor‘s degree graduates with pragmatic skills and foundation knowledge who are also well-rounded, creative problem-solvers.
Address student demand for an affordable, regionally accessible bachelor‘s degree in interior design.
Offer a strong foundation in interior design fundamentals along with the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to prepare graduates to be competitive with the best in their field.
Provide opportunities for graduates to apply new approaches, emergent technologies, and contemporary knowledge to achieve sustainable design solutions.
Program Learning Outcomes
A graduate of the interior design bachelor‘s degree program should be able to:
Effectively compete in the interior design industry.
Apply state-of-the-art design principles and practices, including green and sustainable practices.
Recognize the implications of globalization on design practices and demonstrate an understanding of how social, political and physical influences shape the design of built environments.
Utilize the principles of lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort and indoor air quality to enhance the health, safety, welfare, and performance of building occupants.
Select and specify furniture, fixtures, equipment and finish materials on the basis of their properties and performance criteria, including environmental attributes, maintenance, installation, and life cycle cost.
Apply ethical and accepted standards of practice for project management, project communication, and project delivery.
Demonstrate leadership by engaging in multi-disciplinary teams representing a variety of points of view and perspectives collaborations, consensus building, and team-oriented activities.
Demonstrate understanding of laws, codes, standards, and guidelines that impact the design of interior spaces and protect the health, welfare and safety of the public, including fire and life safety, accessibility guidelines, and industry-specific regulations in the design of interior spaces.
Curriculum & Course Descriptions
Coming soon!
This information is maintained by Michelle Chavez and Janis Juarez for the Bellevue College Interior Design Department, a program within the Arts and Humanities division at Bellevue College. Program questions should be directored to the faculty of the Interior Design Department.
Copyright 2006, Bellevue College. Site last update:
September 29, 2009
This website was developed with funding from a Bellevue College Foundation Mini-Grant. Bellevue College is an Equal Opportunity Institution.
