The Interior Design program is part of the School of Family & Consumer Sciences in the BGSU College of Education & Human Development  

Interior Design group
  • Bachelors Available
  • Bachelors Available

Interior Design

Interior design is the aesthetic interpretation and organization of space, human activity and experience. Interior design professionals create exciting spaces that enhance quality of life, support human behavior and work processes, and boost productivity and efficiency. This profession blends art, technology and science.

This program was designed with you in mind. Our faculty are friendly, caring and passionate, and are committed to teaching and helping you achieve your dreams of becoming an interior designer.

Quality classroom experiences

You’ll get an exciting studio-based education of interior design, with foundational coursework and residential and commercial design. You’ll have access to new, state-of-the-art labs with computerized work stations, large-format plotters and more cutting-edge technology. Opportunities to attend trade shows and site visits will round out your education, along with field experiences and co-ops that help deepen your understanding of the field and identify career goals through hands-on application of the skills you build in class.

Stand Out in courses like

  • Computers & Interior Design
  • Lighting Design for Interior Environments
  • Building Materials and Finishes for Interiors
  • Green, Sustainable and Universal Design for the Built Environment

Curriculum

This program prepares you for an entry-level position and career as an interior designer who creatively addresses the aesthetic, functional and technical aspects of the interior environment. You’ll study foundational design elements and principles, along with design methods the functional and pragmatic application of construction systems, building codes and regulations, and the selection of appropriate finishes, materials and furnishings. The curriculum also includes the study of design theory, behavior science and human behavior, as well as the history of the interior environments.

Site visits to the Chicago Merchandise Mart and work co-ops position competitive graduates for top opportunities within a world market

Internships and Careers

As the demand for quality housing and commercial facilities rises, interior designers are finding many opportunities for creative design positions.

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$35,656* — BGSU Interior Design graduates average starting salary

100% of Interior Design graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

Go Far in your career in

  • Interior design firms
  • Furniture dealership interior design departments
  • Architecture firm interior design departments
  • Office/Residential furniture consulting/sales
  • Facility planning and management
  • Project management
  • Materials and finishes sales

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Interior Design are expected to be able to:

  • Collect and analyze data about client needs and set priorities of those needs in the design process;
  • Plan spaces using program information that effectively and efficiently relates the interior space to client needs, utilizing furniture, finishes, and equipment;
  • Design using knowledge of how interiors affect the health, safety, and welfare of the client as well as whether interior elements comply with federal, national, and state codes, particularly those that pertain to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
  • Incorporate principles of environmental sustainability in design practice;
  • Creatively and effectively express design ideas through hand- and computer-generated drawings;
  • Prepare contract documents to legally facilitate all the components required to undertake a design project, including selection of furniture, finishes, and equipment; coordination with architects, mechanical engineers, contractors, and installers; finalizing drawings, purchasing schedules, and code documents; placing orders with manufacturers; and arranging and supervising project installation.

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Interior Design program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and is in good standing.

More information on accreditation

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Interior Design program does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Interior Design program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 12/11/2023 11:24AM