Best Online Master's in Interior Design Programs

Table Of Content

• Find local colleges with Interior Design majors in the U.S.
• Expect more from your education.
• What Degree Do You Need To Be an Interior Designer?
• Mt. San Antonio College
• Online Interior Design Bachelor's Degrees You May Be Interested In
• Frequently Asked Questions About Interior Design Programs
• University of Washington

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Interior Design represents the pinnacle of interior design education. This advanced program emphasizes critical thinking, in-depth research, and intricate design concepts. Graduates gain a deep understanding of design theory, consumer and design sciences, research methodologies, and the interplay of psychology and culture in design.

Find local colleges with Interior Design majors in the U.S.

Kansas State reports that more than 90% of its graduates complete this program in just four years. Interior design graduates work at various architectural and interior design firms. Some focus on certain facts of interior design such as kitchen, bath design, or lighting.

Expect more from your education.

Ohio University (OU) is a small, public university that offers an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture that requires 127 credit hours. OU teaches the fundamental aspects of design, like 2D & 3D design, design technologies, and design’s relationship to the arts and sciences. This program includes five studio classes, a thesis experience, and a professional internship.

What Degree Do You Need To Be an Interior Designer?

Belmont University’s O’More College of Architecture & Design Named a Top 50 Fashion Design School in the Nation - Belmont University News & Media

Belmont University’s O’More College of Architecture & Design Named a Top 50 Fashion Design School in the Nation.

Posted: Fri, 07 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This university ranks 23rd out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California. Located in the medium-sized city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 26 schools for overall quality in the state of Arizona. Interior architecture and interior design are closely related fields but differ in focus.

Mt. San Antonio College

Savannah College of Art and Design is our runner-up for its collaborative learning programs and multiple campuses. The Academy of Art University (AAU) is a medium-sized, private institution that offers an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture & Design, which requires 132 credits. AAU provides students with the design and professional skills to succeed in their field, and they can complete the program in four years with a full-time schedule. Some core courses include Comprehensive Design Studio, Survey of Sustainable Design, and several Art History classes.

In addition to general education requirements, students complete a 60-credit curriculum that includes classes such as interior design, lighting design, and design technology. Before graduation, degree-seekers complete an internship and a senior thesis design project. Collaborative projects incorporate real-world design processes, while optional study-abroad programs in Copenhagen and Rome offer students a well-rounded college experience. At the end of the four-year interior design program, students are required to complete a capstone project, combining their knowledge of history, theory, technology, innovation, and human behavior into a single physical space. Both programs landed in the top three of all 12 key focus areas, holding leading positions in engineering fundamentals, interdisciplinary studies, and sustainable built environments/adaptive design/resilient design.

George Washington University

Parsons is conveniently located in lower Manhattan in the vibrant New York City but also includes a branch campus in Paris. Parsons’ BFA in interior design is a 120-credit hour, full-time, on-campus program. More than 300,000 alumni call themselves Bearcats, and you may be one too if you pursue UC’s Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. This best BS in interior design entails 126 credit hours and will take you five years to complete if you are a full-time student. Along with major interior design courses, you will prepare a capstone project and gain practical hands-on experiences along the way. Students with design, non-design, and architecture backgrounds may pursue an MS in interior architecture or sustainable design at Thomas Jefferson University.

Interior design majors learn the fundamentals of designing residential and commercial spaces, from lighting and functional space planning to designing blueprints. They also gain an understanding of how people use spaces and how to meet the physical, psychological, social, and economic needs of different types of people and clients. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in interior design.

University of Washington

At Woodbury, you will thrive in small classes and a collaborative community. This online resource serves the international design community, featuring information about companies that use cutting-edge interior design. The website also highlights industry trends and the latest products and research. Available digitally and in print, Metropolis has published articles on design research and trends for over 35 years. The magazine features sections devoted to retail, healthcare, hospitality, residential, and workplace interiors.

Also, think twice before applying to a school in an area you absolutely hate or are really unsure about. That said, I did separate the schools into two tiers based on their aggregate rankings. Keep in mind, though, that the most important consideration in choosing one of these schools is finding the one that best fits your own preferences and interests.

Interior design is much more complicated than arranging furniture in a room. It is critical for designers to also know about complex design issues, including the functionality of a space, how lighting affects the area, and how to change the structure of a room without violating building codes. Education can provide a hopeful designer with all of this knowledge, so aspiring interior designers should consider one of the best interior design schools. Below, we’ll outline some of the most important considerations when preparing to take the next career step, along with some of the best schools for interior design. Next, we compared this comprehensive list of interior design degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S.

Professional interior design organizations help current students and graduates prepare for various certification exams. They also provide excellent networking opportunities by hosting events like annual conferences. Interior design professionals can sometimes register and create profiles with these organizations to market themselves and attract potential clients. These professionals design and plan a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. In most states, architects need to pass an official exam to receive certification.

All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Prospective students must hold a high school or GED diploma and can apply through the Common Application. Unlike other BFA programs, George Washington University does not require a portfolio for admission. Our program culture embraces diversity and in our work we aim to increase equity, both for interior design practitioners and for the people that are served by our projects. We believe interior design is uniquely equipped to advocate and promote diversity and equity in the profession and the built environment. Interior design in the 21st century is far removed from the profession as it was practiced 20 or 30 years ago.

Some interior designers work for architecture or engineering firms, furniture stores, or in wholesale trade. This class explores the main materials used by interior designers and how to choose them. Students often need to complete an internship where they work for an interior design or architecture firm to gain real-world experience in their field. While there might be in-person requirements, online students can usually complete their internship at a firm in their area.

Once you're done putting together a list of schools to apply to, the next step should be figuring out how to pay for your education. Learn more about how to apply for financial aid, how to pay for school without loans, and how to get some of the top scholarships in the country. All the schools on our list above are accredited by CIDA and state this fact very clearly on their websites. If you're not sure whether a particular school is accredited, contact its admissions office and ask.

While some schools may offer online courses, others do not, or only some of the program may be able to be completed online. So when deciding to pursue interior design education, location will play a key role in decision-making. There are many factors to consider about changing locations, such as the quality of life, how much money it will cost to live comfortably while attending school, the weather, etc. Potential students will also have to determine whether they will live on-campus or off-campus. So when choosing one of the best schools for interior design, determine how the school’s location will factor into the decision. When deciding whether to attend school in person or take an online course, it’s a good idea to compare the benefits of both.