Interior Architecture & Design (BFA)

The School of Interior Architecture & Design's BFA curriculum integrates theory, design, and technology in tandem with the standards of the industry. Our students develop the requisite intellectual, artistic, and ethical abilities necessary for professional practice.

The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts [BFA] in Interior Architecture & Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design 

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts [BFA] in Interior Architecture & Design granted by Academy of Art University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).

Semester 1

• FND 113: Sketching for Communication Core 3 Units

  Communicate your ideas through drawing. Learn to draw objects, figures, and environments to scale and in perspective and to create drawings using compositional strategies and camera angles that can be used in sequential imagery.

• FND 149: Introduction to Design Thinking Core 3 Units

  Unlock your creative potential by harnessing the power of the creative process. You will generate ideas to solve physical and conceptual design problems. Learn from faculty across different disciplines and engage with your peers to create innovative solutions through collaborations.

• IAD 210: Digital Imaging Core 3 Units

  Enter the gateway into imaging software. You will develop skills to enhance presentations, create graphic layouts, and integrate various media into your design projects.

• LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience Liberal Arts 3 Units

  Practice evidence-based strategies for building artistic resilience and achieving academic success using critical reading, writing, and research skills. You will explore dimensions of well-being through creative exploration and the Socratic Method. Individual behaviors and practices that impact wellness and support emerging creatives will be emphasized on your academic journey!

Semester 2

• FND 122: Color Fundamentals Core 3 Units

  Color is a powerful tool. Discover how color psychology, simultaneous contrast, proportion, desaturation, atmospheric depth, light temperature, composition, and harmony can greatly enhance imagery. You will utilize various color schemes to explore color harmony using digital media.

• IAD 140: Introduction to Construction Documents Core 3 Units

  Hand-draft your interior architectural construction documents, including floor, lighting, electrical, furniture, and finish plans. You'll apply lettering, line weight, dimensions, and graphic symbols to interior sections, elevations, details, and schedules.

• IAD 245: Materials Core 3 Units

  Cultivate your sense of materiality. You'll gain knowledge to select and specify finishes, fabrics, and furnishings based on aesthetics, durability, environmental attributes, and industry standards.

• LA 108: Composition for the Artist Liberal Arts 3 Units

  Boost your foundational writing skills for success in your coursework and future profession. You'll learn to express your own artistic identity, process, and vision through writing, focusing on grammar, style, revision, and research basics.

• LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century Liberal Arts 3 Units Recommended for summer

  Examine the major styles of art and architecture in Western civilization from prehistory to the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods. You'll practice the language of the arts and examine the purposes of art.

• LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion and Argument Liberal Arts 3 Units Recommended for summer

  Gain the rhetorical tools to support your point of view and express your opinion. You'll examine the art of persuasion by honing your research and argumentation skills and writing your own thesis-based expository essays.

Semester 3

• IAD 200: Spatial Development Studio Core 3 Units

  The power of dynamic space planning propels design. You will gain problem-solving, idea extrapolation, and commercial and residential spatial development skills through schematic design tools such as diagramming, bubble drawings, and model-making. Plus, explore how factors such as circulation, accessibility, adjacencies, and universal design impacts human beings and their environment.

• IAD 260: Computer Aided Drafting Core 3 Units

  Enhance your drafting and design skills with CAD. You'll create construction documents for a design project.

• LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century Liberal Arts 3 Units

  Explore the major styles of art and architecture in Western civilization from the high Renaissance through the 19th century. You'll apply the language of the arts and analyze the purposes of art.

• LAN 375: Sketching for Idea Development Core 3 Units

  Design sketching is a universal language. Using color rendering techniques, you will advance your sketching skills to clearly communicate your design ideas and imaginative solutions.

Semester 4

• ARH 170: Projective Drawing and Perspective Major Elective 3 Units Recommended for summer

  Practice rigorously constructed architectural drawings to develop three-dimensional thinking and communication skills. You'll learn to use line and composition techniques to articulate details that reinforce the building design and help you communicate design intent.

• IAD 240: Building Codes and Systems Core 3 Units

  Gain technical experience with building codes and systems while working on a commercial building renovation. You'll learn about structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and acoustical systems. Develop your skills in detailing, fire ratings, and zoning and coordinating holistically with a design team.

• IAD 280: BIM and Design Graphics Core 3 Units

  BIM is Building Information Modeling. You'll create digital 3D models and develop advanced skills in construction documentation.

• IAD 345: Color Rendering Techniques Major 3 Units

  Create authentic versions of your designs using professional rendering techniques. Working in a variety of graphic communication mediums, you'll increase your ability to depict effects of color, light, material, and texture in the built environment.

• IAD 380: Survey of Sustainable DesignMajor 3 Units

  Solidify your personal philosophy on sustainability. You'll examine facts and establish opinions to create a design project that applies 21st-century ideals to sustainable design and environmental issues. (This course is cross-listed with IAD 625 and GLA 630.)

• LA 291: Designing Careers Liberal Arts 3 Units Recommended for summer

  Pursue the job you want! Hone your communication skills through collaboration, self-promotion, and other professional interactions. You will collaborate across disciplines to write a persuasive project proposal and conduct industry research for seeking out entrepreneurial and employee-based career opportunities.

Semester 5

• IAD 310: Residential Design Studio Major 3 Units

  Create an embracing and sumptuous residence that meets your client's needs and desires. In your first major studio, you'll develop plans and drawings, select furniture and materials, and produce a dynamic presentation based on programming and your conceptual design.

• IAD 330: Introduction to Lighting Design Major 3 Units

  Lighting is an art and a science. You'll develop lighting designs, technical drawings, and specifications for residential and commercial interiors that use light to illuminate colors, forms, and textures, while adhering to energy codes and illuminance guidelines.

• LA 226: Survey of Traditional Interior Architecture Liberal Arts 3 Units

  Know your design history. Focusing on major movements and innovations, you'll examine the societal, political, environmental, and economic influences that impacted architecture, design, furniture, and materials until the early 19th century. (This course is cross-listed with IAD 230.)

• N/A: Any Course Elective  3 Units Any Course

Semester 6

• IAD 340: Commercial Design Studio Major 3 Units

  Create a functional and imaginative workplace for your commercial client. In your second major studio, you'll develop plans and drawings, select furniture and materials, and produce construction documents for a dynamic presentation based on programming and your conceptual design.

• IAD 498: Collaborative Project Major Elective 3 Units

  Cross-disciplinary projects mirror real-world projects and require a varied and sophisticated approach to problem-solving. Course fees and prerequisites vary by topic.

• LA 110: Writing the Short Story Liberal Arts 3 Units Recommended for summer

  Become a creative storyteller. You'll apply the elements of the narrative genre to write a short story with dialogue, character development, plot, and setting.

• LA 229: Survey of Contemporary Interior Architecture Liberal Arts 3 Units

  Expand your design history knowledge. Focusing on major movements and innovations, you'll examine the societal, political, environmental, and economic influences that impacted architecture, design, furniture, and materials from the Industrial Revolution to today. (This course is cross-listed with IAD 231.)

• LA 254: Human-Centered Design Liberal Arts 3 Units

  Design for humans. Using the science of ergonomics and Norman's design principles, you'll learn to make products and design spaces that satisfy the physical, physiological, and psychological needs of consumers.

• LA 292: Programming and Culture Liberal Arts 3 Units Recommended for summer

  Explore design through humanistic and sociological lens. You will learn to observe, gather, and interpret cultural information into ideas that can shape the organization, form, and intentions of architecture and urban space.

Semester 7

• IAD 410: Advanced Commercial Design Studio Major 3 Units

  Open your heart to others working on projects that embrace inclusive and universal design. You will create innovative interiors that illustrate sensitive solutions for all inhabitants, regardless of ability.

• IAD 430: Professional Practice for Interior Design Major 3 Units

  Gain the business skills needed in an interior design firm. You'll learn about professional ethics, fee structures, scope of services negotiations, and project management, setting a foundation for your entrepreneurial spirit.

• LA 171: Western Civilization Liberal Arts  3 Units

  Explore Western civilization from ancient civilizations to the Renaissance, focusing on ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Islamic religion and societies.

• N/A: Any Course Elective 3 Units Any Course

Semester 8

• IAD 440: Comprehensive Design Studio Major 6 Units

  Interior architectural designers are creative problem solvers. In this six-unit class, you'll identify specific design problems, research case studies for innovative design solutions, apply design knowledge and skills to formulate and document a solution for a complex commercial project, and develop a complete presentation across a range of media.

• IAD 450: IAD Portfolio Preparation Core 3 Units

  Showcase your strengths, abilities, professional readiness, and personal style with a polished portfolio. You'll develop a graphic representation that reflects your range and overall approach to projects.