Interior Design

Our Interior Design program will teach you valuable skills to begin your career as a designer. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to:

• Analyze information to create design solutions to meet client needs

• Research complex design problems to incorporate into design solutions

• Showcase professional work ethic and problem-solving skills

• Build and perform professional presentations

• Produce professional-quality interior design

• Apply product knowledge to meet customer needs

• Design construction and systems

• Interior Design, AAS

• CIP 500408 (IND)

The Interior Design Program at ACC has been educating Interior Design professionals since 1975, and is one of the oldest programs in the State of Colorado.

This program enjoys an excellent reputation of quality education in the Colorado Interior Design community. Interior Designers play an important role in developing efficient, functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces in both residential and commercial interior environments.

The Interior Design program at ACC prepares students for a career as a professional interior designer. Students learn to develop not only creative abilities and how to express them, but also the methods and processes needed to practice design ethically, responsibly and profitably.

NKBA Accreditation

The ACC Interior Design Program is accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and was awarded the NKBA Award for Excellence in Education (2011-2012); one of only three schools nationally to receive this award.

The Kitchen and Bath industry is a specialized area of residential design. As students near completion of the Interior Design Program, they are qualified to sit for the AKBD exam, which is the Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer qualification.

After practicing in the field for a specified number of years, designers may sit for the CKD or CKB exam which qualifies them as a Certified Kitchen Designer or Certified Bathroom Designer.

Kitchen and Bath is a part of the regular curriculum of the Interior Design program.

However, students who are interested in an abbreviated format specifically in Kitchen and Bath design education, may enroll in the Kitchen and Bath Specialist Certificate program that is now being offered by the ACC Interior Design Dept. (See specific information for the Certificate.)

Admission Requirements

• Admission to Arapahoe Community College

• Students must attend an Interior Design Program Orientation prior to registration. Dates for orientations are listed on the ACC website.

• Students should have been assessed to be at college-level in English (see Student Resources and Services - Assessment in this Catalog)

  • OR 236 on the NextGen Accuplacer

  • OR ACT or SAT scores within the last five years

  • OR have earned a previous college degree

  • OR have completed any necessary developmental courses, if required, with a grade of "C" or higher before taking Interior Design courses.

• Students wishing to transfer in Interior Design or General Education credits to fulfill degree requirements must have official transcripts sent to ACC Admission and Records Office. If you have questions after Admissions and Records has evaluated your transcripts, please call 303.797.5958 to schedule an appointment with the IND Department Chair.

Program Requirements

General Education Courses (15 credit hours)

• ENG 1021 - English Composition I: GT-CO1 3 Credits OR

• ENG 1031 - Technical Writing I: GT-CO1 3 Credits

• ART 1201 - Drawing I 3 Credits

• 9 Credits of Guaranteed Transfer courses - 9 Credits

Major Courses (57 credit hours)

• CAD 1105 - AutoCAD for Interiors 4 Credits

• CAD 1110 - SketchUp 3 Credits

• IND 1100 - Interior Design Fundamentals 4 Credits

• IND 1102 - History of Interior Design 3 Credits

• IND 2200 - Drafting for Interiors 4 Credits

• IND 2203 - Space Planning 3 Credits

• IND 2204 - Estimating Interior Materials 3 Credits

• IND 2208 - Residential Design 4 Credits

• IND 2209 - Commercial Design I 2 Credits

• IND 2501 - Kitchen and Bath Design 4 Credits

• IND 2211 - Commercial Design II 4 Credits

• IND 2701 - Professional Practice for Interior Designers 2 Credits

• IND 2300 - Interior Construction 4 Credits

• IND 2702 - IND Portfolio Presentations 3 Credits

• IND 2302 - Lighting Design 3 Credits

• IND 2703 - Sustainable Design 3 Credits

• IND 2088 - Practicum 1 Credits (Design Research)

• IND 2089 - Capstone: Advanced Design 3 Credits

Restricted Electives (3-4 credit hours)

Note: Interior Design students must select one (1) elective course below to complete the 75 credit Interior Design Program requirement.

• IND 2502 - Advanced Kitchen & Bath Design 4 Credits

• IND 2080 - Internship 4 Credits

• CAD 2220 - Revit® Architecture 3 Credits

• MAR 1011 - Principles of Sales 3 Credits

• CAD 2210 - Advanced Sketchup 3 Credits

• IND 1075 - Special Topics: Study Abroad  1 Credits

Total: 75-76 credit hours

Graduation Requirements

• All courses required for this A.A.S. degree must be completed with a grade of "C" or better to meet admission and graduation requirements.

• As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.