Interior Design, BFA

What you will study

Your bachelor’s in Interior Design from the University of Central Missouri will equip you to produce creative work that draws on both historical and contemporary art and design. With UCM’s Interior Design degree, you’ll gain the tools to research and understand how interior design impacts people and the environment and how to solve problems through a critical and creative process for the benefit of your clients. 

We believe schools of interior design have a responsibility to educate their students in design empathy, sustainable processes and creative problem solving as well as in the business practices of the field. Our accredited BFA program takes that responsibility seriously.

More than half of the undergraduate program’s coursework is dedicated to specialized topics in your major. You’ll gain deep experience in design practice and theory relevant to today’s world. We impart a one-earth philosophy to our students: an awareness of the need for environmental stewardship, sustainable design and global context.

You’ll have the opportunity to take a broad variety of courses including:

• Global Arts and Culture: Explore visual, cultural and aesthetic developments in Asian, African, Oceanic and Islamic artistic traditions to bring a global context to the work you do with an interior designing degree.
• Presentation Techniques: Our accredited bachelor’s in Interior Design program emphasizes independent, creative thinking and visual storytelling. Learn to communicate your design ideas with others through a variety of media and techniques.
• Professional Practice: Discover the business of interior design inside and outside of the classroom through professional internship experience, field trips, guest speakers and engagement with professional organizations such as the American Society of Interior Designers and the International Interior Design Association.
• Interior Design Studios: Explore interior design problem solving by utilizing evidence-based design processes to create and communicate the design solution to the end user. You'll develop competencies in space planning, safety and environmental comfort for interiors and more as you craft aesthetic environments that promote overall human well-being.
• Interior Detailing and Furniture Design: By studying structure, style and materials, you will learn how to create sophisticated, detailed designs for interior environments. 

 

 

Unique learning opportunities in interior design

Collaboration and hands-on learning are essential components of your bachelor’s degree in Interior Design at the University of Central Missouri. Our reputation for excellence in art and design education is founded on our student-centered teaching culture, commitment to accessibility with low tuition fees and emphasis on experiential learning. 

• Intern with leaders in the field: Put your UCM Interior Design degree into practice alongside experienced professionals. The University of Central Missouri offers easy access to Kansas City, which has a vibrant culture of art and design and is home to the region’s leading design firms.
• Build community, creatively: Enrich your interior designing degree by networking not only with faculty and your fellow students but also with local organizations and communities. Join a service learning design charette to benefit a local nonprofit, get involved with Habitat for Humanity or develop a new project with faculty support.  
• Get recognition for your work: Your bachelor’s in Interior Design includes a portfolio review by visiting outside professionals in your senior year. You can also submit work to our juried Citation Student Show each spring and earn recognition and prizes. 
• Travel and study internationally: Experience some of the most important art and design works in the world in person. Join one of our annual two-week tours of European sites and museums with faculty and fellow students, or spend a semester studying abroad. Put what you’re learning for your interior designing degree in the context of global culture.

 

What can you do with a bachelor’s in Interior Design from UCM?

The Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program at the University of Central Missouri prepares undergraduate students to launch a career in interior design, pursue advanced study and apply for membership in professional organizations. 

Students with UCM’s Interior Design degree have gone on to work at many of the region’s top firms in residential design, commercial interior design and sales. Our graduates have been employed by BNIM Architecture, BRR Architecture, Burns & McDonnell, Hollis + Miller Architects, Roseman and Associates, KHL Design Studio, Black & Veatch, MLB Furnishings and Décor, Edwin Pepper Interiors and many more.

Be prepared for real-world demands

UCM is recognized among schools of interior design for its excellence in preparing students for professional and graduate work. Enter into jobs, client interactions or a graduate-level degree in interior design confident in your workplace and communication skills.

 

 

Financial assistance for your BFA degree in Interior Design

We believe that undergraduate students should be able to earn a respected degree in Interior Design from our accredited program without financial hardship. The University of Central Missouri is a leader among schools of interior design for low student debt.

In addition to scholarships available through the university, bachelor’s of Interior Design students can benefit from:

• Portfolio-based scholarships for incoming students
• Endowed scholarships for current students
• Cash prizes at the annual, juried Citation Student Show

You can learn more about program-specific scholarships at the UCM Scholarship Finder.

Mission and Goals

At UCM Interior Design it is our mission to provide an inclusive and collaborative academic environment where students can grow and learn the fundamentals of the interior design discipline. Students will develop an understanding of concepts and apply emerging and developed skills to create interior spaces that support the health, safety and welfare of all users while also exploring creative, visually pleasing, environmentally conscious, culturally responsive, inclusive and accessible design solutions that are supported by appropriate use of materials, objects, and emerging technologies.
ID Program Goals:

1. Develop a foundation in art and design fundamentals: including theory, history, research and technical skills.
2. Develop fluency in interpersonal, collaborative and design communication.
3. Develop sensitivity to a one-earth philosophy that reflects the ideals of environmental stewardship, sustainability, shared and limited resources, and a global context for design.
4. To create a robust learning environment that:
   
   1. Collaborates with practitioners and related professionals to keep pace with industry practice standards
   2. Provides interior design majors the experiences and opportunities that build skills and confidence in aspiring professionals

Student Achievement Data

Our graduates find employment with a variety of residential and commercial design and design related businesses in Missouri and around the United States. Recent employers include: Thistle Hill Design, Modern Business Interiors, KHL Design Studio, and Fischer Homes to name a few.

Career Placement: 73% (8 of 11) of the students that graduated in December 2022/May 2023 were employed in interior design or a related field within 6 months of graduation.

Acceptance into Graduate Programs: 1 of 1 (100% of total) students from the December 2022/May 2023 graduating class applied to graduate school and were accepted.

Graduation Rates: 91% of the students that graduated in December 2022/May 2023 graduated in 4 years or less*.

Retention: 78% of the students enrolled during the fall semester of 2022 returned in Spring 2023.

*Transfer students with credits in ART may be eligible for early graduation.

 

Accredited Programs

The Interior Design program leading to the Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional organizations. The Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree granted by the University of Central Missouri meets the requirements for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit https://www.cidq.org/paths

The Interior Design program is accredited by both the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Learn more about this accreditation program