Interior Design
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
What is Interior Design?
Interior Design involves the study and creation of interior environments. Interior designers use their knowledge of visual aesthetics, spatial perception, human factors, design history and theory, and building technology to create functional and pleasing interior environments.
Miami's four-year professional degree program qualifies students to enter the interior design profession (and ultimately become licensed interior designers after examination) or to pursue graduate programs in interior design, architecture, or related disciplines.
What are the features of Miami's program?
Interdisciplinary approach: Miami's program in Interior Design is one of a small number of programs administratively aligned with the major in architecture. This partnership within the department reflects the strong association between interior designers and architects in current practice and reinforces the interdisciplinary nature of design education. The program also draws on the strength of Miami's liberal arts education tradition by requiring course work from several related programs across campus, including the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and the School of Fine Arts.
Professional preparation: The Interior Design program provides a strong professional education, preparing graduates to enter the field or to pursue additional education at the graduate level. Practicing interior designers are involved in the program in a teaching, lecturing, and design-review capacity.
Studio work: Miami's program is unique because it is centered around the design studio. There, students integrate knowledge and solve interior design problems. Unlike similar programs, students are taught largely by full-time faculty, and student/teacher ratios rarely exceed 15:1.
Study abroad: Off-campus study opportunities for architecture and interior design majors include the Washington D.C.-Alexandria Center for seniors, the Miami University Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Honors Studio, the interdisciplinary summer workshop for architecture, interior design, and graphic design in Milan, Italy, and the department's ongoing program of service learning and research in Ghana, West Africa.
Are there special admission requirements?
Yes, admission to the major is only possible in the fall semester. The applicant must meet all curricular requirements mandated by the university for entering students. Courses in studio art or other creative areas are strong encouraged because they help the student develop creative potential as well as critical judgment.
What courses would I take?
During your first year in the program, you will gain a strong foundation in design principles and graphic communication. You will also concentrate on the Miami Plan, a well-rounded course of study that provides you with an excellent liberal arts education. Through the Miami Plan, you will get a solid base in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, fine arts, and formal reasoning. You meet first-year Miami Plan requirements in interior design by taking a special series of courses offered in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (Western College Program). These include Creativity and Culture, Social Systems, and Natural Systems.
The second and third years introduce you to history and theory, computer-aided design, human factors, materials, and furniture design. These support the design studio courses that you will be taking. During the summers following these two years, you may pursue for-credit internships and gain practical experience.
Your fourth year becomes more self-directed. In the fall, you will take a comprehensive studio where you undertake a single, semester-long project where you handle all of the phases of a job and bring the project to completion. In the spring semester, you will take a senior thesis studio where you concentrate on a project of your own choosing. This may be a real-life project in conjunction with a firm or a community organization.
What can I do with this major?
Most graduates work in commercial interior design firms, architectural firms, or furniture dealerships. Other graduates choose to pursue careers in facilities management, historic preservation, retail sales, or teaching.
Who can I contact for more information?
For general information about Miami University, please contact:
Office of Admission
301 S. Campus Ave.
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056-3434
513-529-2531 (v/t)
www.muohio.edu/requestinfo
For specific information on the Interior Design major, please contact:
Department of Architecture and Interior Design
101 Alumni Hall
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-7210
www.muohio.edu/interiordesign
