B.S. in Interior Design

Interior Design Courses

Note: The INDS curriculum is very tightly sequenced. Deferring from the required plan may result in a graduation delay. Be sure to talk with your advisor and faculty about any questions you have.

Interior design majors begin coursework with drawing, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, design appreciation. Student’s progress through a series of six interior design studio courses which provide a progressive approach to the execution of residential and commercial design solutions including a variety of scales, design philosophy, concept development, space planning and furnishings culminating in a senior-level capstone course. In addition to traditional studio classes, the program teaches Revit and other advanced design software applications for all INDS students.

Additional classes cover various subjects including:

The business of interior design is explored through a professional practice class that covers portfolio development, business principles, specifications, communication, professional ethics and project management, as well as a look at the global marketplace and international protocol that helps prepare students for careers in the field.

The Interior Design Internship is a supervised work-study program and serves as an educational bridge between the junior and senior levels that helps prepare students for entry level jobs.

During the course of study, students develop an understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its relationship to universal design as well as sensitivity to global environmental issues. Studios include projects in residential, hospitality, healthcare, corporate and retail spaces. Opportunities for real projects, student competitions and design charrettes are regularly incorporated into the program.

Applying to the Interior Design Program

In order to be considered for admission into the Interior Design Program, the applicants must meet the following minimum requirements: 

Step 1: You must first be admitted to Georgia Southern University.  To get started, complete the online application.

Step 2: Declare interior design (INDS) as a major.  

• Declaring interior design as a major ensures that a student’s enrollment folder goes to the College of Behavior and Social Science Advisement Center. 
• Once the folder is at the Center, students will be able to obtain academic advising from professional  advisors there who are familiar with the Interior Design Program and fully understand the requirements for application to the program. 
• Designation as an interior design major is separate from the application process and does not  guarantee acceptance into the Interior Design Program. 

Step 3: Complete a minimum of first semester sophomore status (12 semester hours completed or in process) upon applying to the program.  

Step 4: Achieve an institutional GPA of 2.25. If less than 12 credits are completed at Georgia Southern, transfer credits will be considered. 

Step 5: Complete the following Area F courses with a minimum grade of “C”: INDS 2430, and 1 of the 3 art courses required in Area F, (ART 1010, ART 1020, or ART 1030)  

• Students may be enrolled in one or more of the above courses in the same semester he/she is  applying. 
• Enrollment in an Area F course at the time of application requires a mid-term grade card (card signed by the course professor which states the anticipated grade of the student at midterm). The midterm card must be signed and attached along with the online application materials. 

Step 6: Attend a mandatory orientation session by an interior design faculty before applying to the program. Orientation meetings are held once a semester (spring and fall only); typically one month prior to the  deadline for applications. 

Step 7: Download and read the student handbook.

Step 8: Submit a fully completed interior design application* online by the due date.
* You must login with your Georgia Southern credentials to gain access to the application form

Note: Students transferring in as an interior design major from another school will be required to have their  portfolio and transcript(s) evaluated by the program coordinator who is responsible for determining which  design courses remain to be taken and which design courses are eligible to receive transfer credit. No design  courses will automatically transfer without prior review. Please see information for transfer students below.

Application Deadlines

Applications are collected in March (for fall start) and October (for spring start) and are due by 5pm on the Friday before the last day to withdraw.

Transfer Students

Application to the university as a transfer student must be handled through Admissions and the Student Services Center of the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Transfer students with interior design majors from other institutions: 
Transfer students must first apply to the University and have any core curriculum courses being considered for transfer credit evaluated by university admissions.

Students transferring with interior design course credits from other schools are required to have their portfolio and transcript(s) evaluated by the Interior Design Program Coordinator, who is responsible for determining which design courses receive transfer credit.

List of documents required for portfolio review.

Questions? See our FAQs below.

Make sure to use your Handshake account for uploading resumes and for job searches. Reach out the Office of Career and Professional Development for more resources:

Check out some of these great interior design job search boards:

• https://nkba.org/jobs/
• https://asid-jobs.careerwebsite.com/
• https://iida-jobs.careerwebsite.com/
• https://idec.careerwebsite.com/

Scholarships for Interior Design Students

Norm Zimmer Scholarship / Emerging Black Architects Scholarship

Apply for the $10,000 Norm Zimmer Scholarship and/or our $5,000 Emerging Black Architects Scholarship.

Apply now to Our Scholarships | ZGF. Please direct any questions regarding either scholarship to our website or to my attention (Josh Crowell) at scholarship@zgf.com.

Betty Lane Family and Consumer Science Scholarship

In 1949, Betty Lane graduated from Georgia College and State University. Lane then obtained two more degrees from the University of Georgia and Florida State University, finally earning her doctorate. Lane joined the Georgia Southern family in 1958 as an assistant professor and devoted herself to the university. She retired in 1986 as the chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1986. Nearly thirty-five years after her retirement, Dr. Lane still stays active on campus and is an avid supporter of student activities and scholarships. This scholarship in her honor is available to students majoring in Human Development and Family Science, Interior Design, or Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design.

Home Builders Association of Statesboro Scholarship – Interior Design

The Home Builders Association of Statesboro was created in 1968 as an amalgamation of builders, suppliers, and enthusiasts. The goal of the organization is to provide first-rate housing to Bulloch County and to provide scholarships to future architects and interior designers. The Home Builders Association of Statesboro has contribution to Georgia Southern University in the form of scholarships since 1979. This scholarship is available to students majoring in Interior Design.

About the Honors College

About the Honors College: “We provide an enhanced educational environment for bright and motivated students who seek a distinctive and challenging undergraduate experience. The Program is designed as a “college within a college” where students have access to smaller classes and enriching seminars and, at the same time, enjoy the opportunities provided by a large, complex, comprehensive university.” (https://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/honors/about/)

This is a very unique program here at Georgia Southern that helps set our students apart from their peers by having them engage in research and peer learning where they work alongside of a faculty mentor in an area of specialization of their choice.  

We also have several honors students in INDS who would be available to answer any questions that you have. Please reach out to the Program Coordinator if you are interested or contact our coordinator for Honors in the School of Human Ecology, Dr. Trent Maurer.

This is a great way to work alongside a few other students in a more small scale interdisciplinary setting and develop an area of specialization that is great for the resume.

Internships

The interior design practicum or internship is completed between your junior and senior years. It is a course required for graduation from the interior design program. This is a work-study course supervised by the site coordinator. The student should be able to apply the knowledge learned from classes to real-life situations. The internship site must meet certain criteria and be approved by faculty before the student may start.

See the below required documents: Yellow for students, Blue for sharing with the site.

Important Dates for 2024

Kaitlyn Parker Newton at her internship, thumbs up means “You can do it too!”

Follow her on LinkedIn

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Program

Admissions

Study Abroad

Graduation

Technology

Professional Organizations

For a more in-depth understanding of the chosen interior design profession, a student should take time to familiarize themselves with other components outside of the academic community. Several of these organizations offer student membership and a variety of benefits to expand the students knowledge and professional network.

• ASID, American Society of Interior Designers
• ASID Georgia Chapter
• IIDA, the International Interior Design Association
• NCIDQ, the National Council for Interior Design Qualification
• NEWH, the Hospitality Industry Network
• NKBA, the National Kitchen and Bath Association

Interior Design Association

The Interior Design Association at Georgia Southern is a recognized student organization of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Membership: Open to students with an interest in Interior Design.
Meetings: Monthly in IAB 2028

IDA functions to promote the Interior Design major at Georgia Southern University, to provide professional development and networking opportunities for current interior design students and alumni, and to offer opportunities for continuing education for the program’s alumni.

Advisor Contacts

Dr. Beth McGee 912-478-6063 or bethmcgee@GeorgiaSouthern.edu
Erica Bartels 912-478-5422 or ebartels@georgiasouthern.edu

Additional Club Information (login required)

GeoDesign Student Organization

We are able to offer cutting edge GeoSpatial design experiences with ESRI GIS software to experience human centered design at different scales. Big Data is used for better understanding the contextual environment. See our student organization’s webpage.

Come join us! Connect with an existing member today or the advisor, Dr. Christine Wacta.

There is a link to an example recent project from our Human Centered Design class.

Some of this work has been presented by a faculty and student at a GIS conference and proposed for additional development and external sharing soon.

Advisement

Interior design majors should contact the CBSS Advisement Center for advisement.

Human Ecology (A-L)

Clare Ursillo
Carroll Building 2248
912-478-6901
cursillo@georgiasouthern.edu

Human Ecology (M-Z)

Carson Beauman
Carroll Building 2224
912-478-6901
cstepanek@georgiasouthern.edu

Books

The largest investment students make in books should be retained for use in future classes and professional life.  The majority of the books used in the Interior Design Program are not college textbooks, but rather professional reference resources that are used throughout an interior design career and helpful for studying for the NCIDQ exam. See the NCIDQ website for more details. As such, students need to purchase their INDS textbooks and should not sell them back at the end of the semester. Textbooks are also repeatedly used in courses to minimize cost. Open resource materials are used when available as well.

Supplies

Purchase of supplies and materials is required to support skill development. It is necessary for students to make an initial investment (~ $400.00) in the first semester of the program that will be used throughout the program and required. Each course will provide a list to the student with required supplies.

Similar to the textbooks, many of the tools and much of the equipment purchased for design and art foundation courses will last a lifetime if properly cared for.  Students should be aware, however, that some relatively expensive supplies, such as rendering markers and pencils, vellum, plotter paper, etc, can become a financial burden if not used and cared for thoughtfully.

Required supplies include but are not limited to:

• Georgia Southern University Drafting Kit
• specialized paper
• color ink cartridges
• presentation materials
• outsourced printing costs
• samples
• field trips

Students will be notified in advance if special costs are associated with a course or project.

Technology

The software utilized throughout the Interior Design Program requires computers with above average speed and memory.  While computer labs are available for students to work on assignments, the time and accessibility of the labs varies.  For students who commute to school or those who prefer to work from home in a more controlled environment, we recommend purchasing a personal computer/laptop. This is becoming essential with the current environment where events like hurricanes can require working remotely.

Not all computing and printing expenses encountered through the program are covered by Georgia Southern’s student technology fee, primarily because they result from specialized programs and equipment used only by the interior design department, and do not benefit the student population as a whole.  The specialized technology required cannot be covered by the student technology fee.

Questions?

Specific questions concerning technology purchases for interior design majors may be addressed to Erica Bartels at ebartels@georgiasouthern.edu.

General Student Resources

The links below will connect you with support staff and other resources that may prove valuable during your time as a student at Georgia Southern.

• CBSS Advisement Center
• Campus Computer Labs
• Counseling Center
• Campus Recreation and Intramurals
• Dean of Students Office
• Library Resources for Students
• Office of Career and Professional Development
• Office of Inclusive Excellence
• Student Accessibility Resource Center
• Student Code of Conduct
• Student Employment
• The Writing Center

Library Resources for Interior Design Students

The 2nd floor of the Library has dedicated computer stations for us. Note the pink AutoCAD/Revit dedicated computers and the Adobe only area in yellow.

Many of our books are in the NA and NK areas. The website can be found on myGeorgiaSouthern under Library Resources.

Interior Design Lab

Please see these lab times for getting assistance in the lab, including access to the print lab. This can be time to help with your assignments, technology support, printing, or other related work.

Fall 2023 Available Hours to Assist in the Lab

CONTACT: Joey Mayfield jm56497@georgiasouthern.edu

Program News

• Senior Fashion and Interior Design Senior Show December 1st
• Interior Design Reaccredited for 6 more years by CIDA
• Great time at The Campaign for Georgia Southern Event sharing our VR and human-centered design approach to the built environment with donors and faculty.

Recent News

The School of Human Ecology anticipates that graduates of this program will seek the following professional state license: Registered Interior Designer in Georgia.
For required disclosures on whether this program satisfies the license requirements of all states
and territories for license, click [HERE] to check the requirements of your state or territory. The School of Human Ecology has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the first NCIDQ exam. Passing all three after the required experience is obtained post graduation is necessary to site for the full NCIDQ exam which is required for a license in Georgia (and most other states with licensure). See the NCIDQ website for more details.

Internal Program Resources

Vision, Goals, Mission

GOALS

The Interior Design Program’s goal is to provide preparation for the entry-level professional interior designer that addresses the components identified in the NCIDQ definition of a professional interior designer and preparation for certification. The unique components of Georgia Southern’s Interior Design program embodies the following related goals in the common student learning outcomes:

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

1. Knowledge: Graduating INDS students demonstrate a comprehensive body of knowledge in interior design to capably research, develop and present creative, effective and humane design solutions that are responsive to the changing needs of their communities and the global environment for diverse clients, populations and cultures following CIDA standards 4, 7 and also 10, 12, and 16. 
2. Practical skills: INDS students experience a progressive curriculum so that by the time students graduate they can integrate knowledge with analytical and critical thinking skills to solve complex problems using a range of tools and media following CIDA standards 8, 11, 13 and also 14, and 15.
3. Professional preparation: Graduating INDS students are professionally prepared for practice as they understand contemporary practice through classroom experiences, faculty expertise, industry resources, engagement with design professionals, interaction with the advisory board and a design internship following CIDA standards 5, 6, and 9.

Mission:

The mission of the Interior Design Program in the School of Human Ecology at Georgia Southern University is to provide a professional undergraduate education guided by the standards and expectations of the Council for Interior Design Accreditation in order to develop entry-level designers who are able to formulate viable, creative solutions that are evidence-based and human-centered, fulfilling the needs of the individual, family, organization and community. High-impact teaching and learning strategies with an emphasis on wellbeing and sustainability are applied to complex problems through the design process with integrity, openness, diversity and inclusion. The curriculum provides a broad range of interior design experiences such as collaborative projects; internship; course assignments, examinations and projects;  field trips; experiential hands-on learning; guest lecturers and juries, and service-learning to develop aesthetic, communication, collaboration, technology, and design skills in order to prepare graduates for professional interior design jobs within the global community and entry into graduate studies and lifelong learning.