Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

The interior design degree will teach you how to create contextually appropriate, architecture-centric design solutions grounded in evidence-based design research and human behavior theory. You will be prepared to generate holistic, technically creative construction solutions that are not only resilient, adaptable, and sustainable, but purposeful and universally designed.

From your first year through senior year, you'll work on real-world projects that involve collaborative, multidisciplinary team activities and independent studies with our professionally certified and experienced faculty team.

In the interior design BFA you will:

• Explore, challenge, and enhance your interior design abilities through problem-solving
• Demonstrate knowledge of historical, stylistic, theoretical, regional, and cultural design vocabularies
• Use materials, techniques, and processes with a focus on sustainable design
• Conduct research and analyze information
• Introduce design theory, methodology, formal design elements, typology, and necessary technical skills to communicate concepts
• Examine business practices, regulations, standards, and codes of interior design

The interior design undergraduate degree also offers:

• Dedicated studio and lecture spaces
• An active material resource center offering “go-to” and specialty products
• RIT’s world-renowned Vignelli Center for Design Studies
• Access to memberships in a variety of professional organizations

Our comprehensive interior design major combines design history, building systems, space planning, and design process with a consciousness for global affairs so that students may contribute to the profession with a deep-rooted understanding of society, culture, and the environment. By maximizing an array of academic and professional opportunities, our graduates are reshaping how we live in the world

Invaluable Resources

Dedicated studio and lecture spaces provide you with the freedom to interact with peers and faculty, fostering teamwork and collaboration. Our active material resource center is akin to the professional office library with “go-to” and specialty products that are managed and updated regularly by manufacturer vendors. RIT’s world-renowned Vignelli Center for Design Studies also serves as a vital resource for understanding the process and product of design by some of the world’s most acclaimed designers.

Professional Memberships

The School of Design maintains memberships in a variety of professional organizations, including Industrial Designers Society of America, ACM Siggraph, Society of Environmental Graphic Designers, American Institute of Architects, ICOGRADA, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and International Interior Design Association.

Staying Connected

Our illustrious alumni are committed to mentoring students through internship and professional networking activities. Additionally, as an International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Campus Center, we facilitate regular interaction and events with industry professionals.

Furthering Your Education in Interior Design

Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees

Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.

• 4+2 BFA/M.Arch. Pathway: A BFA degree takes four years to complete and an M.Arch. degree typically takes an additional three to four years. In RIT’s 4+2 BFA/M.Arch. Pathway, you’ll complete a BFA in industrial design or interior design and then enter the second year of RIT’s NAAB-accredited master of architecture degree with advanced standing. Learn how this accelerated pathway enables you to earn a BFA and an M.Arch. degree in as little as six years, saving you time and money.
• +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.