Bachelor of Fine Arts Program
Program Code: BFA-AS
Major Code: INT

Art and Design​ Department
Upton Hall 402
(716) 878-6032

artdesign.buffalostate.edu/interior-design

Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) Accredited
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) Accredited

Professional Licensure: This program leads to a recommendation for NYS certification; please check for certification requirements in all other states

The Interior Design B.F.A. degree offers students a specialized studio-oriented education in preparation for advanced or graduate studies, or for beginning careers as professional interior designers. Students gain a thorough knowledge of design processes and technical skills, including computer-aided design and traditional drafting and rendering. Construction methods, lighting design, materials specification, and color use are emphasized to support specializations within the major. Studios offer design exploration in spatial experimentation, residential design, retail design, public buildings, office planning, and industry standards for sustainable design principles, and culminates in the Undergraduate Thesis Project. Students enrolled in a studio course are expected to work a minimum of two additional hours each week outside of class for each credit granted for that class

Interior design graduates are prepared for careers in independent practice and employment in interior design and architectural firms, institutions, corporations, and other settings. Following completion of this program, plus two years interior design work experience, students are eligible to apply and sit for the professional, nationally recognized NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) licensing exam. They may then apply for a "Certified Interior Designer" designation and the right to practice in New York State.

The Interior Design Department is committed to the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of the students. Through varied and increasingly complex coursework, coupled with a strong community-based project component, the students and faculty have and will continue to enhance the region in terms of residential, health care, and commercial designs, as well as culturally sensitive and public-interest projects. These projects connect the students, faculty, and community in a dynamic relationship, inspire students to expand their horizons, and create life-long learners. The program is rigorous and comprehensive, resulting in professional and innovative designers actively sought after by regional and national employers.

Requirements for Acceptance to Major

1. Successful completion of the Skills Competency Exam following IDE 151, IDE 152, and IDE 153. The one-day exam evaluates entry-level ability to visualize, design, and communicate spatial solutions to a simple problem through scaled drafting, rendering, and model-building.
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.6 after the freshman year.
3. Transfer Students: Acceptance to the major is determined after reviewing a portfolio of work during an interview with the chair of the Interior Design Department; transcripts are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Program Requirements

1. Aesthetics, Visual Language, and Creativity: Students will demonstrate a mastery of the visual language of art and design through the aesthetic application of the formal elements and relational and organizational principles of art/design, and a mastery of advanced creative problem-solving skills.
2. Technical and Cognitive Skills: Students will demonstrate a mastery of advanced skills in the use of the technical tools, techniques, and processes and cognitive (conceptual development) to produce work from concept to finished product.
3. Professional Practice: Students will present a final project or exhibition and a professional portfolio.