Curriculum for the Interior Design major educates and trains you for a variety of entry-level positions in interior design in residential, commercial, and hospitality design, and in specialized areas such as kitchen and bath design and lighting design.
- A minimum 112 credits are required for this majors including 25 upper-division credits.
- Your courses will involve interdisciplinary courses with art; business; and family and consumer sciences.
- This major requires completion of the Family and Consumer Sciences Core, which includes:
- FCS 1050 Introduction to FCS, completed in your freshman or sophomore year. (If you are a transfer student, you may complete this in your junior year.)
- FCS 3240 Individual and Family Development, completed after FCS 1050.
- FCS 4899 Senior Capstone, completed after FCS 3240 and during your senior year.
- Principles of universal design and sustainability are integrated into all your studio courses.
- A student Interior Design Club is on campus to assist you as you prepare for entrance into the professional design community.
Interior Design major admission data
Admission to the Interior Design major is limited to 16 students selected each spring. In recent years, all applicants have been admitted to the major — 10 students per year, on average. Selection is based on performance in selected courses, a portfolio and a written component. Recent admission data is depicted below.
| Academic Year |
2015–16 |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
| Average GPA of Admitted Students |
3.4 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
| Lowest GPA of Admitted Students |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
Entering and completing the Interior Design major
In order to earn a degree, you must complete an academic major. You should enter a major by the end of your sophomore year to help ensure your timely completion of a degree. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should identify and enter their major within their first two quarters at SPU or as soon as they are able to apply to the major.
- Your overall college GPA must be a minimum of 2.5 for admission to the Interior Design Major.
- You must submit both a written component (via the online Major or Minor Application form) and a portfolio component submitted through the Canvas learning management system. See the Color Board information and instructions (PDF).
- Interior Design applications are reviewed only once per year and are due on or before the first Friday of Spring quarter.
- Prior to applying, you must successfully complete ART 1102, FCS 2702, and FCS 2204 with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each course.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
- You must complete the major or minor requirements in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year of admittance to the major or minor.
Curriculum for the Interior Design Merchandising major educates and trains you for a variety of entry-level positions in retail or wholesale operations, sales, and promotion components of merchandising products used in interior spaces such as furniture, textiles, and lighting.
- A minimum 90 credits are required for this major, including 25 upper-division credits.
- Your courses will involve interdisciplinary courses in art; business; and family and consumer sciences.
- This major requires completion of the Family and Consumer Sciences Core, which includes:
- FCS 1050 Introduction to FCS, completed in your freshman or sophomore year. (If you are a transfer student, you may complete this in your junior year.)
- FCS 3240 Individual and Family Development, completed after FCS 1050.
- FCS 4899 Senior Capstone, completed after FCS 3240 and during your senior year.
- Principles of universal design and sustainability are integrated into all your studio courses.
- A student Interior Design Club is on campus to assist you as you prepare for entrance into the professional design community.
Spreadsheet Competency Requirement
Demonstration of spreadsheet competency, explained in detail on the website of the School of Business, Government, and Economics, is required of all students graduating with this major. You can document this by passing BUS 1700 or by scoring at least 60 percent on the basic Microsoft Office Specialist exam for Microsoft Excel 2013, 2016, or later. For questions regarding the Spreadsheet Competency Requirement, contact Dr. Richard Sleight at sl8@617885.com.
Entering and completing the Interior Design Merchandising major
In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major or minor, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.
Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) and minor(s) by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.
- If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified the Interior Design Merchandising major as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major or minor, follow these instructions.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major or minor in this department.
- Students on academic probation (with an SPU cumulative GPA below 2.0) will not be permitted to enter a new major or minor until they regain good academic standing.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
- You must complete the major or minor requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major or minor.
Time Schedule:
Course planning: Suggested course sequences