Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
In response to professional industry trends, the Interior Architecture program has been expanded to include coursework in building and construction systems with an updated major name (it was formerly called Interior Design). Graduates still practice interior design but now have a wider range of skills. The program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice and meets the education requirement for National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification. NCIDQ certification is the basic credential required by most states that license interior design/interior architecture professionals. In addition to an educational requirement, NCIDQ certification requires the completion of two years of professional practice as an interior designer and passing the NCIDQ examination.
In addition to all major requirements, BS Interior Architecture students are required to take either a 3-hour approved summer study-abroad credit through a WVU authorized program or a 3-hour summer internship of at least 120 hours. Normally, this credit is taken the summer after the third year. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Major courses must be taken sequentially and students must earn a C or higher in all ID courses. See further details about program standards and progression on the Policies tab.
Program Opportunities
In addition to study abroad and/or internships, students have opportunities to enroll in courses associated with Interior Architecture’s allied programs. Courses in sustainability, landscape architecture, and global economies are regularly offered, and a minor in Sustainable Design is available. Other common minors include Landscape Studies, Entrepreneurship, Event Planning, Marketing, and Strategic Social Media.
Admissions for 2027-2028
- First-Time Freshmen are admitted directly into the major. There are no additional requirements (e.g., portfolio review).
- Students transferring from another major within WVU are directly admitted into the major as a first year student if they are in good academic standing with a 2.5 or higher GPA, or with departmental approval.
- Students transferring from another institution are directly admitted into the major as a first year student if they are in good academic standing with a 2.5 or higher GPA, or with departmental approval. Students who have design courses from other institutions and who wish to transfer directly into the second year must submit to the Interior Architecture program coordinator the following: complete transcript, syllabi of design courses, and portfolio showing coursework from previous design courses. Admission into the second year is contingent upon available space and evaluation of the submitted materials.
- Applicants seeking optional scholarship consideration by the Interior Architecture program should submit a portfolio that includes sketches, floor plans, 3D models, or mood boards that express your design ideas.
Major Code: 3722
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 37 | |
| Interior Architecture Major Requirements | 83 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 | 27 | |
| ART 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| General Electives | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
Interior Architecture Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students must earn a C- or higher in all ID courses. | ||
| DSGN 340 | Design for Energy Efficiency | 3 |
| COMM 270 & 270S | Presentational Speaking and Effective Public Speaking Studio (GEF 4) | 3 |
| ARHS 120 | Survey of Art History 1 (GEF 6) | 3 |
| ARHS 160 | Survey of Art History 2 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| ID 105 | Introduction to Interior Architecture | 3 |
| ID 115S | Introduction to Architectural Design and Graphics Studio | 4 |
| ID 165S | Architecture and Design Foundations Studio | 4 |
| ID 205 | Introduction to Architectural Building Technologies | 3 |
| ID 215S | Architectural Interior Design and Graphics 1 Studio | 6 |
| ID 250 | History of the Architectural Interior 1 | 3 |
| ID 265S | Architectural Interior Design and Graphics 2 Studio | 6 |
| ID 280 | History of the Architectural Interior 2 | 3 |
| ID 305 | Architectural Interior Building Systems and Construction | 3 |
| ID 310 | Interior Finishes, Furnishings, and Fixtures | 3 |
| ID 315S | Advanced Architectural Interior Design 1 Studio | 4 |
| ID 316S | Advanced Architectural Graphics 1 Studio | 2 |
| ID 335 | Light & Color in Architectural Interiors | 3 |
| ID 365S | Advanced Architectural Interior Design 2 Studio | 4 |
| ID 366S | Advanced Architectural Graphics 2 Studio | 2 |
| ID 400 | Interior Architecture Internship (120 work hours; OR 3 week Study Abroad Experience) | 3 |
| ID 415S | Advanced Architectural Interior Design 3 Studio | 6 |
| ID 425 | Professional Practices in Architectural Interior Design | 3 |
| ID 465S | Advanced Architectural Interior Design 4 Studio | 6 |
| Total Hours | 83 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ID 105 | 3 | ID 165S | 4 | ||
| ID 115S | 4 | ARHS 160 (partially satisfies GEF 8) | 3 | ||
| ARHS 120 (GEF 6) | 3 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| ART 191 | 2 | GEF 2 | 3 | ||
| GEF 2 | 3 | GEF 3 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ID 215S | 6 | ID 265S | 6 | ||
| ID 250 | 3 | ID 205 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 102 (partially satisfies GEF 1) | 3 | ID 280 | 3 | ||
| GEF 7 | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| ID 315S | 4 | ID 365S | 4 | ID 400 (120 hours; OR 3 week Study Abroad Experience) | 3 |
| ID 316S | 2 | ID 366S | 2 | ||
| ID 335 | 3 | ID 425 | 3 | ||
| ID 305 | 3 | ID 310 | 3 | ||
| DSGN 340 | 3 | COMM 270 & 270S (GEF 4) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ID 415S | 6 | ID 465S | 6 | ||
| GEF 8 | 6 | General Electives | 6 | ||
| General Electives | 2 | ||||
| 14 | 12 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||||
Major Learning Outcomes
Interior Architecture
Interior designers create architectural interiors that improve inhabitants’ quality of life and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Upon graduation from the interior design program at WVU, students will be able to demonstrate entry-level professional competencies that include:
- applying the elements and principles of design to the analysis and development of architectural interiors;
- understanding relationships between architecture, architectural interiors, interior artifacts, and the human condition – through historical, theoretical, social, and scientific lenses;
- utilizing hand and computer drawing and modeling technologies, techniques and conventions in the study, visualization, and presentation of architectural interiors;
- selecting and integrating appropriate building materials and construction assemblies; building systems; finishes, furnishings & equipment (FFE); and codes during the design of architectural interiors;
- understanding professional and ethical responsibilities, opportunities, and constraints associated with interior design practices.
These competencies are introduced in both design studio and lecture courses and are developed and expanded incrementally along the curriculum. The holistic integration and synthesis of these competencies in the design of architectural interiors are centered in design studio courses which are rigorous laboratories and typically have a high number of contact/meeting hours in relation to credit hours.
Maintaining Good Standing
The interior architecture program is a major with required sequential studio course offerings in interior design. Three (3) qualifying courses must be taken in the first year of study. These are:
- ID 105S Introduction to Interior Architecture, 3 credit hours (Fall Semester)
- ID 115S Introduction to Architectural Design & Graphics, 4 credit hours (Fall Semester)
- ID 165S Architecture & Design Foundations, 4 credit hours (Spring Semester)
Continuation in the program is based on:
- Overall GPA
- A Faculty Interview, if requested by the faculty (Fall Semester)
As students progress in the major, GPAs will be monitored each semester. Any student who has an ID GPA below 2.75 will be notified of the deficiency and will have one semester to raise their ID GPA to 2.75 or above. Students who do not raise their ID GPA to 2.75 or above after one semester may not be permitted to enroll again in interior design courses.
Students are required to earn at least a C in all ID courses.
Typically, only one section of each interior architecture course is offered annually. Therefore, needing to repeat a studio course adds one year to the student's college career.
Internships and Studying Abroad
Graduation from the Interior Architecture program requires 3 credits (ID 444) in an approved summer, three-week, WVU-authorized study abroad program or 3 credits (ID 491) through an approved summer internship of at least 120 hours. These credits should be taken in the summer after the third year.