University Catalog

Bachelor of Science in Interior Design

About This Program

Interior Design at UT Arlington focuses on the commercial, institutional, and large-project scale activities of the profession. The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design is a four-year professional program. It is the only program in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that offers an Interior Design BS within a School of Architecture. In the first two years of study, UT Arlington Interior Design students share courses with architectural students. As a result, graduates have an understanding of architecture that is valuable in working with project teams requiring collaboration across multiple disciplines. The program therefore differs from a non-professional interior decorating program. The location of the program in a major design center of the Southwest provides design students with a broad range of learning experiences, including internship and employment opportunities

Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at UT Arlington may apply for advanced standing in the UT Arlington Master of Architecture.

The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design leads to the full professional degree and is fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Competencies

  1. Upon completion, students will demonstrate an understanding of interior design history, theory, and design principles in the context of global, cultural, social, and environmental conditions. This competency is aligned with CIDA Standard 4 (Global Context), Standard 10 (History), and Standard 12 (Design Elements and Principles).
  2. Upon completion, students will apply critical and creative thinking to analyze, create, and communicate evidence-based design solutions that respond to a variety of user needs, conditions, and parameters. This competency is aligned with CIDA Standard 8 (Design Process) and Standard 9 (Communication).
  3. Upon completion, students will demonstrate the ability to identify, plan, and design interior spatial environments that support health, safety, and well-being in the context of building systems. This competency is aligned with CIDA Standard 7 (Human-Centered Design), Standard 14 (Environmental Systems & Human Well-being), and Standard 16 (Regulations and Guidelines).
  4. Upon completion, students will apply knowledge of products, materials, color, and lighting in support of the design intent. This competency is aligned with CIDA Standard 12 (Light and Color) and Standard 13 (Products and Materials).
  5. Upon completion, students will demonstrate understanding of building systems, codes and regulations, and construction as applied to professional practice and interdisciplinary collaboration. This competency is aligned CIDA Standard 5 (Collaboration), Standards 6 (Business Practices and Professionalism, Standard 15 (Construction).

Admissions Criteria

Admission to the Interior Design Basic Studies sequence is open to all students meeting the general requirements for entrance to the University. Please visit our website for our full admissions requirements.

To declare a major (enter 3rd year) in Interior Design and gain permission to enroll in upper-level INTD or ARCH courses:

  • The student will have completed the Interior Design Basic Studies sequence with a grade of C or better within each major course (INTD+ARCH).
  • The student will have completed core curriculum required for the Interior Design degree plan with grades of C or better within all Math and Physics courses.
  • Have a minimum of a 2.8 GPA both overall at UT Arlington as well as within the Interior Design Basic Studies sequence.
  • Completion of the First Year Foundation Competency portfolio review (FYPR) evaluations.
  • Complete a Major Declaration form available through the School of Architecture

GPA requirements may change based on changes in the curriculum of the program. Qualified students must meet the GPA requirements that are in place at the time they fulfill all other requirements to declare their major.

To declare a major for a fall semester, qualified applicants will submit their request to declare a major in the School of Architecture office at the completion of the spring semester, by the department specified deadline.

Consideration for fall admission into the major studies programs for qualified summer applicants will be based on an individual basis.

Official records of coursework taken at other institutions or universities must be submitted to the advising office of the School of Architecture before a student can file a Major Declaration form. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all coursework is transferred to the Office of Admissions at UT Arlington in a timely manner.

Upon entrance into the major studies programs, students will be required to maintain the minimum 2.8 GPAs both overall at UT Arlington and within the major to remain active and proceed within the program.

first year foundations competency

The School of Architecture requires a First Year Foundations Competency that is evaluated through a two-part First Year Portfolio Review (FYPR1 & FYPR2). All students with the intent of pursuing the BS.ARCH or BS.INTD degree are required to participate in the FYPR. All transfer students will also be required to submit a portfolio via our portfolio portal. The portfolio review will determine areas of concern and provide academic advisors with insight for student’s success.

Programs Cohort

The undergraduate programs in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington are organized in a structured cohort format.

What Is a Cohort?

A cohort is a group of students that follows the same set schedule and progresses through a program together.  The sequential scheduling of the courses promotes an interactive learning environment and facilitates networking opportunities and career-strengthening relationships.

How Does It Work?

The program consists of a sequence of courses that takes a minimum of eight semesters to complete. The courses are offered in specific semesters (Fall and Spring) that require the students to complete the prior level before proceeding to the next level. If a student gets off-track in the cohort, she/he must wait until the missing course(s) are offered again.

How Are the Courses Sequenced?

The major courses must be taken as follows

How Are the Courses Sequenced?

First Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
UNIV-AR 1131 or INTD 11011INTD 13423
ARCH 13013 
ARCH 13413 
 7 3
Second Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
ARCH 23033ARCH 23043
ARCH 25515INTD 23433
 INTD 25525
 8 11
Third Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
INTD 33213INTD 33223
INTD 33233INTD 33573
INTD 33383INTD 33613
INTD 35535INTD 35545
 14 14
Fourth Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
INTD 43323INTD 43443
INTD 43653INTD 43663
INTD 43683INTD 44934
INTD 45565INTD 45575
 14 15
Total Hours: 86

Curriculum

Foundations
General Core Requirements 42
Students must complete specific courses in certain core areas.
For Communication select:
RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I
RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II
For Life & Physical Science select:
PHYSICS FOR NON SPECIALISTS I
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I
PHYSICS FOR NON SPECIALISTS II
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II
For Mathematics select:
TRIGONOMETRY
ARCHITECTURAL CALCULUS WITH ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
For U.S. History select:
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT
Architecture Foundations (Basic Studies)
UNIV-AR 1131STUDENT SUCCESS1
or INTD 1101 STUDENT SUCCESS
ARCH 1301INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN3
ARCH 1341DESIGN COMMUNICATIONS I3
ARCH 2303HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN I3
ARCH 2304HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN II3
ARCH 2551BASIC DESIGN AND DRAWING I5
Interior Design Foundations (Basic Studies)
INTD 1342DESIGN COMMUNICATION II3
INTD 2343DESIGN COMMUNICATION III3
INTD 2552DESIGN STUDIO: INTERIOR DESIGN I5
Interior Design Speicalization (Major Studies)
INTD 3321MATERIALS AND RESOURCES3
INTD 3322MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY3
INTD 3323LIGHTING DESIGN3
INTD 3338CODES AND REGULATIONS3
INTD 3357BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING & VISUALIZATION3
INTD 3553DESIGN STUDIO: INTERIOR DESIGN II5
INTD 3554DESIGN STUDIO: INTERIOR DESIGN III5
INTD 4332PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN INTERIOR DESIGN3
INTD 4344DESIGN COMMUNICATION IV3
INTD 4365IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS3
INTD 4366HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN3
INTD 4368INTERIOR DETAILING3
INTD 4493INTERIOR DESIGN INTERNSHIP4
INTD 4556DESIGN STUDIO: INTERIOR DESIGN IV5
INTD 4557DESIGN STUDIO: INTERIOR DESIGN V5
Select a course in art history with prior approval of advisor.3
Total Hours128

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
UNIV-AR 1131 or INTD 11011INTD 13423
ARCH 13013ENGL 13023
ARCH 13413HIST 13013
ENGL 13013PHYS 13023
PHYS 13013POLS 23113
POLS 23123 
 16 15
Second Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
ARCH 23033ARCH 23043
ARCH 25515INTD 23433
HIST 13023INTD 25525
MATH 13033MATH 13273
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Elective3Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective3
 17 17
Third Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
INTD 33213INTD 33223
INTD 33233INTD 33573
INTD 33383INTD 33613
INTD 35535INTD 35545
Literature Elective3Art History Elective3
 17 17
Fourth Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
INTD 43323INTD 43443
INTD 43653INTD 43663
INTD 43683INTD 44934
INTD 45565INTD 45575
 14 15
Total Hours: 128

Program Completion

Competence in Oral Presentations

Students obtaining an Architecture BS demonstrate oral proficiency by taking and passing ARCH 2551, ARCH 2552, ARCH 3553, ARCH 3554, ARCH 4556, and ARCH 4557 or approved equivalents.

Competence in Computer Use

Students obtaining an Architecture BS can demonstrate computer proficiency by:

  • Taking and passing ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1302 at UT Arlington in a computer classroom environment or ENGL 3372, ENGL 3374, CSE 1301 (or equivalent), or any other class approved for this purpose by the Undergraduate Assembly.
  • Passing the University computer literacy examination.

Grades

Upon admission to the Major Studies, all declared majors must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 both within the major and in the cumulative GPA to continue in the upper level program to satisfy requirements for graduation.

A grade of C or higher must be earned in each School of Architecture course used for credit toward an undergraduate degree and minor offered by the school. A grade of C or higher must be earned in all required Math and Physics courses. Grades of P are not acceptable for classes in which a grade of C or higher is required.

Repetition of Courses

Three attempts to achieve a satisfactory grade are permitted for each required course in the School of Architecture. Beyond that number of attempts, the student is denied access to the course in question, or to the sequence of courses for which it is requisite. Enrollment in the course for the time sufficient to receive a grade, including the grade W, is considered an attempt.

Transfer of Credit

The extent of credit toward degree requirements for academic work done elsewhere will be determined by the representatives of the appropriate program. Students applying to transfer credits from studio courses taken elsewhere must present examples of that work for evaluation.

Student Projects

The School of Architecture reserves the right to retain, copyright, use, exhibit, reproduce, and publish any work submitted for course credit. The student is encouraged to develop a portfolio of all work accomplished in advanced courses for future professional and academic uses.

Policy for Classroom + Studio Non-registered Attendees

The following policy applies to scheduled courses and academic activities in the School of Architecture, including undergraduate and graduate programs in Architecture and Interior Design. The policy is effective January 1, 2024 and complies with University of Texas at Arlington EI-PO-11, the  Texas  Education Code Section 51.982, and  Title  IX  of  the Education Amendments of 1972.

Only assigned instructors, enrolled students, invited guests and other individuals who have received the instructors’ permission in advance are permitted in scheduled classes within CAPPA buildings.  Unenrolled students, dependent minors of enrolled students or guests without instructors’ permission are not permitted within the assigned classroom during any scheduled class.  Other faculty engaged in peer review or other sanctioned academic responsibilities may attend as warranted and with consent of the instructor for the course or program director.

On occasion, due to extenuating circumstances, it is understood that an enrolled student who is a parent may have no other childcare choice than to have their child brought to the learning environment.  In these circumstances, suspension of the above policy may be permitted by the instructor on a limited basis, to be designated by the instructor. Prohibited Minors: Persons under the age of ten (10) are not permitted in any laboratory (studio).

Independent Study Policy (INTD 4191, INTD 4391)

For students interested in completing Independent Study, independent studies are limited to no more than six (6) total hours during their undergraduate degree pursuit with the program. No more than three (3) credit hours of independent study is allowed in one semester. All Independent Studies must adhere to the following process:

  1. The student must have minimum 3.0 GPAs both overall at UTA and within the major.
  2. The Independent Study subject/purpose must not be covered in the regular curriculum.
  3. The student will develop and write an independent study proposal and find a sponsoring faculty member to supervise the independent study.
  4. The faculty member, if agreeable to supervise the independent study, must complete a submit a CAPPA Independent Study form with a detailed outline on what the independent study will cover, why it is needed, and how many credits are requested.
  5. The faculty member will submit the completed/signed form to the CAPPA undergraduate advising office at arch.advising@uta.edu.
  6. The Independent Study request is subject to administrative approval.

Any independent study from programs outside of the student's current major are still subject to the Independent Study Policy above for consideration of application to the degree.

Advising Resources

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at UT Arlington equips students with skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges in design, public policy, and research. Our Advising Office supports academic and career success. Explore our Future Students page to connect with an Academic Advisor and shape your future.

Location:

203 CAPPA Building

Email:

cappa.advising@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-2801

Web:

General advising

Future students