Program Coordinator/Contact
Sahand Abbasi, Assistant Professor
School of Design
Chicoine Architecture, Mathematics & Engineering Hall 378, Box 2225
605-688-4103
Program Information
A major in Interior Design prepares students for professional practice, through research informed, design thinking infused and practice-based projects and opportunities that will strengthen their rational and creative thinking. Very broadly, it seeks to teach students the importance and value of the design process and design thinking, promote the awareness and knowledge of the contributions of the profession to the health, safety and well-being of people in the built environment, and to prepare graduates of the program to succeed as professional designers. Upon graduation from this CIDA (Council of Interior Design Accreditation) Accredited program, students are eligible to begin the NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualification) certificate examination process.
The curriculum is interactive, haptic and performance based, offering problem solving experiences in all major areas of design practice (i.e. healthcare, retail, corporate, residential, etc.), in addition to areas of focused instruction including human factors and behaviors, materials, history, building systems and construction, building codes and regulations, lighting, acoustics and professional practice. The overarching goal of the interior design program is to provide a transformative teaching and learning environment where passion and creativity are fostered, and careers are shaped. This is accomplished through four main goals woven into each project and opportunity delivered across the program: to be experiential, to be contextual, to be collaborative, to be empathetic.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Interior Design major, students will be able to:
- Synthesize research findings to inform design solutions.
- Create interior environments infused with design-thinking.
- Apply practice-based knowledge and skill sets to interior spaces.
Academic Requirements
The Interior Design major requires the completion of a practicum experience during the summer between the junior and senior years, and a travel studies course required at least once during the standard 4-year sequence (typically summer/May-term). Interior Design students must maintain at least a major GPA of 2.6 and an overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the duration of the program. A grade of a “C” or better is required in all ART, ARTE, ARTH, GDES, DSGN, LA, ARCH, and ID courses.
Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
South Dakota State University offers the only four-year Interior Design degree in South Dakota accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
Equipment and Supplies
The Interior Design major requires students to lease or own a laptop computer by the start of their sophomore year. Instructors provide the necessary specifications for processing speed, memory, capacity, and all required software.
Course Delivery Format
The interior design curriculum is organized into eight semesters (two per year) with a practicum experience required during the summer between the junior and senior years, and a travel studies course required at least once during the standard 4-year sequence (typically summer/May-term). The curriculum provides a logical sequence of content from introductory level courses into more advanced courses that require higher level of application and development of skills.
Return to: