Interior Design (B.A.)
The mission of the M. Wilhelmina Boldt Interior Design undergraduate program is to prepare students for careers as creative, ethically responsible, proficient interior designers. The curriculum combines the Liberal Arts Core requirements with professionally directed coursework to develop practitioners with a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and concern for the well-being of people and the environment. Graduates enter practice as entry-level interior designers for both residential and commercial interior spaces, possessing a theoretical and practical knowledge in design, space planning, and programming.
Graduates may pursue careers with interior design firms, architectural firms, corporate facilities, and government agencies. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
Internships are available during the junior and senior years with nationally recognized architectural and design firms, furniture and interior retailers, contract designers, and other organizations utilizing design consultants. The program offers exhibitions of student and professional work, takes students on field trips, and taps the resources of the Washington, DC, design community.
Upon successful completion of the interior design program, students will be able to
- articulate a global view and integrate considerations of social, cultural, economic, and ecological contexts in their work;
- demonstrate awareness of the role of interior designers in the design process and the value of integrated design practices in order to effectively collaborate with multiple disciplines in developing design solutions;
- demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles and processes that define the profession of interior design and the value of interior design to society;
- apply knowledge of human experience and behavior to designing the built environment;
- employ all aspects of the design process to creatively solve a design problem;
- communicate effectively in both oral and written formats;
- apply knowledge of history and theory of interiors, architecture, decorative arts, and art when solving design problems;
- apply elements and principles of design;
- use color effectively in communication and design work;
- develop design solutions that integrate furnishings, products, materials, and finishes;
- effectively use the principles of lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality in relation to environmental impact and human well-being;
- demonstrate an understanding of interior construction and its interrelationship with base building construction and systems; and
- formulate designs that are in compliance with laws, codes, standards, and guidelines that impact human experience of interior spaces.
Interior design majors are encouraged to join the student Interior Design Alliance, which supports individual memberships in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
Admission Criteria for Nondegree Students: Only interior design practitioners and students from other accredited colleges or universities may take courses on a nondegree basis, provided prerequisites are fulfilled.
Admission Criteria for Transfer Students: Transfer admission to the interior design program is limited and competitive. A departmental admissions committee reviews student portfolio work to determine placement. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and a letter of intent are recommended.
Program Requirement: Each student entering the first-year interior design curriculum is required to have a laptop computer and specific industry-standard software. Laptop and software specifications are available on the Marymount website. State-of-the-art electronic studios allow students to access industry-standard software and printers.
Residency Requirements: Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits at Marymount. These credits must include ID 407 Practice Studio III, ID 408 Senior Capstone I, ID 409 Senior Capstone II, ID 400 Internship, and two three-credit ID electives.
Degree Requirements — Interior Design
This degree requires a total of 127 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Interior design majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: ID 408 Senior Capstone I, ID 454 Historic Preservation, and ID 435 Advanced Professional Practice.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
| FA 103 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| ID 101 | Introduction to Interior Design and Theory | 3 |
| ID 102 | Foundation Studio I | 3 |
| ID 121 | Freehand Drafting | 3 |
| ID 122 | Sketching and Rendering for Ideas | 3 |
| ID 203 | Foundation Studio II | 3 |
| ID 204 | Foundation Studio III * | 3 |
| ID 223 | Presentation Drawings | 3 |
| ID 231 | Textiles and Finish Materials | 3 |
| ID 305 | Practice Studio I | 3 |
| ID 306 | Practice Studio II * | 3 |
| ID 325 | Construction Documents | 3 |
| ID 332 | Building Technology | 3 |
| ID 333 | Lighting Design | 3 |
| ID 350 | History of Interiors I | 3 |
| ID 351 | History of Interiors II | 3 |
| ID 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| ID 407 | Practice Studio III | 3 |
| ID 408 | Senior Capstone I * | 3 |
| ID 409 | Senior Capstone II * | 3 |
| ID 434 | Business Procedures * | 3 |
Six (6) credits in interior design electives.
Three (3) additional credits in electives.
Sample Degree Plan — Interior Design
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| FA 103 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ID 101 | Introduction to Interior Design and Theory | 3 |
| ID 121 | Freehand Drafting | 3 |
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| DSC 201 | New Student Seminar * | 1 |
Year One — Spring
| FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| ID 102 | Foundation Studio I | 3 |
| ID 122 | Sketching and Rendering for Ideas | 3 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| ID 203 | Foundation Studio II | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| ID 204 | Foundation Studio III * | 3 |
| ID 223 | Presentation Drawings | 3 |
| ID 231 | Textiles and Finish Materials | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Three — Fall
| ID 305 | Practice Studio I | 3 |
| ID 325 | Construction Documents | 3 |
| ID 332 | Building Technology | 3 |
| ID 350 | History of Interiors I | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course in a second discipline * | |
Year Three — Spring
| ID 306 | Practice Studio II * | 3 |
| ID 333 | Lighting Design | 3 |
| ID 351 | History of Interiors II | 3 |
| | Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
Year Four — Fall
| ID 407 | Practice Studio III | 3 |
| ID 408 | Senior Capstone I * | 3 |
| ID 434 | Business Procedures * | 3 |
| | One (1) interior design elective | |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - GP course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Four — Spring
| ID 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| ID 409 | Senior Capstone II * | 3 |
| | One (1) interior design elective | |
| | Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
ID 400: EXP course
ID 409: DSINQ course
Interior design elective ID 435 or ID 454 is recommended to also complete the third WI core course requirement, if not already completed.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.