Accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Interior Design Program at The University of Alabama offers a wide range of courses, academic and internship opportunities, and an excellent faculty with various backgrounds. Studio classes are small, resulting in increased interaction between professors and students.
Is this major a fit for me?
Creative thinkers with an eye for detail flourish in a field that shapes our surroundings. Interior Designers draw on knowledge from areas such as architecture, product design, and environmental psychology. The Interior Design Program develops skills in drafting, computer aided design, client analysis, ideation, and space planning, combined with the creative use of the principles and elements of design to shape the minds of students to become future leaders of the design world.
Will anyone be there to guide me?
Students will work one-on-one with a faculty or advisor throughout their academic career. Faculty take an active part in supporting students through mentoring in individual directed study, undergraduate research projects, and portfolio reviews, providing opportunities to work with working professionals and the advisory board, as well as supplying information and tips for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification exam.
How can I get involved?
The Interior Design Student Association (IDSA) offers numerous events and has developed a mentoring program which matches Freshmen and Sophomore students with upper-level Interior Design students. IDSA is the umbrella organization that oversees student membership and activities with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Student Chapter, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Campus Center, and The National Kitchen + Bath Association (NKBA) Student Chapter. ASID, IIDA, and NKBA are professional design organizations that offer student membership providing opportunities to network and learn from practitioners. Students are also encouraged to participate in events and apply for officer positions within the organizations.
Will I learn outside a lecture hall?
There will be a variety of venues for building design skills. The program utilizes studios with drafting tables and pinup space for critique, as well as computer labs equipped with Autodesk products such as AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit, Adobe Creative Suite products such as Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, Sketch Up, Enscape, and other programs for digital design work.
Will I get to know my major professors?
Absolutely. Studio sizes are small and there will be ample opportunities to interact with professors. Studios provide the environment to build relationships with peers and faculty members through class interactions and in-depth explorations of studio projects that include both small and large residences, commercial environments, and documentation of historic structures.
Where do graduates of the program typically work?
Graduates find positions in a wide range of areas including interior design and architectural firms specializing in various areas of residential and commercial design, as well as design departments for corporations such as banks, public utilities, hospitality, retail, public institutions, government, and health care design. In addition, many graduates have careers in the paint, flooring, furniture, and lighting industries. A comprehensive list of specializations can be found on the Careers in Interior Design page.
Come for a Visit
We welcome your interest in our program. While a personal visit is not required for admission, it helps you gain perspective about our programs, students, faculty, and facilities. To arrange for a campus visit or request additional information, write or call the Department of Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design, Box 870158, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0158, (205) 348-6176.