Why Major in Interior Design?
The Interior Design program at the O’More College of Architecture & Design at Belmont focuses on cultivating future professionals equipped with creative and technical skillsets, trained to design user-centered environments and inspired to be leaders within their chosen vocation.
It is both a rigorous and rewarding program, rooted in internationally recognized standards set by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) , equipping future licensed interior designers for their chosen vocation.
Our program boasts award-winning students that compete regularly in national competitions and win, such as the prestigious Donghia Scholarship. Our students are coveted among the design community and sought-after for internships and future employment opportunities. Our alumni are well-positioned and active members of the Nashville and broader design realms.
We believe in instilling a passion for life-long learning and serving the community through transformational design. The program is ever-evolving to stay at the forefront of design futures and we value having faculty who are practicing interior designers and architects in the classroom to educate and mentor our students. We build relationships with students and understand that these relationships do not stop at graduation.
We believe in a classroom that extends beyond the walls of the Belmont campus. In addition to multiple “on-site” visits within the Nashville community, we offer opportunities to travel and be exposed to various cultures. These life experiences contribute to the introspective nature of design. We want your education to be challenging, enlightening and invaluable.
The Interior Design program at Belmont not only prepares the student for a successful career but a meaningful career.
Am I an Adult Student?
Want to transfer previous college credits?
See how your courses will transfer to Belmont University.
What makes Adult Degree Programs special?
Your Success is Personal: Our students are not one-sized fits all, and neither is our commitment to you. Your path to a college degree is unique, and we take your success as personally as you do. Our staff and faculty will be with you from the first point of contact all the way through graduation and beyond, providing personalized guidance and assistance so you don’t have to go it alone.
Education Designed to Elevate Your Career: Whatever adult degree program option you choose, a career-focused curriculum will help you elevate your current career or prepare you for new professional or personal opportunities.
Unique Tuition Discount for Adult Degree Program Students: Belmont is dedicated to offering access to high-quality education for busy adults. Students in Belmont’s Adult Degree Program receive more than a 60% discount off of the tuition cost that traditional Belmont students pay for the very same quality, private school education.
By the Numbers
Interior Design at Belmont University
What You'll Learn
The Interior Design major is four-year, CIDA-accredited program that prepares you to start your career and work towards licensure. As a student, you will:
- Apply student-centered design strategies to develop critical thinking.
- Incorporate problem-solving and iterative design exercises early and often to strengthen the creative process.
- Consider people’s physical, social and psychological needs in the solution of design problems.
- Include exposure to clients of varying cultures and abilities to develop students’ empathy and global perspective.
- Prepare students to become design leaders through professional contact and opportunities to emulate best practices in the classroom, in the community and in the profession.
Program Details
Curious about your coursework? View requirements for this degree in the course catalog.
Even if you struggled academically when you first attended college, the Belmont Admissions Committee looks at more than just your academic history. We also consider your professional experience and personal accomplishments as we review your application materials.
Go beyond the classroom and experience interior design for yourself. In Nashville and around the world, you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow.
- Engage with your community. Nashville is booming with design, providing you with opportunities to present your work to professionals and partner with organizations like the nationally recognized Nashville Civic Design Center.
- Explore the world. Experience other cultures, visit iconic structures and take in the design mediums of the world.
- Join a student organization. With over 180 to choose from, there is no shortage of opportunities to get plugged in on campus. The Belmont chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is a great way to connect with fellow interior design majors.
Council for Interior Design (CIDA) Accreditation
Belmont University's O'More College of Architecture & Design (formerly known as the O’More College of Design) has maintained CIDA accreditation (formerly known as FIDER) since 1984. Attending a CIDA-accredited interior design program ensures that you are receiving a quality education that will prepare you for entry into the profession upon graduation and lay the foundation for your future growth as an interior design professional.
“The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and internationally. For more than 35 years, this knowledge-driven organization has been passionately committed to the ongoing enrichment of the interior design profession through identifying, developing and promoting quality standards for the education of entry-level interior designers, and then encouraging, accrediting and supporting educational programs to aspire to those standards.” -About. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://accredit-id.org/about/
In order to receive accreditation through CIDA, an interior design program must meet a set of high academic standards and maintain those standards through a rigorous process of program self-evaluation and peer review.
View our Student Achievement Data
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The BFA in Interior Design granted by Belmont University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.
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Please visit asid.org/advocate-by-design/state-policy for registration laws including, but not limited to, Practice Act, Title Act, and No Legislation. Use of the terms “interior designer”, “registered interior designer”, and “certified interior designer” vary from state to state.
- What is interior design?
Interior design is the balance of art and science to understanding people’s behavior creating functional spaces within the built environment.
Interior design is NOT decorating, although decorating can be a part of interior design. Designers can decorate, but decorators cannot design. Interior design is the sculpting of space three-dimensionally, not just the selection of applied finishes, materials, and furniture. Interior designers ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public and any user of space.
- When does the term start for the interior design program?
Students may begin the interior design program in the Fall or Spring term. Recommended term start is the Fall semester.
See the official Academic Calendar for more important dates.
- Is there a portfolio review?
There is currently no portfolio review requirement for admission to the Interior Design program at Belmont.
- What laptop/software will I need for my coursework?
Students are encouraged to bring a laptop (preferably a PC) for use in and outside of the classroom.
Software needed for coursework includes Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD (downloadable student version,) Sketch Up (downloadable student version) and Revit. Most architectural software is designed for PCs, not Macs.
- I have a degree in another field. Can I transfer my current credits toward this degree?
We have many students who hold associate or bachelor’s degrees prior to enrolling in the Interior Design program. All credits from a previously earned associate or bachelor's degree program are evaluated on an individual basis by the Office of the Registrar and applied as appropriate toward the B.F.A. degree.
While credits earned from previous coursework may be transferred in, it is important to note that earning a B.F.A. in Interior Design will likely take 7-8 semesters as studio courses must be taken sequentially and the curriculum is planned as a four-year degree program.
- Will I be able to obtain a professional license with a B.F.A. in Interior Design?
Yes! Students who complete Belmont's Interior Design program, and fulfill the required years of work experience, are eligible to take the NCIDQ examination for state licensure.
- What is NCIDQ?
National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Certification is the industry's recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles and a designer's commitment to the profession. Professional interior designers who possess the NCIDQ Certification have distinguished themselves by demonstrating a specific set of core competencies, supported by verified work experience and a college degree. NCIDQ Certification is required for the practice of many types of interior design in regulated jurisdictions throughout North America and enables designers to easily validate their knowledge, experience and skill to employers and clients alike.
Students who complete Belmont's Interior Design program, and fulfill the required years of work experience, are eligible to take the NCIDQ examination for state licensure.
- What is CIDA and why is it important?
The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for over 150 interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. In order to receive accreditation through CIDA, an interior design program must meet a set of high academic standards and maintain those standards through a rigorous process of program self-evaluation and peer review.
Attending a CIDA-accredited interior design program ensures that you are receiving a quality education that will prepare you for entry into the profession upon graduation and lay the foundation for your future growth as an interior design professional.
Career Possibilities
- Commercial Design (Retail, Corporate, Schools, Churches)
- Hospitality Design (Hotels, Restaurants, Spas)
- Residential Design
- Furniture and Product Design
- Tour Bus, Jet Plane, Yacht and Cruise Ship Design
- Exhibit Design
- Product Representation
- Furniture Specification
- Project Management
- Design Education
Sarah Jane Engle
“Being able to use previous college credits along with the affordability of the program was a huge draw. Having in-person, hybrid and asynchronous classes was also very beneficial with work and family responsibilities.”
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"Sarah Augustyn"
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615.460.5329
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