In preparation for a rapidly evolving, technology- and information-driven society, success as an interior design professional requires full understanding of the aesthetic, cultural, technical, environmental and economic issues pertaining to the built environment. The Program is grounded in the belief that interior designers should enter the global marketplace as articulate, creative, inspired designers and socially aware professionals. The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design provides an extensive education to meet these demands.
Our mission is to prepare designers to become innovative problem solvers and independent thinkers who can begin the professional licensing process. We strive to instill in each student the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and excellence in design.
At the Program’s core are studios where students explore the creative process through varied and progressively more complex projects. Functional knowledge is introduced through courses focusing on such topics as construction, codes, lighting, acoustics and mechanical systems; as well as furniture, finishes and fabrics. Studios foster an interdisciplinary environment where material from other courses is synthesized through creative experimentation in the act of design. Taught both in traditional drawing and digital methods, students develop an extensive professional portfolio. The fourth-year thesis becomes the culmination of all previous studies, integrating design ideas, history, theory, humanistic values and innovative materials in shaping interior spaces.
Students may follow secondary specializations such as business, marketing and textile applications in interiors or furniture design. Philadelphia University also offers a unique opportunity to gain a valuable, highly specialized knowledge of fibers and fabrics at the Grundy Laboratory and at The Design Center at Philadelphia University. The educational quality of the Program is further enhanced by the solid liberal arts foundation required of all students.
The Program is fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).