Interior Design Degrees
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Salaries For Degrees in Interior Design
Those who majored in Interior Design can be employed in a variety of occupations. It is impossible to say what you personally will do with a degree in Interior Design, our survey panel picked the following occupations as likely options:
Students with a degree in Interior Design are considered well prepared for becoming Interior designers.
Salaries are highly dependent on individual negotiating skill, years of related experience, policies at your employer, region, and more besides. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a army of freelancers to get their opinion on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.
From this, we calculated the average salary for Interior Design degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
What a Student Studying Interior Design Can Expect to Learn
Students interested in the field of interior design may attain a number of degrees that will launch their careers in this field. Students may earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, or a Master of Fine Arts to pursue their careers in interior design. Students can research the various degrees to determine which program of study will help them achieve their goals within the field of interior design.
Students of interior design will learn to transform a space into an aesthetic environment through planning, design and execution. Graduates of interior design work closely with their clients in order to bring their ideas of aesthetic pleasure to fruition. Interior designers should be creative and artistic. They should also be organized, detailed and able to meet specific deadlines. Graduates should be capable of reading blueprints, interacting and collaborating with architects, electricians, and building contractors. They must also understand building codes. Most individuals must have a post-secondary education to obtain viable employment in the interior design business.
Most interior design schools will focus heavily on drafting, as well as, focus on trends in design, rules, safety, and regulations. Students will learn Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Graphic Design and Multimedia. Many of the programs can be completed in as little as 17 months. Some students are extensively trained in computer skills and may earn an additional certificate in the field as a part of their program of study.
Students interested in the field may view some of the shows on Home and Garden Television to get an idea of the rigors of the profession. Shows such as “Trading Spaces” or “Surprise By Design” can give students an idea of the life of an interior designer. The design of a home can improve a family’s mood, productivity, or can increase the value of the home.
Online Schools Offering Accredited Interior Design Degree Programs
Online schools are designed to teach students the basic principles of interior design including the history of design and architecture, space planning, problem solving, computer aided drafting, exhibit design, hospitality designs, retail store design and corporate design. Visual media will be used as a form of communication for designs.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh has an online division that will allow students to attain a Bachelor of Science in Interior design. The program is designed to teach students with commercial and residential design, computer aided drafting, showroom management, and space planning.
Westwood College
Westwood College of Technology offers a Bachelor Degree of Interior Design. Students can earn a degree in interior design in as little as 20 months either on campus or online. Students get real world experience that they can implement in practice with their clients.
Berkeley College
Berkeley College offers an Associates and Bachelors in Interior Design. Over 96% of the individuals are placed in jobs after graduation. They are experts in launching business careers for graduates of interior design. This particular school offers small classes for students to receive personal attention. Most students can achieve their degrees in less than 18 months. The school also engages students in on-the-job internship as a part of the curriculum. Most students can receive a scholarship or grant to attend one of the interior design programs. Students will receive lifetime assistance with job placement after graduating from Berkeley College.
Offline Interior Design Schools
There are several reputable interior design schools all over the world. These schools are highly competitive; however, they will afford the graduates with some amazing opportunities. Some of the best interior design schools in the world are listed below:
American Intercontinental University London
The American Intercontinental University (AIU) in London is one of the best interior design schools in the world. The school is accredited in both the United States and in London. Students may attain either a Bachelor’s or an Associate’s degree from this University. The school has faculty that have a plethora of experience in interior design. Students who graduate from the school have a greater chance of becoming employed in the field.
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is also highly competitive in the field of interior design. They offer the students an option of pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in interior design in the School of Art and Design. The school is located in New York City which fuels the creativity of the students who attend the school. Many of the projects are hands-on and fairly progressive. The Pratt Institute is consistently ranked as a top interior design school by Interior Design Professionals.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design provides students with enormous resources that a large university can afford. The faculty to student ratio is low enough to encourage mentoring relationships and personal instruction. The interior design program is a five year Bachelor’s of Science program. However, no Master’s degree of Interior Design is available. Students are required to complete a two-semester design project and spend six semesters working on co-op design projects.
Other offline schools with exceptional Interior Design programs include the following:
- Harvard University
- Cornell University
- University of Virginia
Famous Interior Designers 
Some of the most famous interior designers in history developed their artistry before 1950. Many of these designers were pioneers in their fields. Several famous designers in history are described below in detail.
Frank Lloyd Wright (pictured right)
Frank Lloyd Wright completed over 500 projects in his career as an architect and interior designer. Some of his most notable work includes the Fallingwater home near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The home was designed to blend with the surrounding environmental elements. Frank Lloyd Wright built and created ideas for churches, schools, hotels, offices, and other businesses. The décor, furniture and layout of the interior of his designs were far ahead of his time. Most of the designs look as though they could be placed in modern times.
Jean-Henri Jansen
Jean-Henri Jansen started one of the most successful international interior design companies in 1880. This Dutch designer created some of the most exceptional designs in furniture and other interior design projects through Maison Jansen or House of Jansen. The design company later grew to 8 major cities in the world. Most of the designer’s clientele included Royalty and the rich and the famous.
Elsie de Wolfe
Elsie de Wolfe brought a modern aire to interior design. She was a pioneer of contemporary designs. Much of her designs are still felt in the present world of interior design. She was not fond Victorian design. She used bright and bold colors, as well as, light colors. Often, she used fabrics with texture, such as velvet for draperies. Wolfe was far ahead of her time in terms of design.
Ogden Codman
Ogden Codman is an American interior designer. This interior designer was responsible for the work of Edith Wharton’s Newport Home and the Rockefeller family estate owned by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Ogden Codman was a designer of Land’s End as well. He later became the co-author of the magazine “The Decoration of Houses” along with Edith Wharton.
