The goal of the Interior Architecture program is to develop professionally ready, career-oriented students who have acquired appropriate technical and aesthetic skills, achieved a thorough familiarity with the historic traditions of art and design, and are capable of expressing these skills in an aesthetically sensitive and visually articulate manner. Heavy emphasis is placed on the development of congruent design languages and vocabularies, which, when applied to design tasks, initiate, resolve, and implement responses appropriate to the diverse contract, commercial, and instructional design problems investigated by students.

The program investigates traditional, contemporary, and historical issues within the context of current social and environmental needs and mandates, such as universal design, adaptive reuse, changing demographics, ecological conservation, and cultural diversity.

The curriculum is formulated within a 3+3+2 structure: the first three semesters are foundation-level classes; the next three are advanced; and the last two are professional-level courses designed around a senior project of the student’s choosing.

Our integrated approach offers the opportunity to become sufficiently adept in both the manual and computer skills needed for effective participation as an entry-level employee of professional design firms.

An integral part of the Interior Architecture concentration includes participation in internship programs developed by Columbia in conjunction with Chicago-based design firms. The internship experience provides additional technical development and practical experience in an on-the-job setting, and helps ease the transition from student life to professional life.

The post-graduation group practice expertise is highly recommended as the logical educational bridge before advanced degree study or development of an individual practice.

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