Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Architecture & Design

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Interior Design Skills

• Meet industry standards in response to professional ethics, global issues, and technological advances
• Demonstrate creative approaches to spatial organization, use of material and lighting
• Establish a relationship of interior design elements to the architecture of the building
• Demonstrate an understanding of the laws, codes, and standards that impact fire and life safety by correctly applying professional standards to space planning and layouts
• Demonstrate an understanding of ADA and Universal Design principles in interior design solutions
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, principles, and theories of sustainability as they pertain to building methods, materials, systems, and occupants by incorporating sustainable solutions into interior designs
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of human factors and behavior in the built environment by creating informed design solutions.
• Create construction drawings and documents
• Demonstrate an understanding of color principles, theories, and systems
• Demonstrate an understanding of movements and traditions in interior design, architecture, and furniture by applying precedents design solutions

Problem-Solving Skills

• Demonstrate programming skills such as identifying user needs, gathering and analyzing information
• Present a range of design solutions for a project by creating ideation sketches, bubble diagrams, and preliminary drawings

Technical Design Skills

• Effectively apply principles of two and three-dimensional design through both traditional and digital media
• Effectively apply color in all aspects of visual communication
• Visualize concepts through sketching and space planning

Communication Skills

• Clearly communicate design ideas and solutions relative to the goals and objectives of the project program, using accurate design vocabulary in verbal and written presentations

Building Systems

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of construction systems such as mechanical, energy, security, acoustics building control systems by making informed design decisions
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of non-structural systems such as ceilings, flooring and interior walls in design solutions

Global Perspective

• Demonstrate an understanding of social, economic and cultural differences in interior designs
• Collaborate effectively to produce creative projects

Professional Readiness

• Produce a portfolio and identity system that meets industry standards
• Create a business plan demonstrating familiarity with business and professional practices

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

Semester 1

• FND 113: Sketching for Communication
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 100: Foundations Studio - The Roots of Design
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 140: Introduction to Construction Documents
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 210: Digital Imaging
  Major / 3 Units

Semester 2

• ADV 230: Rapid Visualization Techniques
  Major / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
• FND 122: Color Fundamentals
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 241: Perspective Drawing Techniques
  Core / 3 Units
• LA 108: Composition for the Artist
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units
• LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
• LA 254: Human-Centered Design
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units

Semester 3

• IAD 200: Studio 1: Introduction to Interior Architecture & Design
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 230: Survey of Traditional Interior Architecture
  Major / 3 Units
• IAD 245: Materials
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 345: Color Rendering Techniques
  Major / 3 Units
• LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units

Semester 4

• IAD 231: Survey of Contemporary Interior Architecture
  Major / 3 Units
• IAD 240: Building Codes & Systems
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 280: BIM & Design Graphics
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 330: Introduction to Lighting Design
  Core / 3 Units
• LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units
• LA 291: Designing Careers
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
• LAN 375: Sketching for Idea Development
  Core / 3 Units / Recommended for summer

Semester 5

• ADV 230: Rapid Visualization Techniques
  Major / 3 Units
• IAD 270: 3D Digital Modeling
  Major / 3 Units
• IAD 310: Studio 2: Residential Design (formerly IAD 350 Design 4: Design Development)
  Major / 3 Units
• LA 110: Writing the Short Story
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units
• LA 236: Survey of Bay Area Architecture
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units

Semester 6

• IAD 340: Studio 3: Commercial Design (formerly IAD 300 Design 3: Design Process)
  Major / 3 Units
• IAD 380: Sustainable Design
  Major / 3 Units
• LA 127: Topics in World Art
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units
• LA 226: Survey of Traditional Interior Architecture
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
• LA 229: Survey of Contemporary Interior Architecture
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
• LA 359: Urban Sociology
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units
• N/A: Any Course
  Elective / 3 Units

Semester 7

• IAD 410: Studio 4: Social Design
  Major / 3 Units
• IAD 430: Professional Practice for Interior Design
  Major / 3 Units
• LA ###: Any LA course
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units
• PH 103: Digital Photography for Artists
  Elective / 3 Units

Semester 8

• IAD 440: Studio 5: Senior Studio Comprehensive Design
  Major / 6 Units
• IAD 450: IAD Portfolio Preparation
  Core / 3 Units
• IAD 500: Internship in Interior Design
  Elective / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
• LA ###: Any LA course
  Liberal Arts / 3 Units