Overview
Interior design is a challenging, exciting, and ever-changing profession. The Department of Interior Design at Mississippi State University is accredited by both the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and is the largest interior design program in the state.
Graduates will receive a Bachelor of Science in interior design and are prepared for a professional career in interior design – to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces for the purpose of improving the quality of life; increasing productivity; and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public as well as protecting the environment.
Mississippi State University interior design students are receiving awards in national and regional competitions, and alumni of the program are employed by many of the top-100 interior design firms in the United States, working on projects throughout the world.
What does an interior designer do?
Curriculum
Practical studio experience builds competency in design theory; the specification of interior materials and finishes; lighting, universal design, and computer-aided design; building and life safety codes; historical interiors; professional practices; interior construction and furniture design; space planning and programming; and graphic and verbal communication skills.
As students progress through the Mississippi State University Department of Interior Design, they acquire an ability to identify, analyze, and create solutions using critical thinking and spatial comprehension in solving design problems in the built environment.
Portfolio Review
A portfolio review is required for our students and takes place the summer between their second and third year in the program. The portfolio review will consist of original work from art foundation courses and interior design foundation courses. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and a 2.5 in the interior design major core. Students will have two opportunities for portfolio submission.
Senior Portfolio and Exhibit
Each senior is required to submit a professional portfolio for faculty review and provide work for a senior exhibit in the spring of their senior year.
Internship
As a component of the curriculum, interior design students complete a three-month internship. The internship occurs in the summer following their third- or fourth-year in the program. These internship experiences immerse students into the profession of interior design, offering them opportunities to participate and contribute to national and international projects. This project participation and mentoring by design professionals prepares students to easily transition into permanent employment, resulting in Mississippi State University interior design graduates consistently being 100% employed.
Admissions
Highly competitive
Admission to the Department of Interior Design is competitive. Prospective students are encouraged to tour the facilities to be introduced to the program and talk with students and faculty.
How to Apply to Mississippi State University Transfer Requirements
Student Work
The College of Architecture, Art and Design at Mississippi State University is a recognized leader in all of our disciplines. The faculty and students are being recognized for their achievements in all of the areas in which the college is engaged.
Outstanding Students
Scholarships
In its commitment to recognize outstanding students whose academic credentials confirm their potential for success, Mississippi State University offers scholarships to students with outstanding ACT scores and to National Merit and National Achievement semifinalists and finalists. For more information on MSU scholarships please contact the Office of Admissions and Scholarships.
Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen Scholarships for Transfer Students
Each year, the Mississippi State University Department of Interior Design also recognizes student achievement through scholarships and annual awards. These monetary awards are made possible by friends and alumni of the program and are awarded on the basis of financial need, academic standing, and overall excellence.
Affordable
Tuition and Fees
Mississippi State University’s affordable tuition provides an excellent return on your investment, combining competitive costs with the best academics, research, student life, and career preparation.
Tuition at Mississippi State University
The Department of Interior Design has some additional fees for materials, field trips, and other items that enhance our students’ education. The program strives to be able to offer comparatively low lab fees thanks to support from alumni and friends.
Interior design students also need to purchase a variety of tools and materials to help them succeed in their studio coursework, including drawing equipment and materials for drawings and models during the school year. A student should budget for at least $300 per semester for these extra costs.
Computer Requirements
Due to the technological aspect of the profession, each student is required to purchase a computer prior to the fall of their first year in the program.
Student Life
Personal growth and professional development
Studio learning is a unique experience, and the Mississippi State University Department of Interior Design provides a supportive environment for personal growth and professional development.
Life After Graduation
There are numerous specialties in the profession of interiors, including corporate, hospitality, healthcare, retail, institutional, educational, ecumenical, multi-family, product design, and residential design. Our alumni are working across the nation and world in a wide variety of careers. A few career possibilities with a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design:
Commercial
Healthcare Designer • Assisted Living Designer • Retail Designer • Corporate Designer • Professional Office Designer • Religious Designer • Restaurant and Hospitality Designer • Code Specialist • Facilities Manager • In-house Corporate Designer • Health Club and Spa Designer • Museum and Gallery Designer • Sport Complex Designer
Residential
Kitchen and Bath Designer • Outdoor Living Designer • Custom Home Designer • Condominium Designer • Model Home Designer • Townhouse Designer • Home Theater Designer • Residential Historical Restoration Designer • Colorizer for Home Builders • Home Office Designer • Residential Children Spaces Designer • ADA Home Designer • Private Yachts and Houseboat Designer • Vacation Home Designer
Transportation
Airport Terminal Designer • Tour Ship Designer • Custom and Commercial Airplane Designer • Recreational Vehicle Designer
Institutional
Government Office and Facility Designer • Financial Institutional Designer • K-12 School Designer • Higher Education Designer
Industrial Facilities
Manufacturing Facility Designer • Training Facility Designer
Specialty Areas
Historic Preservationist Transportation Designer • Furniture Designer Trend Forecaster • Staging Specialist Lighting Specialist • Set Designer Environmental Designer • ADA Specialist Carpet and Flooring Designer • Universal Designer Renderer • Furniture Retail Salesperson Set Designer • Transportation Designer Trend Forecaster • Model Creator Franchise Designer • Manufacturer’s Representative Market Researcher • Merchandise Display Designer Showroom Designer • Tile Designer Visual Merchandiser • Purchasing Agent Closet Designer • Photographer Colorist • Exhibit Designer Textile Designer • Materials Specialist Cost Estimator • Amusement Park Designer Auditorium Designer • Library Designer Commercial Kitchen Designer • Curator Educator • Spa Designer Signage and Wayfinding Designer • Wallcovering Designer Wall Finish and Faux Painter
Our
Mission
The mission of the Department of Interior Design at Mississippi State University is to provide a broad-based educational experience that prepares graduates for careers in the professional practice of interior design and prepares students for postgraduate study. Graduates are exposed to a comprehensive curriculum focused on creating interior environments that enhance quality of life, increase productivity, preserve the environment, and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Our
Goals
The Interior Design faculty have established educational and professional goals for the First Professional Degree Level Program. These goals are reviewed and adjustments are made as universal, national and local advancements and changes of technology occur which may impact the goals. The overall program goals are to:
- Prepare students who can identify, research, and creatively solve problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.
- Prepare students to perform services relative to interior spaces including programming; design analysis; space planning; aesthetics and inspection of work on site; using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components; building regulations; equipment; and materials and furnishings.
- Prepare students to produce drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces.
- Enhance the quality of life for individuals and families.
- Protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.