Interior Architecture

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Faculty

Jeannie C. Krumdieck, Chair, Professor
Charles L. Ford, Associate Professor
Preston Hite, Associate Professor

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors

Interior Design Major (B.F.A.)
Pre-Architecture Concentration (Non-Degree)

The Department of Interior Architecture offers a major in interior design leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree. The department also offers a non-degree seeking concentration in pre-architecture.

The interior design major and the pre-architecture concentration students share a common curriculum for the first two years of study. These foundation courses introduce applicable theory and skills, preparing the students for a more specific design direction: interior design, interior architecture, or architecture.

Interior Design

Those choosing to complete their bachelor of fine arts in interior design at Samford University will engage in a curriculum sequence whose content adheres to CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) standards. The program prepares design students to combine aesthetic values with practical needs and realities. Program graduates weigh design decisions with social, cultural, and ecological context in mind. Based on a foundation in fine art, the students utilize a holistic approach that integrates interior design with architecture; stresses the three-dimensional use of space; considers the user’s awareness and experience of space; and incorporates the necessary understanding of codes and life-safety issues.

Pre-Architecture

A pre-architecture concentration is offered within the Department of Interior Architecture. This track is a two-year, non-degree plan that shares a common curriculum sequence with the interior design major. Students choosing pre-architecture, and meeting admission requirements, may transfer seamlessly into the bachelor of arts (B.A.) in architectural studies at Judson University, Elgin, Illinois, and continue into that school’s masters of architecture (M.A.), an NAAB-accredited architectural program. This is the result of collaboration between Samford and Judson, with an articulation agreement outlining such.

Pre-architecture students who choose to remain at Samford University and complete the aforementioned continuation requirements are on track to complete Samford’s bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) in interior design. These students can then pursue the masters of architecture degree program at Judson University or at other universities that offer similar programs of study.

Curriculum

Interior design students work toward a bachelor of fine arts degree. Course requirements include 45 general education credits (including 22 in the University Core Curriculum), 10 credits in the School of the Arts core, 51 interior architecture (IARC) credits, 18 credits in art, plus 4 credits in general electives, for a total of 128 credits required for graduation.

Freshmen begin their studies with core curriculum and foundational art courses shared with the pre-architecture concentration, as well as fine arts and graphic design majors within the School of the Arts. These students are also introduced (in IARC 101) to a survey of the professions (interior design, interior architecture, and architecture).

As sophomores, students continue foundation courses that build upon the art minor and extend those concepts and theories into the built environment. In addition, digital communication, presentation techniques, and building systems information are addressed. At the end of the sophomore year, students submit portfolios of their work for eligibility to continue in the program.

The junior and senior years are focused on application of the concepts and skills they have acquired. The projects are developed in studio settings and focus on small to large scale commercial and residential projects. Birmingham’s professional design community is actively engaged through field experiences to firms and built projects, and by providing lectures, project critiques, and final project juries. Students are also required to complete an internship under a registered interior designer or architect.

Department Fee

For all students in the Department of Interior Architecture, there is a $175 fee per semester for students enrolled in any IARC department program. The fee is subject to change without notice. See the Bursar’s Office Web site for more information.

Requirements for Admission to Interior Design Undergraduate Program

Because the bachelor of fine arts in interior design (IARC) presupposes a certain level of professional competence, each interior design major is required to fulfill application requirements for this major during the spring of the sophomore curriculum sequence.

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in the major after completion of the preliminary ART and IARC courses.
Successful completion of Portfolio Review, including work from those courses listed above (in item 1) along with work in progress from selected IARC courses.
Successful completion of an interview with the interior architecture faculty members following completion of the aforementioned courses (in item 1) to continue in the program.
Completion of application form including permission to retain student work for use in marketing and accreditation purpose.

Note: Entering freshmen and transfer students in the Department of Interior Architecture are required to attend a seminar early in the fall semester. This will include delineation of the course of study for both interior design and pre-architecture, explanation of the portfolio review, and outline specifications for personal computers and software that will be required for the sophomore through senior courses of study. Opportunities for the pursuit of studies at Judson University, Elgin, Illinois, will also be discussed.

Accreditation

The Samford University interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Programs

Major

Courses

Interior Architecture - Undergraduate