Interior Design Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Options available:
The Interior Design option offers students the opportunity to focus on commercial design with an emphasis on space planning, heating and lighting plans, and interior construction specifications.
The Interior Design major is a professional program (major code 458) offered through the College of Business. Entering students are designated as Pre-Interior Design majors (major code 454). The pre-design program requires completion of courses within the first and second year that build a solid foundation for the upper-division design curricula. These courses must be completed before the student is eligible for admission to the upper-division studio-based curricula. The lower-division core coursework may be completed at OSU or any accredited college or university that offers equivalent courses transferable to OSU. Students who have completed their lower-division design courses at a college or university other than OSU must be admitted to the Pre-Interior Design major in their first term and apply to the Interior Design major during the normal selection process (typically in spring term each year).
Admission to the upper-division studio-based Interior Design major is competitive and is restricted to those students who have demonstrated an ability to achieve the high standards required for professional studies. Enrollment may be limited to the number of students who can be served by the faculty and facilities. To be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be declared as a Pre-Interior Design major.
- Completion of 90 credits (junior standing).
- Have a minimum OSU cumulative GPA of 2.5, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all Design Program Coursework.
- Have completed and received a C– or better in all required Pre-Professional Coursework.
- Have a C- or better in all Design Program Coursework.
The Design Program Coursework includes all College of Business courses taken for major and elective credit and non-college courses that are part of the program requirements.
Admission into the Interior design major requires completion of Pre-Professional Coursework and submission of a portfolio. The portfolio will expect students to submit work that demonstrates competency in fundamental design skills and concepts. For more information on current requirements, visit the website.
The following courses are recommended for students who need to further develop those design skills: ART 115, ART 117
Major Code: 458
Pre-Interior Design Major Code: 454
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Apply knowledge of human factors and theories of human behavior related to the built environment.
- Select and specify furniture, fixtures, equipment and finish materials in interior spaces.
- Apply the design process to creative problem solving.
The lower-division design core involves completion of courses within the first and second year that build a solid foundation for the upper-division design curricula. The lower-division design core course work may be completed at OSU or any accredited college or university that offers equivalent courses transferable to OSU. Within the lower-division design core is the Interior Design pre-professional coursework requirements. These requirements must be completed before formal admission into the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Design Core 1 | 78 | |
| Interior Design Curriculum 2 | 34 | |
| Baccalaureate Core 3 | 52 | |
| Unrestricted Electives | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- 1
22 credits (6 courses) of the Design Core are part of the pre-professional coursework
- 2
8 credits (2 courses) of the Interior Design curriculum are part of the pre-professional coursework
- 3
28 credits of the Bacc Core requirements are also part of the Design Core
Design Core Curriculum
The design core curriculum provides students with a broad overview of design thinking and processes.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Design 1 | ||
| Transitions | ||
| Students entering OSU as their first college experience will take the BA 16X series. Other students will complete BA 280 (or other transition course). | ||
| BA 160 | B-ENGAGED | 2-3 |
| or BA 163 | B-ENGAGED | |
| or BA 280 | BUSINESS INSIGHTS | |
| Introduction to Business | ||
| Select one of the following with approval from your advisor: | 6 | |
| INNOVATION NATION--AWARENESS TO ACTION and INNOVATION NATION--IDEAS TO REALITY | ||
| LAUNCH PAD I and LAUNCH PAD II | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS and MICROSOFT EXCEL | ||
| Art | ||
| ART 101 | *INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| ART 204 | *INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: PREHISTORY TO HIGH MIDDLE AGES | 3 |
| or ART 205 | *INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: GOTHIC TO BAROQUE | |
| or ART 206 | *INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: NEOCLASSICISM TO CONTEMPORARY | |
| ART 367 | *HISTORY OF DESIGN | 3 |
| Communications | ||
| COMM 114 | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | 3-4 |
| or COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | |
| or COMM 218Z | +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 201 | +*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| WR 323 | *ADVANCED WRITING & ARGUMENTATION | 3 or 4 |
| or WR 227Z | *TECHNICAL WRITING | |
| Pre-Professional Coursework | ||
| DSGN 101 | DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS | 4 |
| DSGN 121 | COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN | 3 |
| DSGN 244 | COLOR INNOVATION | 4 |
| DSGN 253 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| DSGN 255 | TEXTILES | 4 |
| DSGN 281 | DRAWING AND SKETCHING | 4 |
| Design Core | ||
| BA 223 | PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 2 | 4 |
| or BA 390 | PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING | |
| BA 315 | ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 4 |
| BA 352 | MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE 2 | 4 |
| or BA 252 | MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE | |
| BA 354 | ^MANAGING ETHICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | 4 |
| BA 361 | IDEATION AND CREATIVE THINKING | 4 |
| BANA 270 | INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | 4 |
| DSGN 341 | DESIGN THINKING AND PROCESS INNOVATION | 4 |
| MGMT 364 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| MRKT 492 | CONSUMER BEHAVIOR | 4 |
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Complete a thesis, directed readings, projects, internship or study abroad: 3 | 2 | |
Any COB 403 Thesis course (eg. DSGN 403) | ||
Any COB 405 Reading and Conference course (eg. DSGN 405) | ||
Any COB 406 Projects course (eg. DSGN 406) | ||
Any COB 410 Internship course (eg. DSGN 410) | ||
| INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE ORIENTATION and IMPACT OF CULTURE ON BUSINESS | ||
| Blueprint: Personal & Professional Development | ||
| Second Year | ||
| DSGN 282 | DRAFTING YOUR CAREER BLUEPRINT | 1 |
| DSGN 283 | NAVIGATING CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE | 1 |
| DSGN 284 | FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL FINANCE I | 1 |
| Third Year | ||
| DSGN 311 | FRAMING YOUR CAREER PLAN | 1 |
| DSGN 312 | FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL FINANCE II | 1 |
| DSGN 313 | A CASE FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE IN BUSINESS | 1 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| DSGN 411 | NAVIGATING CAREER TRANSITIONS | 1 |
| DSGN 412 | FINANCIAL PLANNING I | 1 |
| DSGN 413 | FINANCIAL PLANNING II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 104-107 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
- +
Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards
- 1
The ART, COMM, ECON, MTH and WR courses listed meet the university's baccalaureate core requirements for Literature & The Arts, Western Culture, Science, Technology & Society, Speech, Social Processes & Institutions, Mathematics, and Writing. All students must meet the other Baccalaureate Core requirements and the other requirements for baccalaureate degrees
- 2
Courses require a grade of C or higher
- 3
Students may substitute any COB 004 Internship course (eg. BA 004) for the experiential learning requirement if they do not need an additional 2 credits to meet their 180 degree total
Interior Design Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Professional Coursework | ||
| DSGN 287 | STUDIO I: DESIGN COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| DSGN 288 | STUDIO II: RESIDENTIAL DESIGN | 4 |
| Professional Coursework | ||
| DSGN 383 | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS | 3 |
| DSGN 387 | STUDIO III: ADVANCED DESIGN COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| DSGN 388 | STUDIO IV: HOSPITALITY DESIGN | 4 |
| DSGN 394 | STUDIO V: LIGHTING DESIGN | 4 |
| DSGN 464 | CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF INTERIORS AND HOUSING | 3 |
| DSGN 488 | STUDIO VI: HEALTHCARE DESIGN | 4 |
| DSGN 495 | STUDIO VII: SENIOR THESIS II | 4 |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
Major Code: 458
Pre-Interior Design Major Code: 454
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BA 160 | B-ENGAGED | 3 |
| DSGN 101 | DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS | 4 |
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| Bacc Core: Science 1 | 4 | |
| Bacc Core: PAC | 1 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA 161 | INNOVATION NATION--AWARENESS TO ACTION | 3 |
| DSGN 121 | COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN | 3 |
| HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
| WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Bacc Core: Science 2 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 101 | *INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| BA 162 | INNOVATION NATION--IDEAS TO REALITY | 3 |
| COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 4 |
| Bacc Core: Science 3 | 4 | |
| Bacc Core | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BA 252 | MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE | 4 |
| DSGN 244 | COLOR INNOVATION | 4 |
| DSGN 253 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| DSGN 255 | TEXTILES | 4 |
| DSGN 282 | DRAFTING YOUR CAREER BLUEPRINT | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| ART 205 | *INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: GOTHIC TO BAROQUE | 3 |
| DSGN 281 | DRAWING AND SKETCHING | 4 |
| DSGN 283 | NAVIGATING CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE | 1 |
| DSGN 287 | STUDIO I: DESIGN COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| WR 323 | *ADVANCED WRITING & ARGUMENTATION | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA 223 | PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING | 4 |
| BANA 270 | INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | 4 |
| DSGN 284 | FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL FINANCE I | 1 |
| DSGN 288 | STUDIO II: RESIDENTIAL DESIGN | 4 |
| ECON 201 | +*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 367 | *HISTORY OF DESIGN | 3 |
| DSGN 311 | FRAMING YOUR CAREER PLAN | 1 |
| DSGN 341 | DESIGN THINKING AND PROCESS INNOVATION | 4 |
| DSGN 383 | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS | 3 |
| DSGN 387 | STUDIO III: ADVANCED DESIGN COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA 315 | ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 4 |
| DSGN 312 | FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL FINANCE II | 1 |
| DSGN 388 | STUDIO IV: HOSPITALITY DESIGN | 4 |
| Bacc Core - CGI | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA 361 | IDEATION AND CREATIVE THINKING | 4 |
| DSGN 313 | A CASE FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE IN BUSINESS | 1 |
| DSGN 394 | STUDIO V: LIGHTING DESIGN | 4 |
| MGMT 364 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| Experiential Learning | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BA 354 | ^MANAGING ETHICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | 4 |
| DSGN 411 | NAVIGATING CAREER TRANSITIONS | 1 |
| DSGN 464 | CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF INTERIORS AND HOUSING | 3 |
| MRKT 492 | CONSUMER BEHAVIOR | 4 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Winter | ||
| DSGN 412 | FINANCIAL PLANNING I | 1 |
| DSGN 488 | STUDIO VI: HEALTHCARE DESIGN | 4 |
| Bacc Core - Cultural Diversity | 3 | |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| DSGN 413 | FINANCIAL PLANNING II | 1 |
| DSGN 495 | STUDIO VII: SENIOR THESIS II | 4 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |