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.
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.
Degree requirements include university core education, design and major curricula. The design curriculum provides students with a broad overview of design thinking and processes and incorporates foundational business coursework. The lower-division curriculum involves completion of courses within the first and second year that build a solid foundation for the upper-division curricula. Students entering design programs should have basic art and illustration skills. ART 115 and ART 117 are highly recommended elective courses.
The Interior Design program has pre-professional coursework requirements. These requirements must be completed before formal admission into the major. See major description for more information.
Transitions to OSU and Introduction to Business coursework will depend on student type. At registration, an academic advisor will determine the most appropriate path.
- Students entering OSU as their first college experience after high school will take a 100 Transitions course, BA 160, and a BA 16X series or
- Students entering OSU COB as a transfer student will take a 300 Transitions course, BA 160, and BA 101Z.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Design Curriculum 1 | 104-108 | |
| Interior Design Curriculum 2 | 34 | |
| Unspecified Core Education 1 | 19-22 | |
| Unrestricted Electives 3 | 16-23 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- 1
Some courses in the Design Curriculum double-count with Core Education categories. Unspecified Core Education credits are not shared with the Design Curriculum
- 2
Six courses of the Design Curriculum and two courses of the Interior Design Curriculum are part of the pre-professional coursework
- 3
Options and minors are available to provide specializations and fulfill unrestricted elective credits
Design Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Design | ||
| Introduction to Business | ||
| Third-year transfer students may be eligible to waive BA 160. | ||
| BA 160 | +COB CAREER AND MAJOR EXPLORATION | 1 |
| Dependent on entry level, students will take one of the following: | 4-6 | |
| INNOVATION NATION--AWARENESS TO ACTION and INNOVATION NATION--IDEAS TO REALITY | ||
| LAUNCH PAD I and LAUNCH PAD II | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS | ||
| 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 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3-4 |
| or COMM 114 | +*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | |
| or COMM 218Z | +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 201Z | +*PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| WR 323 | +*ADVANCED WRITING & ARGUMENTATION | 3-4 |
| 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 1 | 4 |
| or BA 390 | PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING | |
| BA 252 | MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE 1 | 4 |
| BA 315 | ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 4 |
| or BA 211Z & BA 213Z | PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING and PRINCIPLES OF MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING | |
| BA 354 | ^MANAGING ETHICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | 4 |
| BA 361 | IDEATION AND CREATIVE THINKING | 4 |
| BA 396 | +MARKETS AS SOCIAL STATUS SYSTEMS | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Select 2 credits from the following courses: | 2 | |
Any COB 004 Internship (e.g. DSGN 004) 2 | ||
Any COB 403 Thesis (eg. DSGN 403) | ||
Any COB 405 Reading & Conference (eg. DSGN 405) | ||
Any COB 406 Projects (eg. DSGN 406) | ||
Any COB 409 Practicum (eg. DSGN 409) | ||
Any COB 410 Internship (eg. DSGN 410) | ||
| INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE ORIENTATION and IMPACT OF CULTURE ON BUSINESS | ||
| Total Credits | 104-108 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
Course requires a grade of C or higher
- 2
Students may substitute a COB 004 Internship (e.g. DSGN 004) course for the experiential learning requirement if they do not need an additional 2 credits to meet their 180 credit 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 | +COB CAREER AND MAJOR EXPLORATION | 1 |
| COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING or +*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3-4 |
| DSGN 101 | DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS | 4 |
| MTH 111Z | +*PRECALCULUS I: FUNCTIONS | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA 161 | INNOVATION NATION--AWARENESS TO ACTION | 3 |
| DSGN 121 | COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN | 3 |
| ECON 201Z | +*PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| BA 162 | INNOVATION NATION--IDEAS TO REALITY | 3 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| DSGN 244 | COLOR INNOVATION | 4 |
| DSGN 253 | +PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| DSGN 255 | TEXTILES | 4 |
| DSGN 282 | DRAFTING YOUR CAREER BLUEPRINT | 1 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| *Review Studio Application Requirements | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA 252 | MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE | 4 |
| DSGN 281 | DRAWING AND SKETCHING | 4 |
| DSGN 287 | STUDIO I: DESIGN COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| DSGN 284 | FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL FINANCE I | 1 |
| WR 323 or WR 227Z | +*ADVANCED WRITING & ARGUMENTATION or +*TECHNICAL WRITING | 3-4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 206 | +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: NEOCLASSICISM TO CONTEMPORARY or +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: PREHISTORY TO HIGH MIDDLE AGES or +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: GOTHIC TO BAROQUE | 3 |
| BANA 270 | INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | 4 |
| DSGN 283 | NAVIGATING CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE | 1 |
| DSGN 288 | STUDIO II: RESIDENTIAL DESIGN | 4 |
| Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 367 | *HISTORY OF DESIGN | 3 |
| BA 223 or BA 390 | PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING or PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING | 4 |
| DSGN 311 | +FRAMING YOUR CAREER PLAN | 1 |
| DSGN 383 | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS | 3 |
| DSGN 387 | STUDIO III: ADVANCED DESIGN COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA 315 | ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING or PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING and PRINCIPLES OF MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING | 4 |
| BA 354 | ^MANAGING ETHICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | 4 |
| DSGN 312 | FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL FINANCE II | 1 |
| DSGN 388 | STUDIO IV: HOSPITALITY DESIGN | 4 |
| MGMT 364 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| 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 |
| DSGN 341 | DESIGN THINKING AND PROCESS INNOVATION | 4 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| DSGN 411 | NAVIGATING CAREER TRANSITIONS | 1 |
| DSGN 464 | CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF INTERIORS AND HOUSING | 3 |
| MRKT 492 | CONSUMER BEHAVIOR | 4 |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Experiential Learning | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA 396 | +MARKETS AS SOCIAL STATUS SYSTEMS | 3 |
| DSGN 412 | FINANCIAL PLANNING I | 1 |
| DSGN 488 | STUDIO VI: HEALTHCARE DESIGN | 4 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| DSGN 413 | FINANCIAL PLANNING II | 1 |
| DSGN 495 | STUDIO VII: SENIOR THESIS II | 4 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course