Interior Design
Major, Minor
Program Overview
Interior design is about more than making beautiful spaces. As an interior design major at Central Michigan University, you'll learn how to integrate user needs and aesthetics into your aesthetic vision. The result: homes and offices that don't just look good, but meet the needs of all the people who live and work there.
Program Snapshot
Why This Program & What You'll Learn
Having a great eye for design is just part of what it takes to be an interior designer. In our interior design program, you'll learn how societies have used design throughout history and how to create modern spaces designed for the way we live today. You'll learn about lighting, textiles, architectural drawings, and building codes — because your designs can't be seen if they can't be constructed.
As part of your training, you'll master the software employers will expect you to know inside-out. Learn packages by Autodesk, Configura, SketchUp, and more.
Through it all, you'll work closely with a small group of interior design professors who are eager to be your mentors. All of us have worked in the field. All are industry veterans who can prepare you for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Because doing is an essential part of learning, we require an internship. Internship opportunities are diverse and have included positions within residential and non-residential design and architectural firms, furniture manufacturers such as Steelcase and Haworth, kitchen and bath studios, and the Home Shopping Network.
Program Highlights
As an interior design student, you'll join an industry-recognized program.
- Our program is nationally accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
- Participate in field trips, studio nights, and more as part of the student-led CMU Interior Design Student Organizations (IDSO).
- Study Abroad: Travel every two years to some of the world’s greatest cities for design and architecture. See them for yourself as part of a 10-day faculty-led class.
- 91 percent of students who graduated in 2018-19 are employed in design or design-related jobs.
Careers & Outcomes
CMU's interior design major will prepare you for careers in several fields, including commercial, residential, and healthcare design. Our alumni work all over the country — at design firms, government agencies, and theater companies.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Residential Designer | $37,500 |
| Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer | $39,520 |
| Interior Designer | $56,040 |
