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The undergraduate major in interior architecture is a four-year professional program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Architecture. The program develops students' creativity in the design and planning of interior spaces by emphasizing the process and communication of design. Students learn to integrate the art of design with the social sciences concerning the interaction of people and their environment, the history of design, and the physical sciences relating to the effects of materials on the physical health and comfort of inhabitants. Insight into professional practice is enhanced through internship experiences.

Faculty maintain scholarly programs of study in design and research that form the basis of the graduate program and enrich the undergraduate program through coursework, design review, and student mentoring.

Course content helps students develop verbal and visual communication skills with exposure to both residential and commercial interiors. In addition, courses in art history, history of interiors, engineering, and art are required. A final portfolio is required before graduation. Studio spaces for student use, a resource center containing catalogs and samples, plus a lighting demonstration area and computer laboratory provide physical support for the interior architecture curriculum.

Prospective UW–Madison Students

All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the central Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Freshmen should declare their intention to pursue the interior architecture (IA) major when they apply for admission to UW–Madison. In addition, students may indicate interest in the IA major when registering for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).

Current UW–Madison Students

Phase One: Design Core

A 2.75 minimum cumulative GPA is required for declaring the pre-interior architecture major (Phase One). Eligible students should meet with an advisor to declare as early in their academic career as possible. 

Transfer students may take longer to complete their degree than students entering the program as freshmen, as they too must complete both Phase One and Phase Two, which contain specialized courses that must be taken sequentially.

Fall Coursework

Students must complete DS 120 and DS 221. Upon completion, students will be evaluated and ranked based on classroom performance and engagement.

Spring Coursework

Students must complete DS 220 and DS 140. In the case that student interest for spring courses exceeds course capacity, student ranking in fall courses (DS 120 and DS 221) and academic performance will be used to determine priority enrollment in the required spring courses. Enrollment in spring courses is not guaranteed and may be limited by permission based on class rankings and academic performance.

After completing DS 120 and DS 221, and while enrolled in DS 220 and DS 140, students may apply for admission to Phase Two: Professional Course Sequence. The selective application process for Phase Two admissions will open during the latter half of the spring semester and decisions will be made once the spring coursework is completed.

PHASE TWO: PROFESSIONAL COURSE SEQUENCE

Advancement into Phase Two is competitive and involves a holistic application process each spring. Evaluation for acceptance into the professional course sequence depends on rankings in the Phase One coursework (DS 120, 221, 220, and 140), cumulative GPA, and engagement within the major.

There are typically 32 available spots each application cycle. This is an industry standard to ensure appropriate student to faculty ratio.

After completing Phase One of the program and upon acceptance into Phase Two, all IA students must purchase a laptop computer based on minimum hardware specification and software licenses determined by the department and updated regularly. Students also have the option, but are not required, to purchase a laptop computer before completion of Phase One of the program.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A & Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B *

* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

School of Human Ecology Requirements

Arts and Humanities
Literature3
Choose one of the following:3
Dimensions of Material Culture
Humanities3
Social Science9
Physical, Biological and Natural Science9
Human Ecology Breadth3
Select one Human Ecology course from CNSR SCI, CSCS, HDFS, or INTER-HE. Design Studies (DS) courses in the area of Textiles & Fashion Design may also be completed.
Total Credits30

Interior Architecture Requirements

A complete list of requirements is below. Students should follow the curriculum requirements in place at the time they entered the major. This requirement list should be used in combination with a DARS report.

Phase One: Design Core
DS 120 Design: Fundamentals I3
DS 220 Design: Fundamentals II3
DS 221 Person and Environment Interactions3
DS 140 Visual Thinking - Form and Space3
DS 252 Design Leadership Symposium1
Phase Two: Professional Course Sequence
Interior Architecture Studio Core
DS 222 Interior Design I4
DS 322 Interior Design II4
DS 622 Interior Design III4
DS 623 Interior Design IV4
DS 626 Interior Design V4
Content Area Courses
DS 223 Interior Architectural Design3
DS 224 Interior Materials and Finishes3
DS 241 Visual Communication I3
DS 242 Visual Communication II3
DS 321 Problem-definition: Design Programming3
DS 421 History of Architecture and Interiors I: Antiquity through 18th Century3
DS 422 History of Architecture & Interiors II: 19th and 20th Centuries3
DS 451 Color Theory and Technology3
DS 549 Environmental Control Systems: Lighting, Acoustics, and Thermal Comfort in Buildings3
DS 624 Interior Architecture Professional Practice3
DS 679 Research Methods in Design3
Professional Development
INTER-HE 202 SoHE Career & Leadership Development1
DS 601 Internship3
Design Focus 16
Select 6 credits in consultation with your SoHE academic advisor.
Electives
Select electives to meet minimum total of 120 degree credits
1

Design Focus courses are intended to be an opportunity for students to develop more depth and uniqueness to their course of study. See Design Focus course list below. Please work with your SoHE academic advisor to seek approval for coursework taken outside of Design Studies.

Design Studies course list

DS 101 Introduction to Textile Design3
DS 227 Textile Design: Printing and Dyeing I3
DS 251 Textile Science3
DS 252 Design Leadership Symposium (May be taken twice)1
DS/​ANTHRO/​ART HIST/​HISTORY/​LAND ARC  264 Dimensions of Material Culture4
DS 341 Design Thinking for Transformation3
DS 361 Design-Related International Experience1-6
DS 501 Special Topics (offerings vary by semester)1-3
DS/​COMP SCI/​I SY E  518 Wearable Technology3
DS 527 Global Artisans3
DS 561 Textiles: Specifications and End Use Analysis3
DS/​COMP SCI  579 Virtual Reality3
DS/​LAND ARC  639 Culture and Built Environment3
DS 641 Advanced Design Thinking for Transformation3

University Degree Requirements

Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.
  1. Grounded in the history and theory relevant to the built environment and human behavior.
  2. Intellectual skills for inquiry, creative thinking, and critical analysis.
  3. Professional skills that prepare them for applying what they have learned to create new knowledge and solve problems in a real world setting.
  4. Apply the design process to identify and explore complex problems and generate creative solutions that optimize the human experience within the interior environment. This includes the ability to apply research and the principles and theories of Design to their solutions.
  5. Apply their knowledge of building materials and systems, building construction, and industry specific codes, standards and guidelines in order to enhance the health, safety, welfare and performance of building occupants.

This is a sample four-year plan for Interior Architecture. We encourage all students to consult with their academic advisor to develop an individualized plan that meets their specific needs.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Communications A3Communications B3-4 
Ethnic Studies3Quantitative Reasoning A3-4 
Science3DS 2203 
DS 1203ART HIST/​ANTHRO/​DS/​HISTORY/​LAND ARC  264 or DS 2644 
DS 2213DS 1403 
DS 2521  
 16 16-18 
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
DS 2224DS 3224 
DS 2243DS 2423 
DS 2413DS 4223 
Science3INTER-HE 2021 
DS 4213Social Science3 
 16 14 
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
DS 2233DS 6234DS 6013
DS 3213DS 5493 
DS 6224DS 6243 
Design Focus3DS 6793 
Literature3  
 16 13 3
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
DS 6264Humanities3 
DS 4513Social Science3 
Design Focus3Science3 
Social Science 3Elective4 
 13 13 
Total Credits 120-122

Advising & Career Center

The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni. 

Academic Advising

Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience. 

To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE

Career Development

Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.

To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.

For more information, visit the School of Human Ecology Design Studies faculty and staff directory.

internships

Internships are a vital part of student career development and a highly valued component of the undergraduate curriculum in the School of Human Ecology. High-quality internships foster student development by bringing theories and classroom-based learning to life in real-world settings. In addition, internships give students the opportunity to explore careers related to their major, gain relevant experience in their field(s) of interest, and develop a better understanding of what is expected in a workplace by performing the tasks of a professional in that field.

For SoHE majors, internships are a requirement of our undergraduate curriculum. Students must have at least a junior standing (54+ credits) in order to pursue a 3-credit internship and must complete a minimum of 150 hours at the internship site. To be eligible, an internship must be educational in nature, directly relate to a student’s major and career goals, and be approved by the Advising & Career Center.

For some SoHE majors, additional course prerequisites may be required. For more information, visit SoHE Internships

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

School of Human Ecology student organizations include:

  • Apparel and Textile Association (ATA)
  • Badger$ense Financial Life Skills
  • Community & Nonprofit Leaders (CNPL) of UW–Madison
  • Financial Occupations Club for University Students (FOCUS)
  • Interior Design Organization (IDO)
  • Phi Upsilon Omicron (National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences)
  • Student Retail Association (SRA)

For more information about registering as a SoHE student organization, please visit SoHE Student Organizations

Learn more about UW–Madison registered student organizations through the Wisconsin Involvement Network

Advising & Career Center 

The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni. 

Academic Advising

Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience. 

To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.

To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The School of Human Ecology awards many merit and need-based scholarships each year. The deadline to apply for scholarships is typically late January. To be eligible for these awards, scholarship recipients must be registered as full-time SoHE students.

Students who experience emergency financial situations may inquire about the availability of short-term loans through the SoHE Advising & Career Center. In addition, university scholarships, loans, and employment are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid (333 East Campus Mall; 608-262-3060).

Accreditation

Council for Interior Design Accreditation

Accreditation status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2023.