The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in interior design prepares students for the rewarding challenges of designing for the 21st century. The program focuses on the relationship between human performance and environment through an innovative mix of studio design projects, profession-specific coursework, community oriented projects, and externships in the field.
Complementing these experiences, the program also incorporates multiple site visits to furniture, fabric/textile, lighting, and other material showrooms. This is easily accomplished because New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area are a major center of design, including showrooms of products, thousands of practitioners’ offices, and access to many public spaces. Links for the student are established with professionals through office visits and, wherever possible, with project sites. Summer Abroad programs are open to both interior design and architecture students. The experience becomes an opportunity for the design and architecture students to intermingle and confront architecture and design together in the same way that it developed in other cultures through the ages.
The curriculum includes course work that covers all aspects of professional interior design. A unique aspect of the program is that during the course of their studies the students of interior design and architecture will join in classes, which emphasize design fundamentals, building technology, and the history of architecture introducing the close working partnership between the two professions. Advanced courses in interior design cover such topics as materials, perspective, color, computer-aided drawing (CAD), building codes, history of interior design, furniture design, lighting, business procedures and special projects. There is a strong correlation between the different levels of courses. The curriculum is sequential, with the knowledge that the skills and design sensibilities gained at each level directly affect succeeding levels, as they advance through the program.
A very special aspect to the program is that faculty members are either practicing professionals in the fields of interior design, architecture and other related professions. This cross-disciplinary approach mirrors real world interaction and relationships. As the professions of interior design and architecture cross-reference each other more and more, this becomes a critical and important distinction for both programs. Students’ cultural diversity and broad life experiences are integral to the program, and to ensure opportunity for students with diverse backgrounds, freshmen are not required to submit portfolios as part of their admission process. However, all students are required to submit a portfolio for review, and have a 2.75 cumulative index or a 3.00 average in interior design courses after completion of DSGN 202 Interior Design II.
120
Since acceptance of portfolios is required prior to admittance to DSGN 301 Interior Design Problems 1, students must submit portfolios for review while enrolled in DSGN 202 Interior Design II. Portfolio reviews are required for transfer students who are applying for interior design, architecture or fine arts credits.
As a student, they will work closely with a faculty advisor who serves as an academic and professional mentor throughout the years at NYIT. During the junior or senior year, they will be required to complete a 256-hour externship in a professional design studio. In the final year of study the student will develop a capstone thesis, which serves to showcase their skills and accrued knowledge in the design program. They develop and research a program, select the site, and conceptualize and design the interior environment. The research, drawings and images that result are then presented to a professional jury of practitioners and professors.
NYIT’s four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design is based at the Old Westbury campus and puts the student on a career path to professionalism. Upon graduation and two years of interior design work experience, one is eligible to sit for the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. Passage of this exam, in conjunction with one additional year of work experience will allow one to apply to NY State for certification. Other states have similar certification and licensing requirements.
The NYIT Interior Design Program at Old Westbury has been accredited by the Foundation of Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) since March 1984. The most recent FIDER visit resulted in a six-year professional level accreditation from 2000-2006.
Complementing these experiences, the program also incorporates multiple site visits to furniture, fabric/textile, lighting, and other material showrooms. This is easily accomplished because New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area are a major center of design, including showrooms of products, thousands of practitioners’ offices, and access to many public spaces. Links for the student are established with professionals through office visits and, wherever possible, with project sites. Summer Abroad programs are open to both interior design and architecture students. The experience becomes an opportunity for the design and architecture students to intermingle and confront architecture and design together in the same way that it developed in other cultures through the ages.
The curriculum includes course work that covers all aspects of professional interior design. A unique aspect of the program is that during the course of their studies the students of interior design and architecture will join in classes, which emphasize design fundamentals, building technology, and the history of architecture introducing the close working partnership between the two professions. Advanced courses in interior design cover such topics as materials, perspective, color, computer-aided drawing (CAD), building codes, history of interior design, furniture design, lighting, business procedures and special projects. There is a strong correlation between the different levels of courses. The curriculum is sequential, with the knowledge that the skills and design sensibilities gained at each level directly affect succeeding levels, as they advance through the program.
A very special aspect to the program is that faculty members are either practicing professionals in the fields of interior design, architecture and other related professions. This cross-disciplinary approach mirrors real world interaction and relationships. As the professions of interior design and architecture cross-reference each other more and more, this becomes a critical and important distinction for both programs. Students’ cultural diversity and broad life experiences are integral to the program, and to ensure opportunity for students with diverse backgrounds, freshmen are not required to submit portfolios as part of their admission process. However, all students are required to submit a portfolio for review, and have a 2.75 cumulative index or a 3.00 average in interior design courses after completion of DSGN 202 Interior Design II.
120
Since acceptance of portfolios is required prior to admittance to DSGN 301 Interior Design Problems 1, students must submit portfolios for review while enrolled in DSGN 202 Interior Design II. Portfolio reviews are required for transfer students who are applying for interior design, architecture or fine arts credits.
As a student, they will work closely with a faculty advisor who serves as an academic and professional mentor throughout the years at NYIT. During the junior or senior year, they will be required to complete a 256-hour externship in a professional design studio. In the final year of study the student will develop a capstone thesis, which serves to showcase their skills and accrued knowledge in the design program. They develop and research a program, select the site, and conceptualize and design the interior environment. The research, drawings and images that result are then presented to a professional jury of practitioners and professors.
NYIT’s four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design is based at the Old Westbury campus and puts the student on a career path to professionalism. Upon graduation and two years of interior design work experience, one is eligible to sit for the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. Passage of this exam, in conjunction with one additional year of work experience will allow one to apply to NY State for certification. Other states have similar certification and licensing requirements.
The NYIT Interior Design Program at Old Westbury has been accredited by the Foundation of Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) since March 1984. The most recent FIDER visit resulted in a six-year professional level accreditation from 2000-2006.