With an art BA degree, you’ll develop your artistic skills and prepare for a career in the arts.
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
Main Campus - Cape
Interior Design
BFA
On-Campus
Main Campus
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT
Do more than dream about your career. Design your future.
An interior design degree prepares you for a career in a variety of professions including healthcare design, hospitality design, residential design, kitchen and bath design, and lighting design. Our graduates can be certified by both the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).
Learn by Leading
As an interior design major at SEMO, gain incredible real-world learning experience including many opportunities outside the classroom.
- Gain real-world experience through internships and the experiential learning lab.
- Learn from experienced faculty in a small class environment.
- Work on real design projects with actual clients.
What Can You Do with an Interior Design Degree?
A degree in interior design gives you the power to shape how people actually live, work, and feel in a space as an interior designer, residential or commercial interior designer, or junior designer. You learn to combine layout, lighting, color, and materials so rooms are both beautiful and functional, whether you work as a kitchen and bath designer, space planner, or visual merchandiser. This degree gives you sharp skills and the confidence to transform empty spaces into bold, human-centered environments as a design consultant, interior stylist, or project coordinator.
Internship and Employment Opportunities of Recent Graduates
- Boeing
- Drury Southwest, Inc.
- Cushman & Wakefield
- Mosby Building Arts
- Cure Design Group
- Milford Kitchen & Bath
- K Taylor Design Group
- Directions in Design
Amie Corley Interiors - Color Art
- CI Select
- Restoration Hardware
- Design & Detail
- Habitat for Humanity
- Southfork Lighting
- Metro Lighting
- Crescent Plumbing Supply
- RM COCO
- Oculus Inc.
- The Lawrence Group
- Spellman Brady & Company
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Interior Design Degree Map
Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.
Outcomes & Careers
-
$71k
Interior Designer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for an interior designer is $71,430.
-
$150k
Purchasing Manager
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a purchasing manager is $150,630.
-
$78k
Set and Exhibit Designer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a set and exhibit designer is $78,450.
From Dreaming to Doing: It Starts Here
As an interior design major, you’ll apply artistic and technical solutions to promote health, safety, and welfare in the building environment. Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.
87 hour major – No minor required
Required courses:
- AR100 Drawing I (3)
- AR104 2D Design (3)
- AR106 3D Design (3)
- AR180 Digital Literacy for Art + Design (3)
- AH210 Art History II (3)
- CM126 Computer Aided Drafting (3)
- CM226 Residential Architectural Drafting and Design (3)
- CM322 Commercial Architectural Drafting and Design (3)
- DS001 Portfolio Review (0)
- DS104 Exploring Interior Design (3)
- DS111 Technical Drafting for Designers (3)
- DS205 History of Interiors I (3)
- DS206 History of Interiors II (3)
- DS207 Interior Systems (3)
- DS209 Construction Codes for Designers (3)
- DS211 Basic Kitchen and Bath Design (3)
- DS220 Design Communications (3)
- DS313 Sustainable Design (3)
- DS314 Multicultural Design (3)
- DS330 Lighting and Electrical Systems (3)
- DS332 Materials for Interior Environments (3)
- DS340 Housing Perspectives (3)
- DS409 Healthcare Design I (3)
- DS410 Hospitality Design I (3)
- DS411 Advanced Kitchen and Bath Design (3)
- DS414 Hospitality Design II (3)
- DS415 Healthcare Design II (3)
- DS440 Internship in Interior Design (3)
- DS450 Professional Practice in Interior Design I (3)
- DS451 Professional Practice in Interior Design II (3)
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
First Year
Fall Semester (16 Hours)
- UI100 (1)
- EN100 (3)
- AR100 (3)
- DS104 (3)
- DS205 (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- CM126 (3)
- DS111 (3)
- DS206 (3)
- DS209 (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
Second Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- AR104 (3)
- CM226 (3)
- DS001 (0)
- DS211 (3)
- DS220 (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AR106 (3)
- AR180 (3)
- CM322 (3)
- DS207 (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
Third Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- DS313 (3)
- DS314 (3)
- DS332 (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AH210 (3)
- DS330 (3)
- DS410 (3)
- DS411 (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
Fourth Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- DS340 (3)
- DS409 (3)
- DS440 (3)
- DS450 (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (16 Hours)
- DS414 (3)
- DS415 (3)
- DS451 (3)
- General Education (4)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
“Critical Courses” are italicized and bolded. Data shows that students who have completed this course in the first two years and have earned the noted grade are most likely to complete this program of study.
What will it cost?
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Accreditations
Accreditation
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design granted by Southeast Missouri State University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam)
Mission Statement
The mission of the Interior Design Program at Southeast Missouri State University is to prepare graduates who create healthy, inclusive, and safe environments to enhance the quality of life. The program strives to develop entry-level interior designers who critically apply core design and technical knowledge to create successful interior environments for humans to live, work, learn, and heal.
Educational Philosophy
Faculty are committed to providing an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment where any student, regardless of background, can pursue a degree in interior design. Our approach is respectful, structured, and practical and utilizes hands-on methods that incorporate real-world experiences with professionals and clients.
Goals
- Maintain and improve a cutting-edge accredited academic program that incorporates research and best practices with a strong emphasis on the technical and creative design processes.
- Recruit and retain a diverse body of students and faculty from under-represented populations.
- Expose students to experiential learning and professional networking opportunities.
Interior Design Statistics
It typically takes a full-time student taking approximately 15 credits per semester, and 3 credits during the summer, four years to complete the degree program.
The following data was collected using institutional records, alumni correspondence (text and email), and information gathered from LinkedIn.
Attrition and Retention:
- In fall 2023, the program had 17 entering Interior Design students; 13 returned in fall 202,4, placing retention at 76% and attrition at 24%.
Graduation Rates:
- Of the 12 students graduating from the Interior Design program in academic year 2024, 8 completed in 4 years or less (67%) and 11 completed within 5 years (92%).
Job Placement Rates:
- 92% of students who graduated in 2024 are employed in interior design or a related profession.
Acceptance into Graduate Programs:
- Two out of 12 students who graduated in 2024 applied for graduate school. One student was accepted, and the status of the other student’s acceptance is unknown.
Related Programs
With an art BFA degree, you’ll develop your artistic skills and prepare for a career in the arts.
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
Main Campus - Cape
COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT
Location
Office
River Campus Seminary 104
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 7825
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701