The mission of the Department of Architecture & Interior Design is to foster a collaborative culture integrating aesthetic values with a responsible design approach to the built environment which shapes and influences society for good.
The Department of Architecture & Interior Design offers a major in Interior Design leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Within the Interior Design curriculum, all students in the major also complete a fine arts foundation.
Students in this highly regarded program consistently receive recognition from the Alabama Chapter of International Interior Design Association.
Field experiences are essential learning tools in this program and include interaction with local design entities, travel to national design hubs and unique international mission projects. Samford works closely with the Birmingham business community providing internship opportunities, guest lecturers, jurors and professional critiques. Students visit construction sites, markets, showrooms, notable architecture and make valuable contacts within the industry.
The senior project allows students to apply their skills to a real-world project. Recent international undertakings include a medical clinic in Kolkata, India; church related facilities in Ecuador; and a senior living home, a home for unwed pregnant teens, and a K-12 school in the Dominican Republic. Locally, students participated in the adaptive reuse of a city-owned building in the Fairfield community through Samford’s MISA Collaborative. Students not only plan, design, and build facilities but also have the opportunity to travel and impact lives both domestically and globally with their talents.
The interior design and architecture studios combine state-of-the-art technology and learning centers with a vertical integration of student interaction. Freshman and sophomores visualize their academic process through exposure to juniors and seniors who play a mentoring role. Students have access to up-to-date technology including 3-D printers, large format plotters and scanners, laser cutters and a CNC router to assist them with their projects. Students have access to these workspaces around the clock.
Visit Samford
Contact our Arts Recruiter at arts@samford.edu to schedule a visit today.
Overview
Samford fosters a holistic student learning approach to interior design instilling a passion for outstanding design that can shape and influence society for good. At the core, we produce graduates who appreciate aesthetic values with practical realties, are excellent communicators and problem solvers and are sensitive to global and cultural issues that impact design decisions.
The Interior Design major and Architecture students share a common curriculum for the first two years of study. These foundation courses introduce applicable theory and skills, preparing the students for a more specific design direction: interior design or architecture. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design introduces a fine art foundation in the curriculum. The BFA in Interior Design is accredited by CIDA (the Council for Interior Design Accreditation).
Accredited by CIDA
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts 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 Fine Arts granted by Samford University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).
Enrollment and Graduation
Our students have consistently demonstrated success in both advancing through the degree program and in finding employment — usually related to the major, and always benefiting from the skills they gain during their Samford experience. The program is demanding but fulfilling, and each class forms a strong bond of supportive community and growth, creating friendships that endure after graduation.
2018-2022 Interior Architecture Grads - 65 total
- 16 in 2018
- 6 in 2019
- 16 in 2020
- 14 in 2021
- 13 in 2022
Retention/Graduation Statistics (2018-2022)
- 82% of students who declared their major as interior design within the freshman year proceeded to graduate in the major.
- 98% of traditional day students that completed their sophomore courses in interior design proceeded to graduate in the major.
- Of the traditional day students that majored in interior design
- 96% completed their undergraduate degree in 4 years
- 4% completed their undergraduate degree in 4+ years
Job Placement/Graduate School (2018-2022)
- 96% of the interior design graduates secure job placement or grad school acceptance within 6 months of graduation
- 88% of the interior design graduates have secured positions within the design field.
- 100% of those who have applied to graduate schools have been accepted.
- 96% of those graduating in spring 2022 secured positions before graduation or within 2 months of graduation.
Positions Secured (2018-22)
Graduates entering employment in a design-related field secured the following positions:
- 70% Interior Design within architectural and interior design firms, both commercial and residential
- 12% Graduate School in Architecture / Landscape Architecture / Interior Design/Art Education
- 4% Space Planners for Commercial Furniture Dealerships
- 4% Construction
- 2% Retail
- 2% Kitchen and bath design
- 2% Own their own design business
- 4% Other (artist, stylist, technology)
Technology Requirements
Our faculty are committed to bringing students the best quality educational experiences. Due to the technological nature of art and design, it is necessary for students to have a personal computer which is able to support creative software. This requirement allows students to work independently and integrate digital technologies into their learning.
Student Organization
Samford has become an International Interior Design Association (IIDA) campus center, providing enrichment activities, professional connections, and service opportunities to Interior Design students. Comprised of students from all grade levels, IIDA provides a variety of student organized programs and activities including ASID/IIDA Student Day, portfolio review and mentoring opportunities. The organization also regularly volunteers both in the community and within our own department to complete a number of service projects.
Resources
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA)
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
Interior Designers of Canada (IDC)
The Interior Design Educators Council, Inc. (IDEC)
The International Federation of Interior Designers (IFI)
Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Learn more
