The Interior Design program’s philosophy at The University of Alabama acknowledges the need for the interior design profession to remain active in providing for the safety, convenience, and aesthetic satisfaction of users in the 21st century and beyond.
The mission of the Interior Design Program at The University of Alabama is to provide the design skills necessary to prepare students for entry-level interior design practice and advanced study, including informed creative concepts developed through research that is synthesized and applied to design solutions. The program’s purpose is to help students understand the systematic relationship between well-being, the built environment, and sustainability while positively impacting human behavior and performance.
Program Goals
The goals of the Interior Design Program at The University of Alabama are to equip students with the knowledge and skills to:
- Creatively solve design challenges presented in a variety of interior spaces, considering human needs based on age, gender, health, socioeconomics, and culture.
- Recognize the value of human diversity and develop appreciation and sensitivity for designs based on different traditions.
- Effectively solve design problems through team interactions and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Make responsible design choices for human well-being and the natural environment.
The University of Alabama’s Interior Design Program follows a logical sequence in the curriculum, which begins with knowledge and skill foundations that build from simple to more complex requirements with emphasis on the design process, critical thinking, user needs, and environmental awareness.
The program in Interior Design prepares students for professional careers in residential and commercial interior design. The Interior Design program serves the interior design profession and its clients and users through quality instruction, research, and service. Our mission addresses student learning in the areas of social and cultural history, sustainability, professional practice, nonresidential and residential clients, and special populations. Computer application relative to design problems and the development of aesthetic skills complete the focus to provide for human safely, comfort, function, and convenience. The Interior Design program received a six-year accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) in 2024. Accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) was awarded in 2018.
| Code and Title | Hours |
| ART 110 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 131 | 3D Design | 3 |
| CTD 102 | Applied Design | 3 |
| CTD 121 | Intro to Interior Design | 3 |
| CTD 221 | Materials for Design | 3 |
| CTD 225 | Residential/Graphic Design | 3 |
| CTD 226 | Commercial Design | 3 |
| CTD 250 | Construction Procedures for ID | 3 |
| CTD 262 | Textiles for Interior Design | 3 |
| CTD 321 | History of Interiors I | 3 |
| CTD 325 | Design for Special Populations | 4 |
| CTD 326 | Design for Hospitality Int | 4 |
| CTD 328 | ID Professional Practice | 3 |
| CTD 330 | AutoCAD for Interior Design | 3 |
| CTD 371 | Lighting for Interiors | 3 |
| CTD 422 | Research and Theory for INTD (W) | 3 |
| CTD 425 | Advanced Historic Design | 4 |
| CTD 426 | Advanced Design | 4 |
| 6 |
| CTD 427 | ACAD | 3 |
| Introduction to Rendering (Interim Only) | |
| Comp Appl for Interior Design (C) | |
| Textile Design | |
| Portfolio Development | |
| Language of Design (W) Study Abroad) | |
| Global Influences on Design (Study Abroad) | |
| Total Hours | 73 |
Transfers
All students interested in transferring from another institution into the Interior Design program at The University of Alabama should contact the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design at least one year prior to enrollment, if possible, to verify transfer credits and plan for a required portfolio review. Transcripts, student work, project assignments and course syllabi are required at the time of the portfolio review.
CTD 121 Intro to Interior Design is a prerequisite for CTD 225 Residential/Graphic Design, the first official studio class, which is offered fall semesters only. Transfer students who do not have credit for CTD 121 Intro to Interior Design (or the equivalent) are urged to complete CTD 121 during the summer term in order to take CTD 225 Residential/Graphic Design the first fall semester of enrollment. Courses must be taken in sequence and cannot be skipped or doubled. C- or higher is required to move to the next studio. If CTD 121 is taken in summer, it will take a minimum of 3 years to complete the major due to course sequencing. Transfer students with core curriculum fulfilled should consider adding a minor, going part time, or gaining valuable work experience while they complete the course of study.
Course Sequencing
CTD 225 Residential/Graphic Design, CTD 226 Commercial Design, CTD 325 Design for Special Populations, CTD 326 Design for Hospitality Int, CTD 425 Advanced Historic Design and CTD 426 Advanced Design are not offered in summer school and must be taken in the above sequence. Studio/Lab courses are open only to Interior Design majors. Each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will help develop a plan of study.
Career opportunities include employment with interior design studios, interior design divisions of architectural firms, retail establishments, and corporate design departments, as well as independent business ownership. The coursework prepares students to become entry-level professionals and begin their journey to sit for the CIDQ and become registered interior designers. Graduates of the program can expect to secure entry-level positions in a wide variety of areas with the design profession.
Types of Jobs Accepted
Recent graduates have accepted jobs with architectural firms, interior design firms, and design product manufacturers. They have accepted employment with private sector corporate businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and banks, as well as public sector entities such as hospitals, schools, and government agencies. Graduates frequently have become CIDQ, EDAC, R.I.D. in various states, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified after joining their firms.
Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Experienced alumni designs have included the interior of a French aircraft for Dassault Aviation; the flagship retail store for New York’s Barney’s in Texas; preservationist work in New York with architect David Foster; designs for the U.S. military; and sky boxes for sports arenas. They have worked on high-end residential design in New York with Keith Irvine; Timothy Corrigan in Los Angeles; in Washington, D.C., Solis Betancort; national firms such as Gensler, BOKA Powell, and Gresham Smith. Graduates also have become executives in the world of design materials (fabrics, carpet, furniture, and lighting). Alumni have pursued graduate education at international schools of architecture such as the Glasgow School of Art.
Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center
