The New York School of Interior Design (nysid.edu) is the only institution of higher learning in New York that specializes solely in interior design education. This fully accredited school has been educating designers since 1916. It's located in Manhattan's Upper East Side, just a few blocks from the Guggenheim and Metropolitan Museum of Art. Students learn in small studio classes (of generally 15 or less) and can pursue associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees. According to the school's website, Design Intelligence magazine voted NYSID among the top 10 undergraduate interior design programs in 2009 and 2010 and its graduate program ranked sixth.
The Art Institutes (artinstitutes.edu), a system of 45 post-secondary schools spread out across North America, offer an interior design program at some campuses among its other art-focused curriculum. Students learn to use their own sense of style to create functional, safe and visually attractive spaces in homes, businesses or public spaces. They use industry- standard equipment and software and evolve into qualified candidates for positions such as project designers, architectural assistants, and facility and space planners.
Located in the Metro Center area of Nashville, Tennessee, Watkins College (Watkins.edu) is a school where students can pursue an education in filmmaking, fine art, graphics, photography or interior design. This community of art-minded students and faculty includes an accredited interior design program leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree. Students completing the interior design program will be well equipped to present design ideas and see them through to fruition through innovation, analysis, and problem-solving. Watkins' faculty stresses the importance of developing ideas that are imaginative, yet responsible to social needs and environmental limitations. Theoretical studies are evenly combined with studio work.
The Design Institute of San Diego (disd.edu) is an interior design school where the focus is on mentorship and learning from those who have real experience in the world of design. Students attend classes taught by interior designers, architects and computer technologists with advanced degrees who still work in their respective fields, giving them the advantage of understanding the link between classroom theories and practical industry applications. Students get a well-rounded education in various subjects and are taught interior design theory and concepts in a layered style, with each lesson building on the previous one. Graduates will be familiar with everything involved in an interior design career from business management and creative design to green design with sustainable and renewable resources.