The Art Institute of Colorado is a private, for-profit institution in Denver. The college offers a CIDA-accredited, four-year Bachelor of Arts degree program in interior design. Required courses for the major include color theory, drawing, environmental science, physics, drafting, space planning, textiles, kitchen and bath design and commercial interior design. All students complete a one-semester internship with a Denver-area interior design firm prior to graduation. During their senior years, interior design majors present a formal portfolio of work completed during the program for faculty review. The school also grants a Master's degree in interior design. The college participates in federal and state loan and grant programs and offers a limited number of scholarships.
The Art Institute of Colorado
1200 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203
800-275-2420
artinstitutes.edu/denver/
Located in Fort Collins, Colorado State University is a public institution with an enrollment of more than 28,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The college received the 124th-place ranking among all universities in the United States in the "Best Colleges 2011 ratings" published by "U.S. News and World Report." Courses for the college's CIDA-accredited baccalaureate degree program in interior design include construction materials, computer-aided design, textiles, mechanical and plumbing systems and lighting design. Internships are necessary for interior design students with firms located throughout Colorado and even outside of the state in locations like New York City. All interior design majors participate in a senior exhibition of student work and undergo a formal portfolio review prior to its opening. Around 62 percent of all students at Colorado State University receive some form of financial aid, according to the "2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges." The school offers scholarships exclusively for design students, and all Colorado residents enjoy discounted tuition rates.
Colorado State University
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523
970-491-6909
colostate.edu
A for-profit, private institution, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is in Lakewood, Colorado and home to less than 600 students. The college offers a traditional Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in interior design that carries the accreditation of the CIDA, as well as an online baccalaureate program in interior design that is not accredited. Students in both programs study drafting, space planning, environmental science, human behavior, lighting design, construction contracts and business practices. A one-year internship is mandatory for students in the classroom-based program. The college also offers a specialization in green design for students interested in pursuing careers in environmentally-friendly interior design. Eligible students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design can benefit from federal and state financial aid.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
1600 Pierce St.
Lakewood, CO 80214
303-225-8576
rmcad.edu