Founded in 1907, East Carolina University is a public institution in Greenville and home to more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The college's Bachelor of Science in interior design program has accreditation through the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The program provides training in residential and commercial design in both urban and rural areas. All students must undergo a formal portfolio review during their sophomore years in the program. A full-time internship is also mandatory; students typically complete it during the summer between their junior and senior years. The interior design program frequently organizes international study trips for majors with past destinations including Italy, Turkey and China. In addition to federal and state financial aid programs, the university offers institutional scholarships and work-study placements. North Carolina residents receive discounted tuition rates.
East Carolina University
East Fifth St.
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6640
ecu.edu
The Moravian Church in America founded Salem College in 1772 in Winston-Salem, and since that time, the school has grown to an enrollment of more than 900 students. Predominantly a woman's college, the school offers a baccalaureate degree in interior design. In addition to courses in interior design, the program also requires students to complete classes in art history and studio arts. All students must participate in a full-time internship with past students having traveled to locations like Paris and New York City to complete their work experience. The school has a chapter of the American Society of Interior Design on campus, which allows students to network with professionals in the field and attend conferences and lectures. Federal and state financial aid programs and institutional scholarships are available for eligible students.
Salem College
601 South Church St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-721-2621
salem.edu
Located in Cullowhee, public Western Carolina University is 50 miles west of Asheville, North Carolina and 150 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of more than 9,000 students and offers a baccalaureate degree program in interior design accredited by the CIDA. The program requires coursework in architectural drafting, space planing, perspective drawing, construction, lighting, residential design and kitchen and bath designing. All students must complete a senior design project and an internship before graduation. The college offers a three-week interior design travel study in London for interior design students. Around 64 percent of freshmen and 57 percent of continuing students at Western Carolina are financial aid recipients, reports the "2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges."
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828-227-7317
wcu.edu