The Boston Architectural College School of Interior Design supports the development of interior designer skills by promoting individual thinking, creativity, collaboration and design diversity. This school offers two interior design degree programs: Bachelor of Interior Design and Master of Interior Design. The bachelor's degree program is split into two formats, practical and academic. During the day, students work in established interior design firms learning hands-on experience while receiving compensation for their work. During the evenings, students attend classroom lectures for the academic sequence of the program.
The bachelor's degree program is taught in three segments. The first teaches students the foundations of interior design while the second integrates this foundational knowledge with further advanced skills. The last segment focuses on creating a design portfolio where students call upon information taught during the previous two segments. The Bachelor of Interior Design program takes 13 months to complete and upon completion, students must undergo 10 to 12 months of further work experience to qualify for the Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) licensure examination. The tuition for all students is billed per semester, which as of 2010 is $8,064 for six to 10 credits or $10,725 for 12 to 18 credits.
The Master of Interior Design program prepares students using advanced-level coursework and hands-on practical experience by working in a licensed interior design firm. Throughout this 10-semester program, students will undertake 4,500 hours of practical work experience along with three coursework segments, which are outlined in the same manner as the bachelor's degree segments. After graduating from the program, students must complete an additional 44 weeks of work experience to qualify for the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) licensure examination. As of 2010, the tuition for the Master of Interior Design program is $9,156 for six to 10 credits or $12,262 for 12 to 18 credits.
Boston Architectural College
320 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02115
617-262-5000
the-bac.edu
Newbury College is located in Brookline, Massachusetts and offers students a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. This degree program teaches students the skills and techniques to professionally design residential or commercial spaces. This degree is taught using theoretical coursework as well as hands-on laboratory experience. Courses within this program include color theory, history of interior styles/architecture, interior design studio, perspective drawing, computer-aided design, construction methods/materials, interior systems, lighting and furniture design/detailing studio. To graduate from this program, students must complete a total of 124 credit hours. As of 2010, the tuition for resident and non-resident students is $24,000 per academic year; however, this price does not cover various program/college fees. To apply, students must submit the Common Application complete with a graded academic paper, two letters of recommendation and official transcripts from high school and colleges, if a transfer applicant.
Newbury College
129 Fisher Ave.
Brookline, MA 02445
617-730-7076
newbury.edu
Wentworth Institute of Technology offers a bachelor's degree in interior design, which has been constructed to balance coursework study with hands-on practical experience for a well-rounded education. Students are taught the technical aspects of interior design while maintaining the importance of artistic interpretation throughout the program. The goals of the Wentworth Institute of Technology interior design program are to develop fluency in designing, cultivate creativity and prepare students for employment by developing technical design skills and establishing ethical business practices. Coursework within this program includes design, technical drawing, conceptual physics, interior studio practicum, history of interiors (I, II, III, IV and V), construction documents, material/furniture specifications and textiles. During the second, third and fourth year, students must complete three semesters per year (fall, spring and summer). Advancement from year to year is not guaranteed. Students must complete 65 credit hours and have an ending GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale within the first two years of study. To progress into the fourth year of the program, students must have successfully passed two portfolio review sessions. Full-time students (12 to 20 credits per semester) must pay an average tuition of $22,870; however, this tuition does include a professional-grade design laptop. Students enrolled in part-time studies are billed per credit hour, which as of 2010 is $715 per credit. To apply for admission, students must submit the Common Application, which is available online, and provide proper documentation, such as high school/college transcripts, SAT or ACT scores and a personal statement/essay.
Wentworth Institute of Technology
550 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
617-989-4000
wit.edu