Bachelor of Fine Arts
Interior Design
Nurturing a passion for outstanding design.
Samford fosters a holistic student learning approach to interior design instilling a passion for outstanding design that can shape and influence society for good.
At the core, we produce graduates who appreciate aesthetic values with practical realties, are excellent communicators and problem solvers and are sensitive to global and cultural issues that impact design decisions.
Contact our arts recruiter at arts@samford.edu to learn more.
What Makes Us Different?
Field Experiences
Field experiences are essential learning tools in this program and include interaction with local design entities, travel to national design hubs and unique international mission projects. Samford works closely with the Birmingham business community providing internship opportunities, guest lecturers, and project reviews. Students visit construction sites, markets, showrooms, notable finished projects and make valuable contacts within the industry.
A Positive Impact
The senior project allows students to apply their skills to a real-world project. Recent international undertakings include a medical clinic in Kolkata, India; church related facilities in Ecuador; and a senior living home, a home for unwed pregnant teens, and a K-12 school in the Dominican Republic. Locally, students participated in the adaptive reuse of a city-owned building in the Fairfield community through Samford’s MISA Collaborative. Students not only plan, design, and build facilities but also have the opportunity to travel and impact lives both domestically and globally with their talents.
Integrated Learning
The interior design and architecture studios combine technology and learning centers with a vertical integration of student interaction. Freshman and sophomores visualize their academic process through exposure to juniors and seniors who play a mentoring role. Disciplines are located adjacent to each other, work collaboratively on projects, and share in each program’s design education and resources. Students have access to up-to-date technology including 3-D printers, large format plotters and scanners, laser cutters and a CNC router to assist them with their projects. Students can access their workspaces all day.
Is This Program for Me?
“Samford’s community and culture has impacted me the most during my time here.
“My friends, classmates, and professors have played a huge role in my personal growth and maturity. One of my favorite things about my experience at Samford is the relationship I’ve made with the faculty who push me while also making it known that they believe in my skills as a designer. They are honest and critical while also being motivating and uplifting.
“Additionally, Samford has contributed to my professional development through connections in the design community. Design students can interact frequently with local design professionals, establish relationships with them, and gain an internship all before graduation.”
Sarah Hudson, Interior Design Major
What Will I Learn?
The Department of Architecture & Interior Design offers a major in Interior Design leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Within the interior design curriculum, all students in the major complete a fine arts foundation. The BFA provides a more in-depth program of study in the area of interior design while also creating the opportunity for interdisciplinary work in other arts areas.
Interior Design and Architecture students share a common curriculum for the first two years of study. These foundation courses introduce applicable theory and skills, preparing the students for a more specific design direction: interior design or architecture. The BFA in Interior Design introduces a fine art foundation in the curriculum’s first year and is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
Students in our highly regarded program consistently receive recognition from the Alabama Chapter of International Interior Design Association.
Career Preparation
Our students have consistently demonstrated success in both advancing through the degree program and in finding employment, and always benefiting from the skills they gain during their Samford experience.
The program is rigorous but fulfilling, and each class forms a strong bond of supportive community and growth, creating friendships that endure after graduation.
Our graduates work in the areas of architecture, interior design, construction, product representation, environmental design, and design consulting.
Completion of this degree meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information on this certification visit www.cidq.org.
Accreditation
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Fine Arts granted by Samford University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam).
Enrollment and Graduation
2018-2022 Interior Architecture Grads - 65 total
- 16 in 2018
- 6 in 2019
- 16 in 2020
- 14 in 2021
- 13 in 2022
Retention/Graduation Statistics (2018-2022)
- 82% of students who declared their major as interior design within the freshman year proceeded to graduate in the major.
- 98% of traditional day students that completed their sophomore courses in interior design proceeded to graduate in the major.
Of the traditional day students that majored in interior design
- 96% completed their undergraduate degree in 4 years
- 4% completed their undergraduate degree in 4+ years
Job Placement/Graduate School (2018-2022)
- 96% of the interior design graduates secure job placement or grad school acceptance within 6 months of graduation
- 88% of the interior design graduates have secured positions within the design field.
- 100% of those who have applied to graduate schools have been accepted.
- 96% of those graduating in spring 2022 secured positions before graduation or within 2 months of graduation.
Positions Secured (2018-22)
Graduates entering employment in a design-related field secured the following positions:
- 70% Interior Design within architectural and interior design firms, both commercial and residential
- 12% Graduate School in Architecture / Landscape Architecture / Interior Design/Art Education
- 4% Space Planners for Commercial Furniture Dealerships
- 4% Construction
- 2% Retail
- 2% Kitchen and bath design
- 2% Own their own design business
- 4% Other (artist, stylist, technology)
- 2021-2022 Samford University Degrees Conferred
- 2020-2021 Samford University Enrollment and Persistence
- Fall 2021 Total Enrollment by Race Ethnicity by School
