The Interior Design program at the George Washington University prepares students for a career in design. The program is FIDER (Foundation of Interior Design Education Research) accredited for both the undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design as well as the graduate Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design.  Through lecture courses, studios, and independent studies, students gain a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of design.  Students also get first-hand experience when serving their internship (BFA) or practicum (MFA) at one of the leading design firms in the Washington metropolitan area.  The core program offers studies in design, drawing, computer-aided design (CAD), materials and methods, color, lighting, and textiles.  The program features studios in residential, commercial and large scale interiors.  Undergraduates may elect to have Interior Design as a concentration within the fine arts major leading to a BA degree, but only graduates of the BFA program are eligible to sit for the NCIDQ exam (National Council for Interior Design Qualification).

Located on the idyllic Mt. Vernon campus of the George Washington University, Interior Design forms part of the Department of Fine Arts and Art History, which is located in Foggy Bottom, where students take courses in drawing, basic design and art history.  On the Mt. Vernon campus are the dedicated drafting studios, a computer classroom for CAD, and a large resource room that contains technical manuals, samples of materials as well as large-scale printers and plotters.  Also at Mt. Vernon is the Eckles Library, which houses a collection that includes reference materials used in the study of Interior Design.  The offices of the Interior Design faculty are also located at Mt. Vernon.  The faculty consists of four full-time members and an adjunct staff of specialists in individual areas; most are practicing professionals.   In maintaining professional standards and developing professional attitudes, the program enjoys the cooperation of members of the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the Potomac Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

last updated 13 Feb 2006