BS in Architectural Studies with Emphasis in Interior Design
Degree Program Description
The Interior Design emphasis is a four-year, professional baccalaureate program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The interior design program's mission is to prepare students for success in entry-level interior design practice and advanced study in architecture (Masters of Architecture, M. Arch.) or other design-related disciplines. Core competencies protect human health, safety, and welfare through the design of interior environments. Our educational philosophy is grounded in the values of creating sustainable and meaningful interior spaces to integrate aesthetic quality and compassion for the human condition. The NCIDQ definition clarifies the scope of the services and tasks of the profession. Curriculum incorporates signature characteristics of interior design such as furniture, fixtures, equipment, color, and interior materiality. The program benefits from its enriched academic research environment with outstanding faculty. Emphasizing the thinking and making of spaces, our interior design program stresses the inside of buildings and those experiences that help to create peoples’ individual meaning in life. For more information on professional advancement and examples of opportunities see Careers in Interior Design with links to professional organizations and regulations. Also see post-graduate placements at Spotlight on Alumni. See Architectural Studies web page for highlights of program.
Major Program Requirements
Coursework
Students complete University of Missouri general education coursework and professional interior design coursework in the following content areas: basic creative development, design planning and analysis, design communication, technical knowledge, history of art/architecture/interiors, business, and design theory.
Studio Description
It is the design studio setting where learning by doing is experienced and realized. The studio is a collaborative and cooperative learning environment emphasizing personal intellectual development as well as content learning. Course work includes studios and coursework centering on the synthesis of functional, technological, social, aesthetic and symbolic attributes of interior design that support human needs and their aspirations. See Studio Description on the department website for more information.
Application for Professional Program
After completing the two required classes of Drafting (ARCHST 1200), and Visual Design (ARCHST 1100) during the first year, students apply for admission to the studio sequence and submit work from these classes in their design portfolio. Applications are made at the end of the spring semester granting permission to enroll in Studio I. The application form is available at the department's web site. Transfer coursework is evaluated by faculty on a case by case basis. Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for more information.
Degree Requirements
| Basic Creative Development | 9 | |
| ARCHST 1100 | Visual Design | 3 |
| ARCHST 2315 | Introduction to Building Systems Laboratory | 1 |
| ARCHST 2316 | Advanced Building Systems Lab | 2 |
| ARCHST 3100 | Color and Light | 3 |
| Design Planning and Analysis | 24 | |
| ARCHST 2811 | Studio I | 4 |
| ARCHST 3182 | Studio II | 4 |
| ARCHST 4813 | Interiors Studio III | 4 |
| ARCHST 4814 | Interiors Studio IV | 4 |
| ARCHST 4815 | Construction Documents and Building Information Modeling Studio | 4 |
| ARCHST 4990 | Thesis Design Studio | 4 |
| Design Communication | 9 | |
| ARCHST 1200 | Architectural Drafting and Working Drawings | 3 |
| ARCHST 2230 | Design Communication I | 3 |
| ARCHST 3230 | Advanced Design Communication Using BIM | 3 |
| Technical Knowledge | 18 | |
| ARCHST 2220 | Introduction to CAD | 3 |
| ARCHST 2310 | Building Systems | 3 |
| ARCHST 2323 | Sustainable Building Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| ARCHST 4320 | Materials, Methods and Products | 3 |
| ARCHST 4323 | Sustainable Technologies and Systems | 3 |
| ARCHST 4333 | Compliance and Specifications | 3 |
| History of Art, Architecture and Interiors | 6 | |
| ARCHST 4435 | History of the Designed Environment to 1750 | 3 |
| ARCHST 4440 | Design Precedents: Architecture, Interiors and Furniture since the Industrial Revolution | 3 |
| Business | 3 | |
| ARCHST 4710 | Design Business Practices | 3 |
| Design Theory | 9 | |
| ARCHST 1600W | Fundamentals of Environmental Design - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| ARCHST 2100 | Understanding Architecture and the American City | 3 |
| ARCHST 3860W | Human Factors Programming - Writing Intensive | 3 |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available. Total credits must be a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete the degree.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCHST 1100 | 3 | ARCHST 1600W | 3 |
| ARCHST 2100 | 3 | ARCHST 1200 | 4 |
| ARCHST 2315 | 1 | ARCHST 2323 | 3 |
| ARCHST 2316 | 2 | MATH 1050 | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Physical/Biological/Math Science | 3 |
| MATH 1100 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCHST 2220 | 3 | ARCHST 2230 | 3 |
| ARCHST 2310 | 3 | ARCHST 3100 | 3 |
| ARCHST 2811 | 5 | ARCHST 3182 | 5 |
| ARCHST 4435 | 3 | ARCHST 4440 | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | Am Hist/Pol Sci | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCHST 4320 | 3 | ARCHST 3230 | 3 |
| ARCHST 4333 | 3 | ARCHST 3860W | 3 |
| ARCHST 4813 | 5 | ARCHST 4710 | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | ARCHST 4814 | 5 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCHST 4323 | 3 | ARCHST 4815 | 4 |
| ARCHST 4990 | 5 | Electives | 8 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 14 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 119 | |||
The University requires the following courses to have a grade of C- or above: ENGLSH 1000, Desing Studios, ARCHST 1600W Fundamentals of Environmental Design - Writing Intensive and ARCHST 3860W Human Factors Programming - Writing Intensive; meeting Writing Intensive requirements, and ARCHST 4815 Construction Documents and Building Information Modeling Studio; satisfying the capstone experience.
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.