College or university-level education is an important consideration when preparing for a career in interior design. Most employers in this career field consider education one of the main job qualifications. In most states, you cannot become an official designer without taking interior design courses and passing an exam.
Choosing the right interior design courses is an important step in making sure you learn the right design skills for the work you intend to pursue. Once you've decided on the type of work you want to do, you can begin comparing courses through different schools and colleges offering degree programs in interior design.
Recognized Interior Design Courses
The process of comparing and choosing the right courses for your education is not easy and requires a lot of research. One of the most important considerations is to choose interior design courses meeting the standards put in place by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The educational standards address the curriculum necessary for students to become professional designers.
You are not required to choose interior design courses meeting the council standards. However, choosing an accredited school program makes you eligible for financial aid and you can be sure to receive quality education. Either way, you should research the reputation of the school, faculty and the courses you find interesting.
Private design institutes usually have a good reputation and provide well rounded interior design courses for students, but the cost can be very high.
Visit A College In Person
Call a representative from the school and schedule an appointment to pay a visit and discuss details of their interior design courses. During your visit, ask about the school's accreditation, grants, and course work. Inquire about working abroad and possible internship opportunities.
Most importantly, ask the counselor about the employment prospects for graduating students. Both the the course and the school should have a good reputation and provide job placement assistance to help graduating students find interior design jobs.
Colleges should be able to provide information regarding employment prospects. If you have doubts during your visit, move on to the next college. Most schools briefly walk you around the facility, while explaining course work. This way you can get a better idea of the size of the school and if the interior design courses match your educational career needs.
Ask about the areas of study included in the courses. This will obviously depend on your own needs, but interior design course work should include studio experience, history and theory, and human interaction.
Check the Flexibility of Interior Design Courses
Most colleges provide a flexible course schedule, including night classes or part time course work. Not everyone will be able to take on full time interior design courses while juggling a day job, or taking care of the kids. If you have a busy work schedule or a family to look after, investigate the flexibility of the classes.
Many colleges now provide interior design courses online. The online classes provide greater flexibility and can also be a good option for experienced designers looking to continue education for themselves, or for an employer. Online classes are great for people who simply don't have the time to take full time classes in person. However, classroom design studies provide the best overall education.
If you decide to take interior design courses at a college location, research the driving distance. Students eager to learn will be willing to drive a little further to a quality school, but you don't want to end up driving too far between your home, school and work.
How Much Do the Interior Design Courses Cost?
The cost of education is one of the main determining factors of choosing any college course. You can expect to pay as much as $45,000 for an Associates Degree in interior design at a private interior design school. A Bachelors Degree in interior design comes with a price tag of $85,000. Private schools usually cost more, but provide excellent educational opportunities for careers in the field of design.
Although private interior design schools can get pretty expensive, accredited schools can help you find scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Interior design courses online are also available through reputable colleges and universities. The cost for an online course can be much lower than an actual classroom course.
Sources:
Lifetips.com: "Deciding Between Interior Design Programs" (accessed November 21, 2010)
Usaeducation.com: "Ways to Choose an Interior Design Course" (accessed November 21, 2010)
Matt Goetz - Matt began freelance writing in 2007. Matt is a blogger and a freelancer writer for Demand Studios. He also runs a small residential house ...
