Interior designers greatly influence people's lives by creating the surroundings in which their clients live, work, and play. The may work with architects and builders to design the interiors of office buildings, restaurants, and custom-built houses, as well as with individual clients to develop the homes of their dreams.
Here's what you need to know to pursue an interior design degree.
Interior Design Degree Coursework
There are a variety of courses offered through traditional programs or by earning your interior design degree online. The curricula in most interior design degree programs generally feature courses in:
Types of Interior Design Degrees
If you're interested in pursuing an interior design degree, you have the choice of earning a comprehensive interior design degree or a specialty degree in interior design. They include:
General interior designers may also choose to earn optional certifications in residential kitchen and bath design from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). There are several different levels of certification that interior design professionals can receive through the organization's training seminars and certification exams.
Career Opportunities in Interior Design
Interior design degrees open up a world of professional options. In addition to being an interior designer for a large firm, a corporation or running your own interior design firm, job opportunities include:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for interior designers are expected to grow 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. With homeowners, business owners and builders' growing interest in sustainability, there's also a wealth of potential for interior designers who specialize in "green" design.
Interior Design Salaries
The mean annual wage for interior designers was $51,990 in 2009, according to the BLS. Individuals holding degrees in interior design can expect the highest levels of employment and salaries in the following industries:
For creative, busy professionals, earning an interior design degree online can create many new opportunities in the design field.
Kelli Smith writes about colleges and universities, community colleges, and online schools. Find a school offering an interior design degree at CollegesandUniversities.org.