Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University

Interior Design Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. CAN I AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER INTO INTERIOR DESIGN?


  2. IF I AM ACCEPTED INTO INTERIOR DESIGN, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO COMPLETE MY DEGREE?


  3. IF ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS?


  4. WHAT OTHER RIGORS SHOULD I EXPECT IN THIS PROGRAM?


  5. I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS; WHOM CAN I TALK TO ABOUT THEM? CAN I GET MY TRANSCRIPTS EVALUATED EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM?


  6. WHERE CAN I GO TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INDS AND THE INDS APPLICATION?


  7. CAN I TAKE INDS COURSES BEFORE I AM ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM?


  8. IF I WANT TO BE AN INTERIOR DECORATOR, IS THIS THE MAJOR I WANT?


  9. CAN I TRANSFER COURSEWORK FROM ANOTHER INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSITY?


  10. CAN I EARN THE INTERNATIONAL MINOR IN HUMAN SCIENCES (IMHS)?


  11. ARE THERE OTHER MINORS AVAILABLE FOR INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENTS?
    12.




CAN I AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER INTO INTERIOR DESIGN?

Off-campus students who qualify for transfer into Auburn University may request to transfer into Interior Design. On campus students who are in good academic standing may request to transfer into Interior Design. Both on campus and off-campus transfer students will be placed into Pre-Interior Design until they have completed CAHS 1000 and CAHS 1100. At the end of the academic year, all Pre-Interior Design students’ work in CAHS 1000 and CAHS 1100 will be evaluated and ranked to determine the top 36 students who will then be admitted into the Interior Design program for the sophomore-senior years. Students who are not invited into the Interior Design program will be advised concerning other curricular options.

IF I AM ACCEPTED INTO INTERIOR DESIGN, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO COMPLETE MY DEGREE?

The Interior Design program is a four-year degree. The coursework is sequential and most classes are taught only once per year. The number of available seats in studios is also limited to a maximum of eighteen (18) students. Transfer students accepted into the program should anticipate that it will still take them four years to complete the studio sequence of courses, unless they have equivalent coursework from a previous related major such as Art, Architecture, or Building Science.

IF ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS?

Students must earn a “C” or better in all required professional courses (i.e., required Consumer and Design Sciences and other Human Sciences courses). Students must earn a “C” or better on any prerequisite CAHS courses before enrolling in a required CAHS course.

WHAT OTHER RIGORS SHOULD I EXPECT IN THIS PROGRAM?

Design studios require six to eight hours of weekly in-class time plus a minimum of four hours outside of studio time. Studios are labor intensive. Current students report having very limited time for work and social/extracurricular activities. Additionally, students must budget more resources than for regular lecture courses because supplies for studio projects can be costly and a specific type of laptop computer and design software are required for the program. Computer specifications and a supply list are made available to students prior to the beginning of the student’s first term in the program.

I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS; WHOM CAN I TALK TO ABOUT THEM? CAN I GET MY TRANSCRIPTS EVALUATED EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM?

Students who desire information about the Interior Design Program are encouraged to contact Dr. Carol Warfield, Head, Department of Consumer and Design Sciences (334-844-1329 or cwarfield@auburn.edu). Accepted students are assigned to Academic Advisors who are available during group and individual advising sessions to respond to questions. An evaluation of previously completed coursework is conducted only as part of the transfer application evaluation.

WHERE CAN I GO TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INDS AND THE INDS APPLICATION?

Information about the program is available on the website (www.humsci.auburn.edu/cahs/bs-inds.php).

CAN I TAKE INDS COURSES BEFORE I AM ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM?

No.

IF I WANT TO BE AN INTERIOR DECORATOR, IS THIS THE MAJOR I WANT?

No. There is not a major on the Auburn campus that prepares one to be an interior decorator. This is an Interior Design program. An Interior Decorator is an individual who does not necessarily have a formal education in the field of design. Job responsibilities are to recommend finishes and furnishings within an existing space. For example, an interior decorator can recommend fabric for furniture or draperies.

The professional Interior Designer is qualified by education, experience, and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior design spaces for the purpose of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity, and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

CAN I TRANSFER COURSEWORK FROM ANOTHER INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSITY?

We can suggest courses that you might take at another university that would articulate with Interior Design if you are accepted into the Interior Design program. When determining acceptance into the Interior Design program as a transfer student, we will evaluate courses which you might have taken in another Interior Design or related design program to determine if you will receive credit for required or professional elective hours in the Auburn Interior Design program.

CAN I EARN THE INTERNATIONAL MINOR IN HUMAN SCIENCES (IMHS)?

Yes! Participation in the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program is STRONGLY encouraged for Interior Design students. Adjustments can be made to the student’s schedule to allow the student to earn the IMHS by studying at the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University in Italy (Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy) – our campus in Ariccia, Italy. Students who are interested in this program should make an appointment with Dr. Warfield, 308 Spidle, as early as possible in their academic program to begin planning for the most appropriate time to participate in this unique experience.

ARE THERE OTHER MINORS AVAILABLE FOR INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENTS?

Yes, there are also a number of other minors available which Interior Design students have found fit their career goals and personal interests. These include minors in Sustainability, foreign languages, Business, Hunger Studies, Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, Art History, and Communications.