Degrees and Certificates - Click for Program Outline:
Program Description
The Interior Design program at Spokane Falls Community College offers a broad-based and professionally relevant curriculum designed to enable graduates to successfully compete for jobs and to function as interior designers. Students who enter the program have various alternatives. They may complete an associate in applied science degree (AAS) in six quarters with an emphasis in residential design. These students could obtain employment in residential-oriented retail establishments such as wallcovering and furniture stores.
Students also may receive a Professional Interior Design Diploma in addition to the AAS degree by completing an optional one-year program. These students will have their AAS prior to beginning the additional year. The third year will qualify students for entry-level positions as professional interior designers and will emphasize commercial design, business, communications and advanced design specialty courses. These students will have a broad range of employment opportunities with architectural firms, commercial design firms, as well as a variety of retail design establishments. Students completing the additional year are required to prepare a portfolio and complete at least 165 hours of internship that will ease the transition from school to work. In order to be certified into the third year program, students must complete a review process upon completion of their second year.
Spokane Falls Community College and Washington State University have an articulation agreement offering interior design students the best of both worlds in education and career choices. The partnership allows students to begin at SFCC, earn a three-year professional diploma, then transfer with senior standing to WSU Spokane’s Interdisciplinary Design Institute, where they can earn a four-year bachelor’s degree. For more information, refer to the Interior Design-Transfer Track career planning guide.
Career Opportunities
Kitchen and bathroom design showrooms, home improvement stores, residential interior design studios and offices, furniture stores, specialized design shops and other related design businesses provide employment opportunities. Students earning a professional diploma will have a broad range of employment opportunities, including architectural and contract design firms.