Interior Design
Business & Technology
Degree awarded: Associate in Applied Science
Specialized diploma conferred
Program Narrative
Do you think in color and pattern? Are you sensitive to how people's surroundings can affect their mood, productivity, even their likelihood to make purchases in stores? Interior Design might be for you. Interior Design is the application of the visual principles of color, form, and space to the planning of interior environments. It is the exacting science and vibrant art that creates the places in which we all live and work. It is also a highly skilled profession that challenges you to take into account the structure and utilities of a building, client needs, and budgetary considerations in addition to aesthetics.
Our Interior Design program has been carefully organized to meet the demand for professionally trained interior designers in both residential and contract design. With our associate's degree, you may gain employment upon graduation or consider pursuing a four-year degree.
Please keep in mind that no special system of accreditation exists for pre-professional interior design programs. Senior schools consider applicants from Northampton on an individual basis and may grant full or partial credit depending on the ability of the student and his or her own transfer requirements. You will want to meet frequently with your faculty advisor in order to structure your course options effectively.
Courses are available for students who want to attend full-time, part-time, during the day or in the evening.
Program Features
First semester courses provide foundational skills and knowledge in drafting, architecture history and interior and architectural design. Second semester courses build upon these foundational skills with the addition of a digital design studio and History II.
The second year major courses all have some prerequisites from the first year and this allows students to extend their learning into more advanced skill areas. You'll also learn more about building technology in the interior structures and materials course.
Computer technology is woven thru the curriculum utilizing ArchiCAD software as a design tool in the studios and AutoCAD in our digital production drawing course. The program includes a four-course design studio sequence where each semester you will develop and execute your own design projects, working in professional design stations. You will use computers equipped with state of the art design and production software.
We also encourage you to get involved with the faculty-advised student chapter of the American Institute of Architects which provides opportunities to enrich your education with a wide field studies and related extracurricular activities, including annual trips to major cities.
Our full-time and part-time faculty brings current knowledge into your classroom direct from the professional world where they are actively pursuing their own careers in interior design, architecture, product design, and related fields. Our faculty and advisory committee are members of the American Institute of Architects and American Society of Interior Designers. Because they regularly meet to review current developments in interior design, our program is always relevant. Committee members as well as other professionals also give presentations and participate as jurors in student project reviews and critiques.
Contact the Admissions Office at 610-861-5500 for further information.
Interior Design Program
Program Narrative
This program is designed for both full-time and part-time students. We've designed this program for those who already have a college degree or need an accelerated alternative career path in the Interior Design profession. Returning students with previously earned bachelor's degrees find this program especially appealing. By adding your general education credits previously earned to the 24 credit diploma, you're only a few part-time semesters to an AAS degree.
Along with a broad introduction to the field of Interior Design, you will learn the fundamental principles of design and gain both hand and computer graphic skills in our design studio and graphics courses. The program also offers a focus on the popular specialty area of kitchen and bath design. Your learning experience is capped with an upper level interior design studio where you will complete projects under the guidance of professional architects and designers.
Program Features
Full-time students can complete the program in two twelve-credit semesters offered during the day and in the evening. Part-time students can complete the program in four six-credit semesters all offered at night. It is important for students to become familiar with which courses are Fall offerings and which are Spring offerings so they may complete the program as scheduled.
You can apply all of your specialized diploma courses toward Northampton's AAS in Interior Design. An attractive option many students choose is to complete the Interior Design diploma either full-time or part-time while employed and then enter the associate's degree program during the evening on a part-time basis.
Kitchen and Bath Design Program
Specialized Diploma
Specialized diploma conferred
Program Narrative
This program offers students a focused learning experience in the design of kitchens and bathrooms. The program is shorter than the broader Interior Design specialized diploma. It provides an excellent opportunity for the part-time student who wishes to advance quickly in an exciting area of the field. If you decide to continue your education after earning the diploma, you can apply all of your courses toward the longer specialized diploma or to our AAS degree in Interior Design.
Program Features
At the introduction to the program, students will gain a broad knowledge of the field of interior design, followed by individual courses focused on kitchen and bathroom design, including lighting design as it relates to the kitchen and bath environment. Capping the program, students will learn how to produce a set of production drawings. You'll use our state of the art professional studio equipped with the most up-to-date computer design software.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
- Be prepared to assist an architect or interior designer in space planning, for both residential and contract design.
- Learn to produce construction documents and presentation drawings through traditional and computer graphics (AutoCAD)(ArchiCAD).
- Develop an understanding of accessibility, safety, lighting, building systems, acoustic control and their relationship to construction and the human being.
- Develop an understanding of how our physical (built) environment is influenced by social, cultural, historical and philosophical determinants.
- Be prepared for entry into related areas of the design industry, such as industrial design, display design, furniture design, product design and product sales.
- Be prepared for transfer into a four or five-year accredited professional interior design program leading to internship and NCIDQ examination.
Interior Design,
Associate in Applied Science Degree
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| First Semester | ||
| ARCH 100 | Architectural History I - Antiquity to 1870 |
3
|
| ARCH 101 | Architectural Graphics I |
3
|
| ARCH 110 | Architectural Design Studio I |
3
|
| ENGL 101C | English I |
3
|
| INDS 105 | Introduction to Interior Design |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Second Semester | ||
| ARCH 150 | Architecture Design Studio II (Digital) |
3
|
| ARCH 155 | Architectural History II - 1870 to Present |
3
|
| ENGL 151C | English II |
3
|
| INDS 121 | Graphics and Presentation Techniques for Interior Designers | |
| INDS 130 | Interior Materials & Structure |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Third Semester | ||
| CMTH 102 | Speech Communication |
3
|
| INDS 100 | History of Interior Design & Furniture |
3
|
| INDS 165 | Kitchen and Lighting Design |
3
|
| INDS 225 | Residential Interior Design Studio |
3
|
| ----------- | Elective |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ARCH 265 | Digital Production Drawing |
3
|
| INDS 160 | Bath and Lighting Design |
3
|
| INDS 255 | Commercial Interior Design Studio |
3
|
| ----------- | Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior Elective (SSHB) |
3
|
| ----------- | Mathematics (QL) or Science (SCI) Elective |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Total Credits |
60
|
NOTE: INDS200 Interior Design Professional Internship (3 cr. optional elective) offered Fall, Spring, Summer 1 and Summer 2 semesters. Please see advisor.
- The Diversity (D) requirement is satisfied by the completion of ENGL 151C.
- The program-related writing intensive competency is satisfied by a combination of INDS 225 and INDS 255.
- Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirements for this program.
Specialized Diploma
| 1-YEAR SEQUENCE |
|
|
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| ARCH 101 | Architectural Graphics I |
3
|
| ARCH 110 | Architectural Design Studio I |
3
|
| INDS 105 | Introduction to Interior Design |
3
|
| INDS 165 | Kitchen and Lighting Design |
3
|
| ARCH 265 | Digital Production Drawing |
3
|
| INDS 121 | Graphics & Presentation Techniques | |
| INDS 130 | Interior Materials & Structure |
3
|
| INDS 255 | Commercial Interior Design Studio |
3
|
| Total Credits |
24
|
Note: Students can complete the program on a Full-time or Part-time basis.
| 2-YEAR SEQUENCE |
|
|
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| Fall Semester | ||
| ARCH 101 | Architectural Graphics I |
3
|
| ARCH 110 | Architectural Design Studio I |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Spring Semester | ||
| INDS 130 | Interior Materials & Structure |
3
|
| INDS 121 | Graphics & Presentation Techniques |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Fall Semester | ||
| INDS 105 | Introduction to Interior Design |
3
|
| INDS 165 | Kitchen and Lighting Design |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Spring Semester | ||
| ARCH 265 | Digital Production Drawing |
3
|
| INDS 255 | Commercial Interior Design Studio |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Total Credits |
24
|
Interior Design: Kitchen & Bath Design,
Specialized Diploma
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| Fall Semester | ||
| ARCH 101 | Architectural Graphics I |
3
|
| INDS 105 | Introduction to Interior Design |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Spring Semester | ||
| ARCH 265 | Digital Production Drawing |
3
|
| INDS 121 | Graphics and Presentation Graphics for Interior Designers |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Fall Semester | ||
| INDS 160 | Bath and Lighting Design |
3
|
| INDS 165 | Kitchen and Lighting Design |
3
|
|
6
|
||
| Total Credits |
18
|
Career Potential: Interior Designer, Furniture Representative, Furniture Sales, Fabric Design
NCC students have transferred to: Arcadia University, Moore School of Art, New York School of Interior Design