Interior design Educational Programs reveiled

Educational Programs

While teaching yourself can be an inexpensive and fun way to learn interior decorating, you will probably be able to learn decorating more quickly from experts by taking an educational program. Educational programs take several different forms, including:

four-year Bachelor's degree programs in interior design
two-year Associate degree programs
diploma programs
certificate programs
continuing education courses

In addition to offering on-site programs (where students attend classes in person), a number of organizations also offer decorating programs through distance learning.

What to Look For

To start with, what you will look for in a program will have a lot to do with you.

Do you enjoy attending classes so you can interact with other people? Or do you prefer to work at your own pace? If you prefer to set your own pace, a distance learning program will obviously suit you better than a program offered in a traditional classroom setting.
How much time and money do you want to invest in your education? You could spend anywhere from a few hours to a few years, and anywhere from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars, on your education.
Are you the type of person who prefers to learn by doing? If so, consider taking a program that offers an internship or work-study component.

All of these are factors to consider when you are evaluating different programs. In addition to your personal preferences, there are several questions you can ask to make you feel comfortable with the quality of a particular program. However, we cannot say which program, if any, will be best for you. You are the only one who can make that decision. You can ask some of the following questions and see if it is possible for you to speak with the instructor and former graduates of the program.

Is the Program Accredited?

Many educational programs are accredited by official organizations such as Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council. Accreditation means that the program has met certain educational standards. However, even if a program is not accredited, you may still find it to be valuable, depending on your personal goals.

Is the Program Recognized in the Profession?

This question is best asked of people who are working in the profession. If you are conducting interviews with professional decorators, you can ask them if they have heard of a program you are considering and, if so, what their opinion is.

What Does the Program Cover?

You may be able to save yourself some disappointment by finding out in advance what topics you will be expected to learn. If you want to focus on interior decorating, you may not be happy with a program that includes interior design courses covering such topics as building codes. Many programs also include career advice and job placement services. While no program will guarantee a job upon graduation, this type of service may be helpful to your job hunt.

Who is Offering the Program?

Find out who is teaching the course. What are their credentials? How long have they been an interior decorator or designer? Do they have previous teaching experience? If you are taking a program from a company, find out how long they have been in business. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau. They can tell you whether there are any complaints lodged against the company.

Degree and Diploma Programs

Degree programs focus on interior design rather than interior decorating. If you decide at some point that you would like to earn a degree, you can find a list of programs at the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The site lists accredited programs in both the U.S. and Canada.

These are programs that provide academic preparation for professional interior designers. The list includes more than 150 accredited college interior design programs, broken down by each U.S. state and Canada. As of 2004, all programs seeking accreditation from CIDA must culminate in a minimum of a bachelor's degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Bachelor of Interior Design). There are still some existing programs that were accredited before 2004 that do not meet this minimum requirement but these programs have until 2010 to comply. If you are considering a degree in interior design you should only choose a program that meets CIDA's current minimum standards.

Pre-Professional Assistant Level Programs

Although all programs seeking accreditation from CIDA must prove that they culminate in a bachelor's degree, there are a number of other programs available designed to prepare students for positions as design assistants or merchandisers rather than as professional interior designers. They may be useful for someone who doesn't want to go through a four-year program.

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