Are you a transfer student in Interior Design? This page is for you!

Here you will find the most frequently asked questions by transfer students who are interested in the Interior Design Program at the College of Visual Arts and Design. For general information, visit the main page for CVAD Design.

1. I am interested in interior design because I like many of the shows on DIY and HGTV. Is this the program for me?

It might be that you need to do more research in the interior design profession. While aesthetic elements such as color and style are a part of interior design, our students also must understand health and safety codes and regulations, environmental sustainability and business practices. Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve an interior environment.

Graduates of the program are prepared to work in the field for one to two years, then take the National Council for Interior Design qualifying examination, NCIDQ, to become a registered interior designer. The UNT Interior Design B.F.A. degree program is accredited through the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, CIDA, ensuring that the program meets quality standards recognized by the profession. The State of Texas licensing agency is the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. 

2. What basic skills do I need to do well in this program?

Designers are creative problem solvers. Our students develop critical thinking skills and verbal, written and graphic communication abilities. They use manual and technical methods in drawing, visualizing and documenting interior environments.

3. Is there a Portfolio Review? What is the process?
Information related to our portfolio review process, requirements, submittal dates and prerequisites can be downloaded from the CVAD website as listed above. A portfolio is not required for a student to be admitted to the university. Currently, the interior design program requires a portfolio review that occurs during the spring semester of the freshman year primarily based on work done in the class Drawing for Interior Design, ADES 2630, the entry portfolio review preparatory course. Each student submits a physical portfolio. Students do not present their work. All submittals are anonymous and reviewed as a group by a jury of design faculty and practitioners. Students passing this review enter the fall semester of their sophomore year as interior design majors.
4. What is the percentage of students who are cut from the portfolio review?
Even when you skip a row, you want to go off by the number indicated in the heading column when you are setting a specific panel to open on load.
5. If I am not selected to move forward in a review, may I retake the course and retry in a subsequent review?
A student may retake a course in the interior design program only once, and students may retry to advance in the program in a subsequent review — within one calendar year — one time only.
6. What is the course sequence? How does it work? How long does it take to complete?
Courses are offered in a fixed sequence as outlined in the suggested curriculum. A common misconception is that if you have attended another institution for two years, you only need two more years to graduate from the UNT Interior Design Program. The UNT program may still require four years for you to complete depending on your previous courses and grades, when you submit for the portfolio review, passage of the review, etc. All students, transfer or not, must pass the entry-portfolio review to advance into the Interior Design major.
7. Will my classes from other institutions or schools count at UNT toward this degree? What is the process to have those classes reviewed for acceptance?
General curriculum courses are evaluated by transcript review through the CVAD Undergraduate Advising Office. Check the website for the next scheduled Prospective Student Advising Session and register online. Prerequisites and requirements are evaluated by the Interior Design faculty. The Interior Design program cannot approve courses that are not accepted by UNT. Also, note that 36 hours of art — including 12 advanced hours — must be completed at UNT. For the ID program, 42 hours must be advanced, and 24 of these hours must be completed at UNT.
8. Do I have to have a minor? If so, what do you suggest?
In the current 120-hour-degree plan, a minor is not required. Popular elective courses or minors include merchandising, marketing, management, environmental science.
9. How competitive is this program?
Because the interior design profession is very competitive, our B.F.A. program also is competitive. We employ a rigorous portfolio review process and course sequence for a student to gain admittance, remain in the program and prepare for the job market. Getting a degree does not guarantee a job or success, but our location in the Dallas-Fort Worth region affords access to numerous professional resources and opportunities. A course in design business practices and an internship with a design practitioner are curriculum requirements. Technical skills in computer-aided drawing and drafting software programs, such as AutoCAD and Revit, are required. See the Interior Design Hardware and Software information sheet for laptop and software specifications. Note:Students should not invest in a high-end laptop until they are admitted into the Interior Design major. Financial aid may also be available.
10. What is the current job market? Will I be able to find a job when I graduate?

The job market is still in a state of recovery from the recent recession, but it is beginning to show signs of growth. Interior design is tied to building design, construction, real estate and lending cycles for both commercial and residential markets. In a slow economy, it is especially important for students to produce strong portfolios, as well as develop competency in flexibility, transferable skill sets such as computer and production skills. UNT graduates work in a variety of positions in the field including architecture and design firms of all sizes, institutional facilities departments, residential design firms, furniture dealerships and showrooms. Project categories include single- and multi-family housing, high-end custom homes, corporate office design, education, healthcare, retail and hotel or hospitality design. Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Also, it is recommended that you make an appointment with the CVAD Career Coach from the UNT Career Center to discuss your career option.

Accreditation

The interior design program leading to the B.F.A. in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The B.F.A. in Interior Design granted by the University of North Texas meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.