Interior Design School – Overview
The Interior Design curriculum at Paier College of Art is designed to prepare students for this professional life, and to provide the necessary training through a combination of education and employment opportunities. Our courses are not only practical, but also help students prepare for the professional licensing exams.
The relationship between interior design and architecture is strongly emphasized. Basic structural principles & construction methods are introduced. Studio courses incorporate programming, conceptual design & development, and presentation skills. Guest juries of architects & design professionals regularly critique student presentations. Courses such as ID Business, Materials, Kitchen & Bath, and History of Interiors provide students with the tools and critical thinking needed to succeed. Special consideration is given to new “green" and “sustainable" codes & regulations.
Instructors include licensed architects, interior designers and specialists in relevant fields. Our program prepares students for employment in residential, hospitality, contract & commercial, transportation, and retail & health care, where job opportunities are numerous. Graduates include practicing interior designers & architects, interior decorators, kitchen designers, sales representatives, and retail business owners & employees.
Paier College of Art is recognized as a leader in interior design education in Connecticut by national businesses in the ID community (i.e., Kimball Office Furniture, Corporate Express, CTKBA), which sponsor juried competitions where students can form long-lasting professional relationships. Paier students also have the opportunity to join campus chapters of NKBA, ASID and IIDA. Positions vary from entry to intermediate level and self-employment.
Interior Design Programs:
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design | Diploma in Interior Design | Certificate in Interior Design
Bachelor of Fine Art Degree in Interior Design
| Foundation Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| NO. | COURSES | SH/CHW/CHS |
| ID116 | Interior Design Drafting | 2/3/45 |
| ID111 | Interior Design Drawing | 2/3/45 |
| ID273 | Interior Design Perspective | 2/3/45 |
| ID120 | Intro to Form & Space | 2/3/45 |
| AS101 | English I | 3/3/45 |
| ID116 | Interior Design Drafting | 2/3/45 |
| Social Science Elective | 3/3/45 | |
| Fall Semester Totals | 17/21/315 | |
| ID117 | Interior Design Concept Presentation | 2/3/45 |
| ID274 | Interior Design Rendering | 2/3/45 |
| ID121 | Intro to Interior Design | 2/3/45 |
| ID330 | Materials I | 3/3/45 |
| AS102 | English II | 3/3/45 |
| Academic Elective | 3/3/45 | |
| Spring Semester Totals | 15/18/270 | |
| Foundation Year Totals | 32/39/585 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| NO. | COURSES | SH/CHW/CHS |
| CG150 | AutoCAD LT | 2/3/45 |
| ID368 | Furniture Design & Theory | 2/3/45 |
| ID227 | History of Interiors I | 3/3/45 |
| AH105 | History of Western Art I | 3/5/75 |
| ID228 | Interior Design Study Models | 2/3/45 |
| ID216 | Residential Design | 2/3/45 |
| AS231 | Mathematical Ideas (Math Req.) | 3/3/45 |
| Studio Elective | 2/2/45 | |
| Fall Semester Totals | 16/21/315 | |
| ID225 | Additions, Renovations, and Reuse | 2/3/45 |
| ID245 | Construction I | 2/3/45 |
| ID229 | Model Making of Interiors | 2/3/45 |
| ID217 | Residential Planning | 2/3/45 |
| CG151 | Technical Drafting on CAD | 2/3/45 |
| AS205 | Intro to Philosophy (Human. Elec.) | 3/3/45 |
| Spring Semester Totals | 16/21/315 | |
| Second Year Totals | 32/42/630 | |
| Third Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| NO. | COURSES | SH/CHW/CHS |
| ID344 | Construction II | 2/3/45 |
| AH305 | History of Modern Art | 3/3/45 |
| ID417 | Intro to Contract Design | 2/3/45 |
| ID444 | Kitchen and Bath Design I | 2/3/45 |
| ID381 | Lighting & Mechanical Systems | 2/3/45 |
| ID430 | Textile Science | 3/3/45 |
| ID323 | The Corporate Building | 2/3/45 |
| Fall Semester Totals | 16/21/315 | |
| ID426 | History of Interiors II | 3/3/45 |
| AH106 | History of Western Art II | 3/3/45 |
| ID445 | Kitchen and Bath Design II | 2/3/45 |
| ID331 | Materials II | 2/3/45 |
| ID324 | Special Problems in Architecture | 2/3/45 |
| ID432 | Textile Applications & History | 2/3/45 |
| AS210 | General Psychology (Social Sci. Req.) | 3/3/45 |
| AS267 | Effective Speaking (Humanity Elective) | 3/3/45 |
| Spring Semester Totals | 17/21/315 | |
| Third Year Totals | 33/42/630 | |
| SH represents Semester Hours (credits) per semester | ||
| CHW represents Clock Hours (contact time) per week | ||
| CHS represents Clock Hours per semester (15 Weeks) | ||
| Fourth Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| NO. | COURSES | SH/CHW/CHS |
| ID442 | Advanced Contract Design | 4/6/90 |
| ID450 | Business Management | 3/3/45 |
| AS355 | Introduction to Biology | 3/3/45 |
| ID495 | Presentation Techniques | 3/5/75 |
| Studio Elective | 3/3-5/45-75 | |
| Fall Semester Totals | 16/20/300 | |
| AH406 | History of Contemporary Art | 3/5/45 |
| ID475 | Introduction to Ornament | 3/3/45 |
| ID443 | Senior Projects | 4/6/90 |
| Physical Science Elective | 3/3/45 | |
| Spring Semester Totals | 17/21/315 | |
| Fourth Year Totals | 33/41/615 | |
| Program Totals | 130/164/2460 | |
| Total Semester Hours: 130 | ||
| 184 Total Clock Hours x 15 weeks | ||
| per semester: 2460 | ||
Certificate in Interior Design
| Foundation Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| NO. | COURSES | SH/CHW/CHS |
| ID368 | Furniture Design & Theory | 2/3/45 |
| ID116 | Interior Design Drafting | 2/3/45 |
| ID273 | Interior Design Perspective | 2/3/45 |
| ID120 | Intro to Form & Space | 2/3/45 |
| Fall Semester Totals | 8/12/180 | |
| CG150 | AutoCAD LT | 2/3/45 |
| ID330 | Materials I | 3/3/45 |
| FO141 | Residential Planning | 2/3/45 |
| Spring Semester Totals | 7/9/135 | |
| First Year Totals | 15/21/315 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| NO. | COURSES | SH/CHW/CHS |
| ID450 | Business Management | 3/3/45 |
| ID417 | Intro to Contract Design | 2/3/45 |
| CG151 | Technical Drafting on CAD | 2/3/45 |
| ID430 | Textile Science | 3/3/45 |
| Fall Semester Totals | 10/12/180 | |
| ID426 | History of Interiors II | 3/3/45 |
| ID432 | Textile Applications & History | 2/3/45 |
| ID443 | Senior Projects | 4/6/90 |
| Spring Semester Totals | 9/12/180 | |
| Second Year Totals | 19/24/360 | |
| Program Totals | 34/45/675 | |
| SH represents Semester Hours (credits) per semester | ||
| CHW represents Clock Hours (contact time) per week | ||
| CHS represents Clock Hours per semester (15 Weeks) |
| Total Semester Hours: 34 | ||
| 42 Total Clock Hours x 15 weeks | ||
| per semester: 675 |
Interior Design Certificate
Certificate option in Interior Design is a four-semester program offering accelerated preparation for entry-level employment in the interior design field. All courses taken in the Certificate Program may also be applied toward any of the other Interior Design Programs, as well as used as part of the requirements of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (N.C.I.D.Q.) Licensing Examination.**
* National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) Licensing
Examination Requirements (go to www.ncidq.org for more information)
The exam is “performance-based and places greater emphasis on practical experience than on academic recall." PCA's ID Four-Year (Bachelors) curricula introduces students to all subjects in the examination from ID Sketching and English I to ID Business and more advanced Senior Projects. They include all the design and technical courses required to prepare for the licensing examination. A complete description of the NCIDQ examination's content and structure can be found in the College library.
