The Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design (BAA) offers a broadly-based and professionally-relevant curriculum that embraces the responsibility of preparing and inspiring the designers of the future. The BAA program provides a learning environment based on a foundation of holistic, creative problem-solving, and is accredited as a professional level degree by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The BAA curriculum is a four-year course of study offering a combination of core courses, general education and electives that help students achieve their particular career goals.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the BAA should have the skills and abilities to be employed by companies specializing in interior design services, including interior design and architectural firms who practice in commercial, institutional or residential interiors and space planning, provide furniture-related design and/or specifications, offer specialized consulting services, or participate in green-building and sustainable design projects.
Program graduates should be able to:
- Apply fundamental and essential interior design principles and practices.
- Recognize the implications of globalization on design practices and understand how social, political and physical influences shape the design of built environments.
- Utilize the principles of lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort and indoor air quality to enhance building performance and improve social and environmental well-being.
- Select and specify furniture, fixtures, equipment and finish materials on the basis of their properties and performance criteria, including environmental attributes, maintenance, installation, and life cycle cost.
- Apply ethical and accepted standards of practice for project management, project communication, and project delivery.
- Engage in multi-disciplinary teams representing a variety of collaborative and consensus building activities and professional perspectives.
- Understand the laws, codes, standards, and guidelines that impact the design of interior spaces and protect human and environmental wellbeing.
- Appraise the job market, create a search strategy and professional portfolio; leverage internship experience for career success; earn experience necessary to qualify for NCIDQ certification.
Program Eligibility and Residency
Admission to lower-division core coursework in the Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA) in Interior Design program requires an application to Bellevue College and that students follow the required prerequisite structure.
Students entering the program at the lower-division level can choose to complete just the AA in Interior Studies degree and pursue career opportunities or, on completion of the AA, proceed to the upper-division courses and complete the BAA in Interior Design.
Students may also choose to apply for admission to the BAA while enrolled in lower-division courses, allowing them to take upper-division courses not included in the upper-division studio sequence: INDES 380, 381, 382, 440, 471, 472. Admission to this studio sequence requires a separate application process and qualifications.
Application for admission to the upper-division studio sequence of the BAA Interior Design program requires these qualifications:
- Currently enrolled BC students must complete the lower-division core course requirements of the AA in Interior Studies degree.
- Students transferring to BC must have an associate degree or equivalent in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or Industrial Design from a regionally accredited institution, with a minimum of 90 credits of relevant foundational core and general education courses.
See the upper-division studio Application Process below, and at bellevuecollege.edu/interiordesign/apply/baa/.
To graduate, students must complete at least 45 quarter credits for the degree in residence at BC, of which 30 credits must be upper-division.
Degree Requirements
A complete description of the required curriculum is shown in this worksheet. In addition to eligibility requirements, students must achieve the following:
- Complete a total of at least 189 applicable college-level quarter credits (including the lower-division general education and core course requirements)
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the general program and concentration requirements
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework applied to the degree, including credits transferred from other colleges
- Complete at least 45 quarter credits for the degree in residence at BC, of which 30 credits must be upper-division
Application Process
To be considered for the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design, prospective students must submit the following:
- Complete Bellevue College general admission application form
- Pay admissions and placement fee
- Complete Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design application form
- Check program’s website for more information
- For students planning to transfer credits to Bellevue College, submit official transcripts from regionally accredited college(s) and transfer credit request form to the BC Evaluations Office
Application and Program Contact Information
For more information on the specific application requirements and instructions, please see the program website at bellevuecollege.edu/interiordesign/, visit the BC Student Service Center, or contact the Interior Design program manager at (425) 564-2624, indes.advisor@bellevuecollege.edu
