Interior Design

Associate Degree in Applied Arts

Program number: 103041

Overview

Overview

Turn your creative talents into an interior design career. The two-year Interior Design program at Madison Area Technical College provides excellent career training to prepare you for entry-level residential design and sales positions in retail stores and design studios, or for commercial design work in office dealerships and corporate facilities. In your courses, you will learn the art of interior design as well as build business skills to work effectively with budgets, deadlines, customers and industry partners.

Top Career Training. Students in Madison College's Interior Design program learn to design interior spaces that are functional, safe and beautiful. In first-year courses, you will gain fundamental and technical knowledge in interior design principles, reading and drawing floor plans, building construction techniques, architectural and interior materials, finish selection, decorating and space planning. Interior design students also sharpen skills in computer-aided drawing using AutoCAD and SketchUp. In second-year courses, students focus on designing commercial and residential spaces, with an emphasis on corporate offices, residential remodeling, and kitchen and bath design.

Program Details

Interior Design is on a career pathway that includes this associate degree. The degree will prepare you for a good job and also allow you to transfer to another college to earn your bachelor’s degree. Learn at your own pace and increase your earning potential with credentials that keep you moving on your career path.

Students in the Interior Design program can attend full or part time.

Interior Design Program classes may be offered at the following Madison College campuses: 

  • Madison - Truax

​Explore financial aid eligibility for this program.

All courses for this program are offered only in person.

Interior Design


YOUR ADVANTAGES AT MADISON COLLEGE

On-campus classes with industry-accredited, experienced interior design faculty to master professional skills and industry tools and software.

  • Focus on the latest interior design trends such as sustainable or “green” design and aging-in-place.
  • Instructor insights into workplace challenges and opportunities for interior designers.
  • Hands-on career training through field trips, industry trade shows and internships in the professional interior design community.
  • Build industry network through relationships with professional organizations such as American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).
  • MATC’s annual portfolio show where soon-to-be interior design graduates show their work to potential employers and the public.
Admission

Admission

To Apply
 

  • Visit MATC to learn more about the Madison College experience including campus tours and program open houses.

After Acceptance

Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at MATC. 

Questions?

Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or (608) 246-6210.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2019-2020 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

Current program students (including newly admitted), go directly to your Degree Progress Report (also referred to as an Advising Report or Academic Requirements) to view:

  • Progress toward your specific requirements
  • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

If you have questions after reviewing your report, please see Advising Services.

Outcomes

Outcomes

After completing the Interior Design program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:

  • Integrate the codes and standards that impact the interior environment. 
  • Model professional practices of the Interior Design industry.
  • Validate the design process.
  • Evaluate design decisions within the parameters of the built environment
 

 

Careers

Careers

Earning your associate degree in Interior Design at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for a range of professional positions in the design industry, including:

  • Interior Designer
  • Kitchen and Bath Designer 
  • Corporate In-House Designer  
  • Commercial Designer
  • Facilities Planner 
  • Sales Representative
  • Home Decorator 
  • Home Stager 

Madison College graduates are employed by interior design firms, furniture stores, flooring stores, paint and decorating centers, building centers, kitchen and bath design firms, office dealerships and corporations.

Successful interior designers are creative and visually sensitive individuals who enjoy working with people and the components of interior design. They are organized and decisive with the ability to follow through on all tasks, as well as effective sales-oriented communicators. 

Strong Job Opportunities. Graduates who complete their associate degree through Madison College's Interior Design Program are recognized as top candidates for entry-level interior designer positions with employers throughout Madison and earn an average monthly salary $3,040.

 

Find open jobs in this industry on Wisconsin TechConnecttm

Wisconsin TechConnect Connecting Skills with Jobs

  • Estimated Program Cost
    # of Credits for Completion
    65
    Tuition
    $8872.50
    Materials/Supplemental Costs
    $1513.10
    Other Costs
    $800.00
    Total Estimated Program Costs:
    (book costs not included)
    $11185.60
  • Graduate Summary
    Graduate Report Summary Overview

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Program Graduates 14 25 12
    Number of Surveys Sent 14 25 12
    Number of Surveys Returned 14 23 12
    Percent of Surveys Returned 100.00% 92.00% 100.00%
    Available for Employment 13 22 12
    Percent Available for Employment 92.90% 95.70% 100.00%
    Not in Labor Market 1 1 0
    Percent Not in Labor Market 7.10% 4.30% 0.00%
    Available for Employment

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Graduates Employed 13 21 12
    Percent of Graduates Employed 100.00% 95.50% 100.00%
    Employed in Related Occupation 11 19 10
    Percent Employed in Related Occupation 84.60% 90.50% 83.30%
    Employed in Unrelated Occupation 2 2 2
    Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 15.40% 9.50% 16.70%
    Employed - No Response 0 0 0
    Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Seeking Employment 0 1 0
    Percent Seeking Employment 0.00% 4.50% 0.00%
    Reaction To Training at Madison College

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.8 3.7 3.6
    Number of Satisfaction Responses 14 23 12
    Very Satisfied 11 17 7
    Percent Very Satisfied 78.60% 73.90% 58.30%
    Satisfied 3 6 5
    Percent Satisfied 21.40% 26.10% 41.70%
    Unsatisfied 0 0 0
    Percent Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Very Unsatisfied 0 0 0
    Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Primary Reason Responses 14 23 12
    Preparation for Getting a Job 6 13 4
    Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 42.90% 56.50% 33.30%
    Career Change 7 7 5
    Percent Career Change 50.00% 30.40% 41.70%
    Improvement of Existing Skills 0 0 0
    Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Preparation for Further Education 1 1 2
    Percent Preparation for Further Education 7.10% 4.30% 16.70%
    Personal Interest 0 2 1
    Percent Personal Interest 0.00% 8.70% 8.30%
    Other 0 0 0
    Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    When Employment was Obtained

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 13 21 12
    Before Enrollment 0 0 0
    Percent Before Enrollment 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    While Attending the College 6 13 7
    Percent While Attending the College 46.20% 61.90% 58.30%
    After Training at the College 7 8 5
    Percent After Training at the College 53.80% 38.10% 41.70%
    Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Employment Location Responses 13 21 12
    In College District 9 15 12
    Percent In College District 69.20% 71.40% 100.00%
    In Wisconsin, Not in District 3 3 0
    Percent of In Wisconsin 23.10% 14.30% 0.00%
    Outside of Wisconsin 1 2 0
    Percent Outside Wisconsin 7.70% 9.50% 0.00%
    Employer Location Unknown 0 1 0
    Percent Location Unknown 0.00% 4.80% 0.00%
    Salary Trend
    Salary Trend 2016 2017 2018
    Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 9 15 9
    Average Monthly Wage $2,635 $2,761 $3,097
    Average Hourly Wage $15.32 $16.05 $18.01
    Average Work Hours per Week 40.6 44.9 42.2
    Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 4 1
    Average Hourly Wage $15.00 $12.78 $18.00
    Average Work Hours per Week 25 25.5 25
  • Graduate Employers
    Total Positions Open for academic year: 2018
    Wisconsin TechConnectTM Jobs* Madison Non-Madison
    Number of Full Time Positions Open 30 84
    Number of Part Time Positions Open 2 46
    Total Jobs 32 130
    Graduate Employers for academic year: 2018
    Employer(s) Job Title City** State*** Positions
    Acker Builders Designer Waunakee
    CTW Abbey Kitchen & Bath Kitchen & Bath Designer McFarland
    Heartland Building & Design Interior Designer
    Lerdahl Business Interiors Inc Interior Designer Middleton
    Madison Lighting Lighting Consultant
    Nonn's Flooring Assistant Cabinetry Designer DeForest
    Nonn's Flooring Interior Designer Middleton
    Waunakee Remodeling Designer/Estimator Waunakee
    Zingg Design Interior Designer Middleton 2

    * - Wisconsin TechConnectTM jobs are posted through a statewide consortium operated and funded by all 16 of the technical colleges in Wisconsin.

    ** - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

    *** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

    **** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at techconnect@madisoncollege.edu

Resources

Check out some examples of our students’ work: