Interior Design

Associate Degree in Applied Arts

Program number: 103041

• Overview
• Admission
• Curriculum
• Outcomes
• Careers

Overview

Overview

Turn your creative talents into an interior design career. The two-year degree in 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 and deadlines, and with customers and industry partners.

Top Career Training. Students in the 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

This program is not offered online.

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 orgranizations 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

View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements.

• Review the admission checklist to learn how to apply to a program or certificate at Madison College.
• Attend a New Student Information Session to get started in the admission process.
• 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 the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or (608) 246-6210.

Curriculum

Curriculum

The courses listed below outline the requirements for completion for students officially admitted in the 2016-2017 academic year. Requirements for completion may vary depending on the semester in which a student is admitted or may be completed by other equivalent courses. Current/continuing students should consult their Academic Requirements report available through their student account for specific requirements and equivalent courses.

Summer (prior to start of program)

10-304-100

Survey of the Interior Design Profession

1 credits

First Semester

10-304-102

Fundamentals of Design

3 credits

10-304-104

Basic Architectural Drawing

3 credits

10-304-105

Building and Furniture Construction

3 credits

10-304-107

Interior Design Textiles

3 credits

10-801-195

Written Communication

3 credits

10-804-123

Math with Business Applications

3 credits

Second Semester

10-304-120

Advanced Architectural Drawing

2 credits

10-304-125

Residential Design 1

3 credits

10-304-127

Materials and Finishes

2 credits

10-304-129

History of Interior Design

3 credits

10-304-161

Visual Communication for Interior Design

3 credits

10-801-198

Speech

3 credits

Third Semester

10-304-133

Commercial Design

5 credits

10-304-135

Lighting

2 credits

10-304-142

Sales & Professional Practice

3 credits

10-304-146

Trends and Issues in Interior Design

2 credits

10-801-196

Oral/Interpersonal Communication

3 credits

10-809-199

Psychology Of Human Relations

3 credits

Fourth Semester

10-304-132

Kitchen & Bath Design

5 credits

10-304-143

Residential Design 2

3 credits

10-304-145

Interior Design Internship

2 credits

10-304-147

Portfolio Development

1 credits

10-809-166

Intro to Ethics: Theory & App

3 credits

10-809-197

Contemporary Amer Society

3 credits

Outcomes

Outcomes

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

• Confer with clients to determine the purpose and function of the environment, style preferences, budget, types of construction, equipment to be installed, and other factors that affect planning interior environments.
• Integrate client findings with their knowledge of interior design and formulate plans to be practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or improving the lifestyle of occupants.
• Advise clients on interior design factors such as space planning, the layout and use of furnishings and equipment, color schemes and coordination, and the selection of interior components.
• Estimate material requirements and costs, prepare drawings and materials for presentation to the client for approval and coordinate the implementation of all solutions. 

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 

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 in the Interior Design Program at Madison Area Technical College are recognized as top candidates for entry-level interior designer positions with employers throughout Madison, Wisconsin, earning an average monthly wage of $3,040.