AA/AS in Design and Applied Arts

This interior design program prepares students to shape indoor spaces that are safe, practical and pleasing to look at. Learners study how buildings are constructed, which materials suit which uses, how to write specifications, what codes require, and how to produce technical drawings, along with the basics of running a design business. Designers in this field assess a problem area, work out a plan and detailed solutions, and then oversee the job until it is finished, all while respecting what the client needs and can spend. Because the work is a service, success depends on blending artistic judgment with technical understanding, clear communication and sound management. Associate of applied science students complete an internship near the end of their studies, tying classroom learning to real practice. The program also brings in working professionals through guest lectures and interviews, and students visit design firms, showrooms and manufacturers.