This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Program accreditation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation

Program goal

The mission of the Department of Interior Design in VCU’s School of the Arts is to provide an intellectually rigorous, studio-based experience grounded in the issues of interior architecture. The department develops in its students an enduring passion and curiosity for their work, a determination to continually seek quality in their endeavors, an ability to reflect constructively upon their actions as individuals, and a responsibility for their lifelong education. The department focuses a student’s professional activities while encouraging connections between these activities and a larger forum of ideas that enrich their culture and their environment.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate professional values.
  2. Student work will demonstrate advanced design theory.
  3. Student work will demonstrate advanced knowledge of interior design.
  4. Student work will demonstrate effective communication.
  5. Students will demonstrate a foundation in business and professional practices.

Concentration in interior environments – professional entry-level option

The professional entry-level track is a 60-72 credit-hour program for second-degree seekers who have a proven record of academic excellence in a field other than architecture or interior design and are interested in pursuing a career in interior design. The structure of the track echoes the B.F.A. in Interior Design program in content, but advances the student at an accelerated rate during the first year and summer, bringing students parallel with the curriculum of the post-professional track by the second year.

The curriculum is highly sequenced, and students are admitted to the program for the fall semester only. All incoming students are required to take part in an intensive workshop in the summer that introduces and develops drawing, presentation skills and an understanding of two- and three-dimensional design methods. Students must successfully pass the workshop with a minimum grade of B to begin the professional entry-level track. Applicants who have an art or design background are strongly encouraged to submit a portfolio for review with their application. PowerPoint is the preferred format for the portfolio. Applicants are also required to submit three letters of recommendation and a three-to-five page writing sample.

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.