UW-Stout Polytechnic's CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Interior Design is a four-year, pre-professional degree that blends fine art, design, and technical disciplines to prepare you for a career creating meaningful, life-enhancing, and safe interior environments. Our program provides a learning environment that fosters creativity and collaboration between art, design and technical disciplines. You will develop the sensibilities, techniques, and methods related to residential and commercial space planning, lighting design, sustainable design, construction documentation, and to collaborate with architects and construction professionals.
Career-Defining Interior Design Curriculum
At UW-Stout Polytechnic, we offer a strong and comprehensive curriculum taught by expert, experienced faculty. Through theory, practice, and history, you will gain creative and critical thinking skills to successfully problem-solve in the interior design field. Course work includes preparation for:
- Professional Best Practices
- Materials Specifications
- Budgets & Contracts
- Lighting Systems
- Historical & Theoretical Considerations
- Human Factors
- Presentation & Communication Skills
Program Overview
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design.
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Interior Design Accreditation
The B.F.A. Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503) and prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The B.F.A. Interior Design granted by University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit here.
Art School Accreditation
UW-Stout Polytechnic's School of Art & Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Pre-B.F.A. Experience
Every UW-Stout Polytechnic B.F.A. program starts the same way—with a first year built to sharpen your skills and build the portfolio that drives your degree.
"Stout was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I met some of my best friends, had the most amazing educators, tons of fun, and of course, received a quality education."
~ McKenna Heck ('17)
Project Manager, Creative ServicesPowder Mountain
Industry-Experienced Faculty Instruction
Forget TA-taught classes and 200-person lectures. Building close relationships with our industry-experienced and academically accomplished interior design faculty will play a key role in your polytechnic education and your career. Learn more about your future instructors!
Do More in Our Interior Design Studios & Labs
Professional Internships in Interior Design
Take your education into industry and earn while you learn through UW-Stout Polytechnic’s award-winning Cooperative Education & Internship Program (CEIP) and other placements. Unlike traditional internships, our professional paid and unpaid credit-earning experiences connect you with leaders in your field, including national brands and boutique interior design and architecture firms, to ensure you’re set up for success long before you graduate. More than a third of Stout students accept positions after graduation with their internship employer.
- Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
- Blue Pencil Collective
- BWBR Architects
- Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc.
- DLR Group
- Fluid Interiors
- Jodi Gillespie Interior Design
- Mood Interior Designs, Inc.
- MSR Design
- RAMLOW/STEIN Architecture + Interiors
- RSP Architects
- The Samuels Group, Inc.
- Sketchworks Architecture LLC
- Wold Architects & Engineers
Portfolio of Interior Design Student Work
Graduate Ready to Create Tomorrow's Interiors
The B.F.A. Interior Design program will prepare you for a career in interior design that encompasses residential and commercial space planning, lighting design, research, construction documentation and sustainable design. Our graduates create meaningful, safe, and life-enhancing interior environments that contribute to the cultural, social, and environmental well-being of society.
Select Recent Employers
- 20 Below Studio
- Ashley Furniture Industries
- BWBR Architects
- Cedar Corporation
- Cinergy Homes & Remodeling
- Dream House Dream Kitchens
- ESG Architecture & Design
- Fenson Construction, LLC
- Flad Architects
- HDR
- Kate Spade New York
- M&M Office Interiors
MSR Design
- Nordeen Design Group
- SAS Architects & Planners, LLC
- Sherwin-Williams Company
- Sustainable 9 Design Build
- Target Corporation
- Vela Creative Interior Design
- Walsh Design Group
Application
To apply to this degree program, you need to apply to UW-Stout Polytechnic.
Financial Aid
Students who are attending another institution, but are planning to receive their degree from UW-Stout Polytechnic, may be eligible to receive aid from UW‐Stout Polytechnic. In these cases, UW‐Stout Polytechnic is considered the Home Institution and the other campus is considered the Visiting Institution.
Transfer Students
New First-Year Students
All incoming first-year students admitted to a Pre-Bachelor of Fine Arts (Pre-BFA) program will begin their journey in the School of Art & Design’s First-Year Experience (FYX)—a common foundation designed to help you build the skills and portfolio needed to apply to your intended BFA major.
What Is a Pre-BFA?
When you’re accepted to UW-Stout Polytechnic, you’re automatically placed into the Pre-BFA version of the program you chose on your application. During your first year, you’ll complete FYX courses that help you prepare for a successful portfolio review.
Two Pathways to a BFA Major
Starting with incoming first-year students for fall 2026, you have two potential pathways into your BFA major:
- Pathway 1: Submit a Portfolio Before Enrolling in Your First-Year Coursework.
Before the start of school, you may submit an independent portfolio for review. If successful, you will be approved for direct-entry into your BFA major and will not be required to apply for the major later. You will still complete the School of Art & Design’s First-Year Experience (FYX) regardless of that outcome. If your portfolio review is unsuccessful, or if you choose not to pursue this pathway, you will still enroll as a “Pre-BFA” in your chosen BFA major. Deadlines and requirements are below. Ready to apply or have questions? Email artdesign@uwstout.edu. - Pathway 2: Submit a Portfolio During or After Your First-Year Coursework.
You enroll as a “Pre-BFA” student and develop a portfolio from the School of Art & Design’s FYX to apply for formal acceptance into your BFA major. After enrolling at UW-Stout, you have two opportunities to apply for acceptance.
What do I need to get accepted into my BFA program?
Pathway 1: After Admission to UW-Stout, Submit the Following by Feb. 1 (Priority Deadline) or April 1 (Regular Decision).
- Your portfolio is the most important part of your application. It is evaluated on artistic and conceptual content, design, composition, technical skill, and creative potential. Your portfolio should contain 12 examples of your best and most recent work that showcases your technical skills and idea development. Select works that demonstrate the depth and breadth of your creative experiences and interests. Your portfolio may include works in a variety of media, including two-dimensional work, photography, three-dimensional work, design, architectural renderings, interactive media, websites, video and animation. Portfolio samples may come from formal assignments or outside of an art class.
- Submit an essay, saved as one PDF, that includes responses of 150 words or less for each of the three prompts below. Incorporate terms and concepts learned to discuss your work.
- Please tell us about your pre-college background, including your experience with making art or design, your educational experience, and influences.
- Tell us about a single project this year that has been included in the portfolio. Why did you include it? What skills did you learn from this project (technical, critical, creative/process)? Which of your strengths do you think it highlights?
- Give us a vision for your future self: What areas will you improve on? What opportunities have been revealed with your learning at Stout? Describe your career objectives.
- A $10 application fee is assessed at the time you electronically submit your portfolio.
Pathway 2: Commonly submitted during the second semester at UW-Stout.
- 2.0 or higher UW-Stout Polytechnic cumulative GPA and a grade of C or better for all art, art history, and design courses
- Submit an essay using the same instructions above
- Your FYX portfolio, including a maximum of 12 high-quality images representing your original artwork. Artwork should include 3-4 drawings from Drawing I and II, 3-4 items from 2D and 3D courses, and 3-4 items of your choice, with emphasis on work related to your desired major.
Transfer Students
- Transfer students are admitted as Pre-Bachelor of Fine Arts (Pre-BFA) students. Upon admission to UW-Stout Polytechnic, information will be provided on how to submit a portfolio and essay for review by School of Art & Design faculty, who will determine direct admissions into the BFA major of your choice on a rolling basis. If a transfer student does not submit the materials or if they are not approved for the BFA program after submission, they may apply for a change of major in subsequent semesters, depending on available openings in the program. If needed, BFA Foundations courses will be available to Pre-BFA students pending seat availability.
A $10 application fee is assessed at the time you electronically submit your portfolio.
AI Policy
We discourage the use of AI-generated content in admissions portfolios. Any AI-assisted artwork must include clear citation and explanation of why AI was chosen as a tool. UW-Stout Polytechnic places a high value on artistic integrity and individual voice and expects student work to be a reflection of their own ideas, expression, and skill.
Goals of the B.F.A. Interior Design Program
- Nurture thoughtful, independent, and creative thinkers.
- Promote an interactive studio culture where students explore innovative design solutions, both independently and collaboratively.
- Educate future professional interior designers through theory, practice, research, and history.
- Teach relevant curriculum in support of our accreditation.
- Develop articulate practitioners and advocates with sensitivity to social, environmental, and cultural issues.
- Prepare successful communicators in speaking, writing, and graphic methods and technical systems.
- Establish and maintain industry connections and relationships.
Enduring Values of the B.F.A. Interior Design Program
- Student-focused
- Respect, Compassion & Empathy
- Function & Safety
- Beauty & Meaning
- Sustainability & Stewardship
- Community & Inclusivity
- Health & Well-Being
- Ethics & Professional Integrity
- Evidence-Based & Conceptual Design
- Purposeful Problem-Solving
- Lifelong Learning
Mission
The mission of the B.F.A. in Interior Design is to provide a positive and dynamic learning environment that fosters creativity, design thinking and collaboration. It is the integration of knowledge accumulated through studies in design, art, the humanities, technology, aesthetics, and design theory that prepares the interior design student to skillfully create meaningful, safe, and human-centered interior environments that contribute to the cultural, social and environmental well-being of society. It is our goal, through academic rigor and carefully constructed curriculum, to educate the future leaders in the interior design industry. Project based and hands on learning are at the core of the educational experience, which aligns with UW-Stout Polytechnic's values.
Program Advisory Committee
| First Name | Last Name | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorrie | Albers | Interior Project Manager | Nimble Project Services |
| Brittany | Blunt | Senior Interior Designer | Sustainable 9 |
| Tina | Branstad | Senior Interior Designer | BWBR Architects |
| Nicolette | Brehm | Professor | UW-Stout Polytechnic |
| Megan | Cupery | Senior Associate; Senior Project Interior Designer | Nimble Project Services |
| Emily | DeGallier | Territory Sales Manager | Forbo Flooring Inc. |
| Laiken | Green | Lighting Designer | IMEG |
| Klair | Johnson | Student | UW-Stout Polytechnic |
| Sara | Kunnick | Interiors Section Leader | Hennepin County Facility Services |
| Rochelle | Maresh | Principal | Woo Consulting Firm |
| Shelley | Pecha | Professor; Program Director; Chair, Design Department | UW-Stout Polytechnic |
| Julie | Peterson | Professor | UW-Stout Polytechnic |
| Amy | Saarem | Interior Design Senior Manager | Ashley Furniture |
| Krista | Tesky | Lead Designer | Target |
Frequently Asked Questions About Interior Design at UW-Stout Polytechnic
Is UW-Stout Polytechnic’s interior design program accredited?
Yes. The B.F.A. Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and UW-Stout Polytechnic’s School of Art & Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The program’s next CIDA accreditation review is scheduled for 2032. What CIDA accreditation means
Will I be eligible for the NCIDQ exam?
The B.F.A. Interior Design meets the education requirement to sit for the NCIDQ exam. You’ll also need supervised work experience; up to 1,760 hours earned before graduation, including co-ops and internships, can count. In your final year, you can take the first section, the IDFX. The program also lends study guides for the NCIDQ exam and for the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) credentials. How the NCIDQ exam works
Do I need a portfolio to apply?
Not to be admitted to UW-Stout Polytechnic. Admitted students start as Pre-B.F.A. students. You can submit a 12-piece portfolio and short essay before your first semester for direct entry to the major (priority deadline Feb. 1, regular deadline April 1), or build your portfolio during the First-Year Experience and apply during your second semester.
What courses will I take?
The B.F.A. Interior Design requires 120 credits, including 80 in the major. After an art and design foundation in drawing, two- and three-dimensional design, and color, you’ll take interior design courses in communication tools, materials and specifications, lighting design, codes and business practices, furniture design, and construction documentation, plus a construction course shared with construction management students and the history of design and of interiors. You’ll choose three advanced studios from hospitality and retail; healthcare and wellness; corporate and workplace; educational, civic, and cultural; residential; multi-family and supportive housing; and interdisciplinary design, which brings interior, industrial, and graphic design students together. You’ll finish with a capstone, and a mid-program portfolio review checks your progress.
Are internships or co-ops required?
Yes. Every student completes a required experiential learning credit through a field experience or a cooperative education experience. Hours worked before graduation, up to 1,760, can count toward the work experience needed for the NCIDQ exam.
Can I start a master’s degree while I finish my B.F.A.?
Yes. Through the accelerated (UG+GR) option, eligible students begin coursework toward UW-Stout Polytechnic’s M.F.A. in Design while completing the bachelor’s degree. Students decide as juniors, so their advanced studios can meet the graduate program’s objectives.
Do interior design students work with construction management students?
Yes. AEC-171 Light Construction Methods and Materials is a shared course that interior design and construction management students take together. In fall 2025, students in that class designed and built garden beds and a tool bench for a local senior living home. Some students also double major in interior design and construction management. How interior designers work with construction professionals
How much does the B.F.A. Interior Design cost?
For 2026–27, estimated tuition and fees are $11,767 for Wisconsin residents and $13,773 for Minnesota residents, plus the School of Art & Design’s B.F.A. program-specific tuition. Tuition includes a laptop and industry-standard software through the eStout Laptop Program. Compare public and private art school costs
What software will I learn?
You’ll work in AutoCAD and Revit for drafting and building information modeling, SketchUp for 3D modeling, Enscape for rendering, and Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office for presentations, plus Mattoboard, an online tool for building material boards. Autodesk provides AutoCAD and Revit free to students; the program provides SketchUp, Enscape, and Mattoboard; and Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office come with your laptop through the eStout Laptop Program. Software interior designers use
Where do interior design students intern?
Recent placements include BWBR Architects, Cuningham Group Architecture, DLR Group, MSR Design, RSP Architects, Wold Architects & Engineers, and Ashley Furniture Industries. More than a third of UW-Stout Polytechnic students accept positions with their internship employer.
Can I transfer into the B.F.A. Interior Design?
Yes. Transfer students are admitted as Pre-B.F.A. students and may submit a portfolio and essay for faculty review, with direct admission to the major decided on a rolling basis.