SAIC’s non-credit Interior Design Certificate Program equips students with knowledge and skills in the constantly evolving field of interior design. Students will study interior architecture, learning how to design and create functional interior spaces while gaining exposure to contemporary design concepts, trends, and applications. You will learn what is required to design and build an interior space, gain a general knowledge of how interior designers work, and examine what it takes to move creative designs from ideas to reality.
The Certificate in Interior Design is ideal for:
- Students wishing to learn technical interior design skills for career advancement
- Students interested in undertaking personal design projects relating to interior architecture or design
- Students looking to build a portfolio for admission to interior architecture degree programs, including SAIC’s Master of Architecture with an Emphasis in Interior Architecture
In addition to fostering the practical skills needed to succeed in the field, our program also emphasizes the importance of creativity and innovation. Students will have the opportunity to work on real-world projects while developing their design skills and building an interior architecture portfolio that showcases their abilities.
Students should have access to a Mac or PC, and be comfortable navigating directory structures and creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files.
Interior Design Certificate Coursework Requirements
Required Course (1): Design Matters
Studio Courses (4): Select four 30-hour interior design classes in Chicago or online, under the subject headings Design, Architecture or Interior Architecture:
- Color Theory
- Digital Drawing: Interior Design
- Digital Drawing: Objects and Space
- Interior Design Studio: Kitchens and Baths
- Introduction to Architecture
- Introduction to Interior Design
Elective (1): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificates, including 1-week and 2-weekend intensives.
Total required courses: 6
To see current courses in the Interior Design program, visit continuingstudies.saic.edu
-Click Current On-Campus Courses or Current Online Courses on the left panel
-On the I would like to see: dropdown menu, select CS Architecture, CS Design, or CS Interior Architecture.
Note: We offer interior architecture and interior design certificate courses in Chicago on our campus and online, however, Adult Continuing Education non-credit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely remotely. Coursework requirements may not always be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person). Required architecture and interior design courses may not be offered every term.
Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Interior Design Certificate Curriculum Guide.
Completion of the Interior Design Certificate requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews are taken during or after the student's final coursework term. Students will also need to complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and take part in a brief exit interview to receive their digital certificate.
Register for the ACE noncredit certificate online.
