
Ball State's interior design major provides resilient, sustainable, and adaptive design solutions that enhance the function, safety, and aesthetic quality of indoor environments as a professional interior designer. Our bachelor’s degree in interior design will prepare you for an exciting and challenging career in a variety of settings like commercial offices, health care facilities, hospitality (restaurant and hotel), store planning, and much more.
As an interior design major, you’ll develop strong visual design skills, which you’ll use to produce the drawings, structural models, computer simulations, or full-scale prototypes you’ll work on as a professional. You’ll also gain the verbal skills you’ll need when working with clients, contractors, architects, and others involved in design projects. Our curriculum focuses on global diversity and universal design, or design that is accessible to all people, as well as creating sustainable interiors. You’ll apply these lessons to professional experiences as we are one of the few programs in the country that will pair you with real-world clients.
Learn in a Collaborative Atmosphere
You’ll work in a stimulating studio setting, where the learning is collective, cooperative, and competitive. You'll work closely with professors on projects that develop in size and complexity throughout your education.
Work with State-of-the-Art Technology
Ball State's interior design program is committed to staying in touch with evolving technology such as AutoDesk Revit Architecture and Adobe Creative Suite.
Gain Experience with Real Clients
Through our University Design Center, you’ll work directly with clients to design their spaces during your junior and senior years.
View a 3D Walk-through of a Project
“The BookTanical Student Center” from fourth year interior design student Karlie Potts.
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The Interior Design program leading to the BS and BA is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org. The program is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, https://nasad.arts-accredit.org/directory-lists/accredited-institutions/search/?id=I0089.
The accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The BA and BS degrees granted by Ball State University 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: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements
Interior Design Program Requirements
Our degree program also requires an internship component that provides students with the necessary skills to launch successful careers. Learn more.
Before purchasing a computer, read our computer requirements for best results using Autodesk Revit and Navisworks applications. Learn more.
What is Pre-Interior Design?
When applying to Ball State University, students pursuing Interior Design must complete the supplemental application process and secure admission into the Pre-Interior Design Program. For more information about the supplemental admission process, please log on to bsu.edu/admissions.
Once accepted, Interior Design students are placed in the Pre-Interior Design program for the first year. Transfer students are also placed in the Pre-Interior Design program. Approval to pursue the Interior Design major requires the submission to the Interior Design Portfolio Review during the spring semester of the first year.
Interior Design Portfolio Review
We require all Pre-Interior Design students to submit a portfolio of graphic works to demonstrate creativity and skills acquired during the first year. The portfolio review is a structured evaluation of the collection of work you have created during the fall and spring courses of the Pre-Interior design program. Spring semester projects will be as “work in progress” accomplished during January and February. The goal of the portfolio review is to assess the quality, range, and relevance of the student’s work. Therefore,passing grades in individual courses do not guarantee automatic acceptance into the program. Students must submit and then present their cumulative portfolio to the members of the portfolio committee and undergo a review to qualify for official acceptance.
Portfolio Process
- Faculty will work with Pre-Interior Design students their first and second semesters to prepare their portfolio.
- Using coursework from first and second semester, students submit a digital portfolio and present their portfolio orally in front of a design committee.
- If a transfer student is interested in interior design, they too must submit a digital portfolio and present their portfolio in front of the design committee.
- The Interior Design Portfolio Review occurs in February of the spring semester and results will be given prior to priority registration to assure a seamless transition to either the official Interior Design major, Pre-Interior Design again (second chance), or selecting another major.
Eligibility:
- All Pre-Interior Design students must submit a digital portfolio during the spring semester to be eligible for Interior Design major.
- All Pre-Interior Design students must present their portfolio in the oral presentation during the spring semester to be eligible for Interior Design major.
- If a student fails the Portfolio Review they are granted one additional try and may rework and resubmit their portfolio the following year.
- If a student fails any of the freshman Pre-Interior Design courses (IDES 100, IDES 101, IDES 116) or the Portfolio Review two times, they cannot continue in the program.
Please reach out to the Program Coordinator for more information.
This Interior Design Portfolio Review provides valuable benefits for students setting forth towards their career goals: 1) Constructive feedback, 2) Skill development, 3) Increased confidence, 4) Networking Opportunities, 5) Tailored improvements, 6) Preparedness for a future in the field, and 7) Setting real-world expectations. The best portfolios include diverse content and devote more attention to creative talents as well as technical abilities. Please see the link below outlining the Pre-Interior Design Portfolio Contents.
Pre-ID Portfolio Checklist
Student Projects
Enjoy this sampling of work from our talented students.

Glass Sky Animation
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Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about our Bachelor of Interior Design degree, complete our online form. Or one of the best ways to get a true feel for Ball State is to see it for yourself, so schedule a visit today! And if you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.