Interior Design

Description:

This program leads to the Associate in Arts degree in Interior Design, with graduates prepared to transfer to baccalaureate institutions. However, after graduation from the Community College of Philadelphia, students may choose to enter the work force as junior or assistant designers, or as materials librarians.

The primary goal of the program is to teach students to be imaginative, responsible and knowledgeable interior designers. Within the context of the multi-disciplinary learning environment of the Architecture, Design and Construction Department, students develop, explore and apply the broad intellectual, visual and graphic capacities required to compete successfully in the challenging and rewarding field of interior design.

The curriculum and faculty are dedicated to providing each student strong design and technical experiences early in his or her education. The Interior Design program is built upon a sequence of design studios. It is here that design fundamentals are acquired, and technical, historical and theoretical concepts are synthesized and applied. Students increase their spatial visualization capabilities and are guided in developing a design process and a personal creative vision. At the same time, they learn to work as part of a design team. The design projects are organized to build aesthetic understanding, technical abilities, sensitivity to human needs and awareness of the social consequences of design decisions.

At the College, the study of interior design reflects the diverse, evolving roles and responsibilities of the design professional. The program provides a broad liberal arts education, drawing upon art, science, humanities, social science and the history of architecture and interior design. This is the vital foundation that leads to the ability to produce lasting, beautiful and functional design work.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

  • Use critical thinking and/or analytical skills to solve specific space planning and interior spaces design problems that synthesize human, ergonomic, technical, historical, cultural and theoretical concepts in two and three-dimensional form and space and that integrate lighting, color, textiles and furniture arrangements into interior design projects.
  • Communicate design intent effectively: 
    1. Orally,
    2. In writing,
    3. By producing design drawings utilizing freehand drawing, manual and computer drafting
    4. By producing three-dimensional analog and computer models that convey design intentions.
  • Identify common finish materials, related interior products, and furniture employed in the interior environment.
  • Create and analyze design solutions that take people, built context, human culture, and history into consideration, addressing design as a complicated interaction of these conditions.

Program Entry Requirements:

Interested high school students should complete a year of geometry, two years of algebra and two years in art-related areas (drawing, sculpture, photography or related areas). Mechanical drafting or Computer Assisted Design is also advantageous.

Students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students identified as needing developmental coursework must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses prior to enrolling in courses required by the degree program.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:

To qualify for the A.A. degree in Interior Design, a student must complete a minimum of 64 credits as prescribed, and attain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 ("C" average).

Course Sequence:

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or
ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)
  3 credits Writing/Research/Info Lit 1
MATH 137 - Geometry for Design (or above as per placement) ** FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement 3 credits Quantitative Reasoning
ADC 101 - Introduction to Design and Construction   3 credits Technological Competency*
ADC 103 - CAD Basics   3 credits Technological Competency*
ADC 109 - Design Studio I   4 credits  

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or
ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)
ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits Writing, Research, and Info Lit 2
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or
SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors) or
HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or
HIST 102 - United States History: The Civil War and the 19th Century or
HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or
HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) 
  3 credits

Cultural Analysis & Interpretation

ADC 159 - Design Studio II ADC 103ADC 109 4 credits  
ADC 160 - Presentation Techniques ADC 103 3 credits  
ART 105 - Drawing I   3 credits Oral Communication/Creative Expression

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
EASC 111 - Environmental Conservation or
other Scientific Reasoning course**
  3 or 4 credits Scientific Reasoning
ADC 112 - Construction Materials and Detailing: Properties or
ADC 212 - Construction Materials and Detailing: Methods or
ADC 163 - Architectural Visualization with Autodesk Revit or
ART 106 - Drawing II or
ART 111 - 3-D Design I or
ART 125 - Design I or
ART 126 - Design II
For ADC 112: ADC 103 or ADC 109
For ADC 212: ADC 103 or ADC 109
For ADC 163: ADC 103
For ART 106: ART 105
For ART 126: ART 125
3 credits  
ADC 209 - Design Studio III ADC 159, ADC 160 4 credits  
ADC 221 - History of Architecture and Interiors I ENGL 101 3 credits  
ADC 260 - Advanced Presentation Techniques ADC 160 and ADC 209 which may be taken concurrently; or ADC 163 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ADC 176 / HIST 176 - Philadelphia History: Architecture and Planning    3 credits  
ADC 222 - History of Architecture and Interiors II ADC 221 and ENGL 102 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
ADC 192 - Color and Lighting ADC 160, which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
ADC 112 - Construction Materials and Detailing: Properties or
ADC 212 - Construction Materials and Detailing: Methods or
ADC 163 - Architectural Visualization with Autodesk Revit or
ART 106 - Drawing II or
ART 111 - 3-D Design I or
ART 125 - Design I or
ART 126 - Design II
For ADC 112: ADC 103 or ADC 109
For ADC 212: ADC 103 or ADC 109
For ADC 163: ADC 103
For ART 106: ART 105
For ART 126: ART 125
3 credits  
ADC 259 - Design Studio IV ADC 209 4 credits  

Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:

64

* Students must complete ADC 101 and ADC 103 to meet the Technological Competency requirement.
** Students should select Quantitative Reasoning and Scientific Reasoning courses at CCP that correspond with the requirements of the institution to which they intend to transfer.

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.

* Students must complete ADC 101 and ADC 103 to meet the Technological Competency requirement.
** Students should select Mathematics and Science courses at CCP that correspond with the requirements of the institution to which they intend to transfer.

For More Information, Contact:

The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.