The Interior Design Program at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture considers the design of interiors as a multi-faceted endeavor with tangible consequences for society and the planet. The program’s offerings—including its curriculum, resources, and opportunities—reflect the balance between theoretical and applied knowledge that is needed for an effective engagement with the world through design.
LEARNING-BY-DOING
At the center of the student experience is a sequence of studio courses that serve as laboratories of innovation, creativity, professionalism, and learning-by-doing. Studio projects provide opportunities for addressing problems through design while also encouraging the synthesis of knowledge that is gained from courses across the curriculum.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS
The program is among only a handful of Interior Design faculties in the nation housed within a School of Architecture. In this context, the program strives to build upon and advocate for specific disciplinary knowledge, while also actively engaging in and contributing to interdisciplinary collaborations and the dynamic atmosphere of the school.
INTERIORS WITH IMPACT
With a commitment to global relevance, emerging technologies, social equity, and sustainability, the program acknowledges that its teaching must continue to evolve along with the diverse society that it serves. The aim is not only to follow but to encourage students to be leaders in the profession, their communities, and the world throughout their lives.
Interior Design
DEGREES + PROGRAMS
The Interior Design Program at the University of Texas as Austin offers two graduate-level degree programs, an undergraduate degree, and a minor in interior design at the undergraduate level.
| GRADUATE | UNDERGRADUATE | |
|---|---|---|
INTERIOR DESIGN NEWS
INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENT WORK
Click the images below for project details.
HISTORY OF INTERIOR DESIGN AT UT AUSTIN
UT Austin first offered Interior Design classes in 1912, making it the oldest Interior Design program west of the Mississippi River. The College of Engineering offered a five-year degree in Interior Architecture in 1930, which was discontinued in 1938. A sole curriculum remained in Human Ecology from 1945 onward that provided an emphasis area in Interior Design. In 1973, UT Austin’s program became one of the first accredited Interior Design programs in the country. The Interior Design major was transferred to the School of Architecture in 1997, and it has grown and flourished since then, offering a Master of Interior Design degree in 2010. More than 1,000 Interior Design alumni have left their mark beyond UT’s Forty Acres.
ACCREDITATION
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design as well as the first-professional Master of Interior Design I are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design granted by The University of Texas at Austin 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.
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@utsoaJoin us in welcoming the new and visiting faculty joining the School of Architecture community this fall!
▪️ Lidia Cano Pecharroman joins us as an Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning and the Director of the Extreme Weather Adaptation Lab at @thelbjschoolInstagram Post
@utsoaLed by Senior Lecturer Robert Stepnoski (@robertstepnoski), the 2025 Summer course “Robots for Architecture” explored robotic automation in architectural design and fabrication using KUKA robots.
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@utsoaOur faculty are known for their expansive professional practices that extend beyond the university, so we’re kicking off a new series to feature the research and design work of our wonderful professors.
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@utsoaA little quiet before the next creative storm. Two months down, two to go—see you in August. 🗓️
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@utsoaEven in an increasingly digital profession, hands-on fabrication remains a cornerstone of design education.
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@utsoaSummer stillness at UTSOA ☁️
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@utsoaHave you seen Goldsmith Hall's Living Wall lately? It’s thriving. 🌿
Designed to attract native fauna and test the boundaries of green wall systems, the Living Wall is a research project years in the making—part art, part architecture, part ecology.
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@utsoaWhat happens when local decision-makers and academic subject-matter experts come together to tackle some of Texas’ most urgent planning and design challenges?
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@utsoaKicked off the first of three orientation sessions this summer with an incredible group of new students. Welcome to UTSOA!