At the School of Architecture and Design, our Bachelor of Interior Design (B.I.D.) program empowers you to create spaces that are functional, beautiful, and deeply connected to the needs of people.
Through a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum, you’ll gain the creative and technical skills to succeed in a field where design meets well-being, sustainability, and innovation.
Who Should Apply
This program is a great fit for students who:
- Are passionate about creating environments that improve people’s lives.
- Have a strong sense of aesthetics and a desire to solve real-world problems through design.
- Want a career that blends creativity, research, collaboration, and social impact.
- Are interested in health, wellness, sustainability, and human behavior.
- Plan to pursue a professional license and become a leader in the interior design field.
Key Features
- Human-centered, sustainable design focus, preparing you to make a positive impact on quality of life.
- Collaborative learning environment with faculty mentors who nurture your individual talents and goals.
- Integrated curriculum combining design foundations, digital communication, technical systems, and general education.
- Career readiness through national and international design competitions, job fairs, and professional conferences.
- Licensure preparation aligned with Louisiana and national standards, making you eligible to pursue registration in 25+ states.
What You’ll Study
Your courses will build a broad and balanced design education, including:
- Design studio courses that develop your conceptual thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
- Courses in building systems, materials, and lighting, helping you create safe, healthy, and comfortable environments.
- Digital tools and visual communication, preparing you to express your ideas clearly and professionally.
- History and theory of interior design and architecture, deepening your understanding of context and culture.
- Sustainability and wellness-focused curriculum that integrates environmental and social responsibility.
Throughout your studies, you’ll learn to design for a wide variety of interior environments — from residential to healthcare, hospitality, commercial, cultural, and more.
Where It Can Take You
Graduates of the B.I.D. program go on to shape interiors in:
- Homes, restaurants, hotels, retail spaces, museums, libraries, and hospitals
- Architecture and interior design firms, or their own private practices
- Specialties like historic preservation, adaptive reuse, lighting, and environmental design
- Related fields such as facilities management, consulting, or as brand/product representatives
You’ll also be prepared for graduate study — whether continuing at UL Lafayette through our Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), or pursuing an advanced degree in interior design or a specialized field elsewhere.
Path to Licensure
To become a licensed interior designer in Louisiana and many other states, you’ll need to complete:
- A first professional degree (B.I.D.)
- 3,520 hours of professional work experience under a licensed design professional (up to 1,760 hours may be earned during school)
- The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam
Our program meets the education requirement and helps you begin earning experience hours toward licensure. With this foundation, you’ll be eligible to practice professionally in Louisiana, 25 other states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.