Mesa College Interior Design
Program
The Interior Design Program is comprehensive and offers a professionally relevant curriculum. It includes technical knowledge and skill, creative problem solving and critical thinking, and professional practice application. The program provides work experience opportunities, involvement in professional organizations, competitions, and field trips.
An Interior Design Program Orientation / Informational Program is provided by the Interior Design faculty and an Academic Counselor each school year. The dates will be posted on the Interior Design section of the Mesa website and/ or the printed schedule. Contact the Counseling Department for additional information at: 619-388-2672
Program Coordinators:
Professor Mimi Moore, ASID, CID, IDEC, NKBA at 619-388-2256 or email: mmoore@sdccd.edu
Professor Holly Hodnick, CID, IDEC at 619-388-2941 or email: hhodnick@sdccd.edu
Important Information for Interior Design Majors
It is highly recommended that you meet with an Academic Counselor in I - 400 building to develop your educational plan. The Interior Design faculty does not counsel in the area of general education.
The courses in the Interior Design Program are comprehensive, as are the projects assigned. For a three-unit course, out-of-class assignments may require a minimum of nine hours of homework per week (three hours per unit). Students are encouraged to develop a long range plan that takes into account a personal timetable, family life, and employment. Many students take longer than expected to complete the program and have found that taking two Interior Designs courses per semester is sufficient.
Please see the recommended sequence of courses that is provided in our college catalog. The courses are frequently building blocks from one course to the next. Beginning Interior Design majors may select courses from the following choices:
| INTE 101 | Introduction to Interior Design |
| INTE 112A | Drafting for Interiors |
| INTE 115 | Elements and Principles of Interior Design |
| INTE 125 | Decorative Arts |
| CONF 140 | Textiles |
| ARTF 152 | Color Theory |
Please note that INTE, 101, 112A, and 115 are pre-requisites for more advanced courses.
INTE 112A Drafting for Interiors requires the purchase of drafting tools for classroom and home use plus the purchase of a drafting board/table with a parallel bar for home use. The tools and equipment will be used throughout the courses and are appropriate for use in professional practice. The cost may vary, but plan on spending minimally $300.00.
DEGREE CURRICULA AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
| Certificate of Achievement: | Units |
| Interior Design | 47-48 |
| Associate in Science Degree: | |
| Interior Design | 60* |
*and general education electives as needed to meet associate degree requirements
The Interior Design Program offers a comprehensive and professionally relevant curriculum. It includes technical knowledge and skill, creative problem solving, environmental applications, critical thinking, and professional practice. The program is accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath (NKBA) association. For more information on the program, career applications, and suggested course sequence, visit our website at www.sdmesa.edu/interior-design.
Certificate of Achievement: Interior Design
The Certificate of Achievement prepares students for entry-level positions in the Interior Design Industry. It is also a good option for students with prior college degrees that included general education.
| Course | Description | Units |
| INTE 101 | Introduction to Interior Design | 3 |
| INTE 105 | Residential Design | 3 |
| INTE 110 | Materials and Resources | 3 |
| INTE 112A | Drafting for Interiors | 3 |
| INTE 112B | Perspective Drawing for Interiors | 3 |
| INTE 115 | Elements and Principles of Interior Design | 3 |
| INTE 125 | History of Decorative Arts | 3 |
| INTE 130 | Interior Design Professional Practice | 3 |
| INTE 145 | Contemporary Housing | 3 |
| CONF 140 | Textiles | 3 |
| ARTF 152 | Color Theory | 3 |
| ARCH 105 | Computer Aided Drafting | 2 |
| INTE 200 | Advanced Residential Design/ Kitchens and Baths | 3 |
| INTE 205 | Non-Residential Space Planning | 3 |
| INTE 215 | Environmental Lighting Design | 3 |
| INTE 270** | Work Experience OR Select one course from the required electives listed for the Associate degree |
3-4 |
| Total Units | 47-48 |
** see work experience requirements required for NKBA endorsement
Associate of Science Degree: Interior Design
The Associate in Science Degree option provides the student with additional skills and knowledge of core competencies to meet professional standards. Interior Designers are expected to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public so additional coursework in business and building codes is important. A well rounded graduate who gained insight through the general education curriculum may find employment more abundant.
| Courses Required for the Major | Units |
| All courses listed under the Certificate of Achievement: Interior Design | 47-48 |
Select 16 units from the following Required Electives list to meet the total number of units required for the Associate in Science Degree: Interior Design. You may substitute one course from the Recommended Electives providing a minimum of 60 units are completed.
Required Electives: select three or four courses
| Course | Description | Units |
| INTE 270 | Work Experience (see NKBA requirements) | 3-4 |
| ARCH 106 | Advanced Computer Aided Drafting I | 3 |
| INTE 210 | Presentation and Color Rendering | 3 |
| BLDC 120 | Blueprint Reading | 3 |
| BLDC 260 | Building Codes and Zoning | 3 |
| BUS 140* | Business Law & the Legal Environment | 3 |
| BUS 155 | Managing the Small Business | 3 |
| SPEE 103* | Oral Communication | 3 |
*Counts toward general education requirement
Recommended Electives: selection of one of these courses can be substituted for one of the required electives if necessary
| Course | Description | Units |
| ARCH 101 | Computer Aided Design and 3D Imaging | 3 |
| ARCH 126 | History of Ancient World Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 127 | History of World Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 220 | Architectural Delineation I | 3 |
| ARCH 221 | Architectural Delineation II | 3 |
| ARCH 226 | Architectural Theory | 3 |
| ARTF 107* | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTF 109* | Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Art | 3 |
| ARTF 110* | Art History: Prehistoric to Gothic | 3 |
| ARTF 111* | Art History: Renaissance to Modern | 3 |
| ARTF 150A | Design I | 3 |
| ARTF 151 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ARTF 155A | Freehand Drawing | 3 |
| ARTF 155B | Freehand Drawing II | 3 |
| Total Units | 60 |
* Counts toward general education requirement
To be awarded an A.S. degree, a student must complete:
- All the Interior Design Certificate requirements
- Additional required and recommended electives in Interior Design
- Additional required units to meet the college graduation requirements for an associate degree
A certificate or degree will be awarded to those students achieving a grade of C or better in the major requirements listed above.
National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Accredited Program
The Interior Design Program is Accredited by NKBA. This means that a student who has completed the A.S. Degree in Interior Design or the Certificate of Achievement in Interior Design and INTE 270/Work Experience with a Certified Kitchen Designer or Certified Bath Designer meets all of the education requirements to sit for the Associate Kitchen and Bath Design (AKBD) exam upon graduation. NKBA’s mandatory requirement of two-years of work experience after graduation, as qualification to take the exam, is waived. See www.nkba.org for additional information.
Internships may be completed during fall and spring semesters. You may enroll in a 3 or 4-unit Work Experience section.
Although most internships are unpaid, a few are paid positions. The total number of hours you need to complete during the semester varies upon whether the position is paid or unpaid, and whether you are enrolled in 3 or 4 units of Work Experience. The breakdown is:
| PAID | 3 units | requires 225 hours |
| 4 units | requires 300 hours | |
| UNPAID | 3 units | requires 180 hours |
| 4 units | requires 240 hours |
All hours must be completed during the semester you enroll; it may not stretch over two semesters. Once you have enrolled, you will need to attend a mandatory orientation session where you will be given all the necessary paperwork required for the course. Hours do not count until the semester has officially begun.
Although there is no set time during your academic program to enroll in work experience, most employers prefer that you have a number of courses completed to ensure that you have interior design knowledge and skills. If you find that you will not be able to complete an internship due to personal constraints, you can substitute another course in its place (see required electives). However, it is through successful internship positions that many of our students find employment in our profession.
To find an internship position, a Work Experience binder has been organized that lists names of design and architectural firms who have hired our interns in the past. Contact information is provided as well as comments from students who have interned with them. The binder is kept in F 208C or F 208J. Please note that home-based businesses are not approved.
Recommended Sequence of Interior Design Courses for Student Success(see college catalog)
Extracurricular Activities
The students in the Interior Design Program at Mesa College are given many opportunities to participate in activities outside the classroom that greatly enhance their educational experience.
INTERIOR DESIGN CLUB: ASID STUDENT CHAPTER / NKBA STUDENT CHAPTER
Our student chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) give the students opportunities to network with professional interior designers and trade resources. Student members learn valuable leadership skills and are instrumental in creating programs of interest for the members.
At the end of each school year, this student organization sponsors a STUDENT EXHIBIT. A team of professional interior designers is invited to jury the work and awards are given for excellence.
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
It is our belief that we should give back to our community. The students find that being part of a design team, making decisions, and learning practical on-the-job skills through community service projects are rewarding on many levels. Projects completed by the students include:
San Diego Mesa College Student Affairs Office
San Diego Humane Society Dog Digs and Cat Cribs
Lincoln High School/School Age Parenting Infant Development Center
Project Oz
Hillcrest Receiving Home
ASID Designers Showcase Houses
San Diego Historical Society Showcase Houses
Heaven on 7th, Episcopal Community Services Project
Salvation Army Door of Hope
Ronald McDonald House
Chadwick Center at Children's Hospital
Operation Home Front – Nursery
FIELD TRIPS
The students eagerly anticipate our yearly field trips. Not only are these trips educational, but also give the students opportunities to interact with their peers. Examples include:
Local To the Trade Showrooms and Resources
NeoCon West
Showcase Houses
West Week/ Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Huntington Library, Pasadena, CA.
Getty Museum, Malibu, CA.
Comments from our Graduates.....
As a graduate of the Interior Design Program at San Diego Mesa College, I would like to say that it was, for me, excellent preparation for the practice of Interior Design. The program and its professors are top notch. Having stayed in touch with the Mesa program over the years, I watched it steadily grow in excellence. A spirit of commitment prevails among the faculty and students. Mesa’s Student Chapter of ASID is unusually vibrant, reflecting the professionalism and energy that resonate within the Interior Design Program.
Sincerely,
Nina Closser, ASID
President, CA San Diego Chapter, ASID
I graduated from your interior design program June 2002. I have since moved back to my home country, Sweden, and started my career as a designer. I work for a well-known design firm in downtown Stockholm as a design assistant and head CAD drafter. We do high-end contemporary residential homes and use many Italian designed products. I really enjoy my work and I learn so much every day, but I could not done it without the background I received at Mesa. I want to send my warmest thank you to the Interior Design faculty, to Professor Fender for the CAD classes, and all of the teachers in the arts.
Elin Bangs
I apply the education that I received at San Diego Mesa College to my business on a daily basis. The program which is strong in the business dynamics of the interior design profession has enabled me to build a successful interior design practice. I also hire and consult with designers who are graduates of the Interior Design program at Mesa College. I find their work to be exceptional and would highly recommend the program at Mesa for any person interested in an interior design career.
Susan Geier, ASID
Certified Interior Designer
Owner, Geier Goodman and Associates