Combine strategic and design thinking for a career creating functional spaces.

Entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Interior Design program offers an opportunity for interior designers already in possession of a diploma to upgrade to a baccalaureate degree. After meeting program and college eligibility requirements, you receive Level 06 status and complete five online bridging courses. You then progress into the final year of the degree program.

The Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) degree program prepares you to pursue a professional career related to the design of the built environment. The curriculum integrates professional and general studies with an emphasis on critical thinking and applied research.

Enriched with a focus on environmental and global perspectives in interior design, you learn to consider ecological, economic and social aspects to analyze and design healthy living and working environments.

Projects increase in scale and complexity from residential scale to medium and large scale projects from commercial sectors such as:

• retail
• workplace
• hospitality
• healthcare

The program contains a strong experiential component that includes design studio experiences and an active engagement with the professional design community. In the fourth year, you have the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest specific to the profession and are required to complete an applied research paper.

You may also earn a Building Biology Advocate (BBA) Certification upon successful completion of the seven required Construction courses and the completion of IBE101. Please speak with the Program Coordinator for specific details and deadlines.

Students also gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term(s) (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term(s) are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note admission to a co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement.

The integration of theory, analysis and practice prepare you to assume a leadership role within the profession. As a graduate, you are able to apply strategic thinking and a research orientation to your responsibilities as a professional interior designer and can contribute to the development and evolution of the field of design.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are curious about the space in which they live, work and play.
• Want to combine aesthetics, technology and human need into a highly-marketable career choice.
• Enjoy using creative, strategic and critical thinking to solve problems.
• Are interested in examining sustainable and global design issues.
• Enjoy a collaborative and innovative environment for learning.

Careers

This program graduates interior designers equipped to fulfill leadership roles within the profession on a national and international level. Graduates may find employment in interior design offices, architectural firms, government planning and facilities management offices, healthcare environments, educational environments or other design and built-environment related fields. Graduates have the skills to work on interdisciplinary, multi-cultural design teams in a variety of settings. Over time, and with suitable experience, some graduates may wish to develop their own firms.

With this degree, graduates may wish to continue their academic studies in interior design and related disciplines, such as environmental studies, environmental psychology and architecture.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

The graduates have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Be competent knowledgeable workers able to apply fundamental concepts and skills of design in a variety of contexts.
2. Design built environments consistent with industry standards and best practices.
3. Be critical and creative thinkers able to analyze situations, draw
   conclusions and develop innovative and creative products using an accepted decision-making model.
4. Be effective collaborators able to use communication and interpersonal skills to fulfill a leadership role on an interdisciplinary, multi-cultural design team.
5. Be continuous learners and contributing professionals able to assume the responsibilities of a professional designer, work within legal and ethical guidelines governing their practice and contribute to the development and evolution of the field of design.
6. Be informed citizens able to adapt their work across cultural, social political and geographical contexts.

Application Information

BACHELOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN (HONOURS) (ENTRY LEVEL 06) (CO-OP)
Program Code 6148B03FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Applications are available online at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants applying from out-of-country can obtain the International Student Application Form at https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/ or by contacting the Registrar`s Office.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Program Resources

Algonquin College has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting November 6, 2020. The College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable timeframe.

As the interior design profession rapidly matures towards more advanced credentialization across the globe, upgrading one`s credential to a baccalaureate degree enables one to function on an equal footing with colleagues around the world. Interior design graduates with a baccalaureate credential may also pursue graduate studies in interior design or related fields.

The following online courses need to be completed:

• Critical Thinking and Academic Writing
• Topics in Design History and Theory
• Perspectives in Interior Design
• Sustainable Issues
• Issues in Psychology

CO-OP INFORMATION:
Co-operative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience through paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op course, readiness activities and workshops.

Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin College and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and guides the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to relocate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.

Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses. For more information on your program`s co-op level(s), visit the courses tab on your program`s webpage.

International students enrolled in a co-op program are required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to have a valid Co-op/Internship Work Permit prior to commencing their work term. Without this document International students are not legally eligible to engage in work in Canada that is part of an academic program. The Co-op/Internship Work Permit does not authorize international students to work outside the requirements of their academic program.

For more information on co-op programs, the co-op work/study schedule, as well as general and program-specific co-op eligibility criteria, please visit www.algonquincollege.com/coop.

Completion of the total number of co-op work terms listed under the courses section on the program page are mandatory for graduation. Co-op students must make every effort to remain on schedule and participate in co-op work terms as planned. Students who fail to complete co-op work terms as scheduled may be required to take an unscheduled break in their studies, resulting in a delay in graduation in order to complete their co-op at a later date. Taking an unscheduled break in studies can impact an international student’s immigration status, including, in most cases, the ability to work. International students are advised to consult with the International Education Centre to understand the potential implications of unscheduled breaks at www.algonquincollege.com/international/student-handouts/scheduled-unscheduled-breaks/.

TRANSFER CREDIT RECOGNITION:
Applicants with degrees or degree level courses from Canadian institutions empowered to award degrees and from other degree granting institutions recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To receive a course credit, a minimum grade of C (65%) is required. Official transcripts and course descriptions/outlines must be presented with the application for credit recognition. Applicants with degrees or degree level courses from countries other than Canada or from postsecondary institutions not recognized by the MCU must have their degrees evaluated by a recognized Canadian public or private institution that specializes in the evaluation of international degree programs.

DEGREE ELECTIVE INFORMATION:
Students may choose from a variety of breadth courses. Courses from a range of disciplines are offered within the humanities, social sciences, sciences, global cultures and mathematics. Elective offerings may vary from semester to semester.