Interior Design

What is interior design?

Interior design students at Virginia Tech learn how to shape environments that support human well-being, build community, and promote environmental sustainability. The collaborative, studio-based curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, where students develop thoughtful design solutions to real-world challenges. With access to state-of-the-art facilities and open studios, students grow both their creative vision and technical expertise. The program’s strong alumni network and industry partnerships with firms like Gensler and Steelcase offer valuable professional connections and practical experience. Graduates leave prepared to pursue licensure and thrive in a wide range of design careers.

Why study interior design at Virginia Tech?

Earn your degree from a program fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
Join a close-knit community where you receive personalized attention from faculty whose offices often surround the studio spaces, making mentorship and support part of your everyday experience.
Claim your own dedicated desk in a studio with 24/7 access that is designed for collaboration and learning by doing — no shared or rotating workspaces here.
Work in makerspaces that give you hands-on access like the wood shop, metal shop, LaserCAMM cutting room, 3D printing lab, ceramics lab, silk screen printing studio, darkrooms, and more.
Learn from faculty with deep industry expertise who can connect you with internships tailored to your goals and interests.

Connect with alumni and industry professionals and get a glimpse into professional work sites through firm crawls and field trips to companies like Gensler, Steelcase, Knoll, LSM Architecture, and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Travel to Italy and study the architectural history of Florence and surrounding regions through the Interior Design Study Abroad – Florence program.
Develop your own area of expertise through a senior thesis project and present your work at the annual Meet the Interior Design Seniors event hosted by Gensler.
Use the interior design studio’s dedicated materials library and print lab to support your creative process.
Apply without a portfolio. Build a professional one as part of your coursework, with guidance every step of the way.

Students during critique sitting in a room full of home models and sketches on the wall around.

Curriculum

What courses will I take?

To learn more about the courses you’ll take as an interior design major, review the Program Curriculum and course descriptions in the university catalog. You’ll be able to personalize your degree with electives and Pathways courses.

Careers

Meet an alum

Farrah Goal '11

“I began seeking internships early, starting with a small local firm up the street from where I lived to see if I enjoyed the work. I loved it. From there, each summer I interned at firms in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, gaining valuable experience. By the time I graduated, I had secured a job at a top Washington, D.C., design firm.”