Residential Environments and Design

What is residential environments and design?

Major in residential environments and design at Virginia Tech and you’ll focus on planning, designing, and evaluating interior spaces that enhance the quality of life in residential settings. You’ll combine creative design principles with a strong foundation in human behavior, sustainability, and housing systems to create functional, aesthetically pleasing environments. The curriculum includes studio projects, technical drawing, and computer-aided design, along with coursework in universal design, building codes, residential construction systems, and interior materials. With hands-on learning, personalized faculty mentorship, and real-world experiences, you’ll graduate well-prepared for careers in residential interior design, housing policy, or residential product development, as well as for advanced study in design-related fields.

Why study residential environments and design at Virginia Tech?

Graduate from a program accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), which qualifies you to sit for the Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer certification exam. The program has produced several winners of the NKBA “30 under 30” program for emerging professionals.
Attend the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas (the world’s largest residential construction and design conference), where you’ll meet industry leaders and experience all major residential materials and fixtures.
Showcase your work and gain recognition by entering student design competitions sponsored by NKBA and the American Society of Interior Designers. Virginia Tech’s program has produced first-place winners in this national design competition.
Work at your personal desk in a recently renovated studio space.

Complete a required internship that gives you real-world insight and valuable career preparation. Many students receive job offers as a direct result.
Study abroad at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy, and deepen your knowledge of design, sustainability, marketing, consumer behavior, and housing practices in Italy.
Learn from a multidisciplinary faculty that includes both architects and interior designers.
Study with faculty who have written the textbooks that shaped the industry and have earned induction into the NKBA Hall of Fame.
Participate in student-led professional groups.
Gain hands-on experience in the Center for Real Life Kitchen Design, featuring seven fully equipped teaching kitchens.

Curriculum

What courses will I take?

To learn more about the courses you’ll take as a residential environments and design major, review the Program Curriculum and course descriptions in the university catalog. In addition to required courses in economic well-being, product analysis, business fundamentals, and action learning, you’ll have plenty of options to customize your degree through electives and Pathways courses.

Careers

Meet an alum

George Bryan '15

As a lead designer for GBC Kitchen and Bath, Bryan works on project management and maintaining client relationships. While a student at Virginia Tech, he gained hands-on experience and knowledge while serving as an intern for Hatchett Design Remodel, as president of the Housing Club, and as a research assistant.