Accredited Interior Design Program in Dallas, TX
Wade College's CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) accredited Interior Design program transforms students into professionals with the creative, technical, and critical thinking skills necessary to design functional and beautiful residential and commercial spaces that contribute to the safety, health, and well-being of occupants.
Students learn to solve complex design challenges through the application of interior design principles, design theory, history, research, and project programming. The curriculum provides hands-on experience in drafting, space planning, design communication, and industry-standard software including AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, and emerging technologies utilized throughout the design profession. Students are introduced to artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital innovations increasingly integrated into leading design platforms, learning how to leverage these tools responsibly, ethically, and strategically to enhance creativity, research, visualization, and problem-solving while maintaining a human-centered approach to design.
Studio courses taught by industry professionals challenge students to develop solutions that balance aesthetics, construction, sustainability, environmental responsibility, and occupant well-being. Students gain valuable real-world experience through field experience opportunities, engagement with the Dallas Design District, and participation in industry trade events at the Dallas Market Center.
LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS A:
- Interior Designer
- Space Planner
- Kitchen & Bath Designer
- Design Consultant
- Project Manager
- FF&E Specialist
- Textile Specialist
- Production Designer
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Space planning
- Industry software (AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp)
- Human-centered design
- Material science
- FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment)
- Lighting design
- Environmental factors in interior design
- Architectural basics
ACCREDITED INTERIOR DESIGN DEGREE
- Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA): The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design is accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503-4014. The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations.
- The Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design granted by Wade College satisfies the Interior Design credit hour requirement of education to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility, visit www.cidq.org/for-exam-candidates/eligibility/.
- Wade College is an American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Higher Education Partner. To learn more about ASID, visit www.asid.org
Student Achievement Data
A full-time student enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design program and taking a minimum of 15 credit hours per trimester can complete the program in 8 consecutive trimesters, which is 32 consecutive months of study. The following data was collected using institutional records. Alumni surveys are regularly administered 6 months after each graduating class. There were 6 baccalaureate-level graduates from the Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design program in the 2024-2025 cohort: Student Attrition and Retention (83% of students admitted in the fall of 2024 returned in the fall of 2025, putting attrition at 17%); Graduation Rates (of the students graduating in the 2022-2023 academic year, 100% graduated in 4 years or less); Acceptance into Graduate Programs (there are no 2024-2025 academic year graduates enrolled in graduate programs); and Job Placement Rates (89% of students who graduated in the 2022-2023 academic year are employed in the interior design field or a related profession).