Interior Design Degree
Offered at: Larimer
Do you love designing spaces within your home or your friends’ homes? Is the idea of working with people to help them visualize their home design needs and create a design budget appealing? If you have a passion for design and an interest in architecture and residential or commercial space planning, the Interior Design Program might be a great fit for you. The Interior Design degree at FRCC helps students develop their abilities through sketching, manual drafting, and computer-generated presentation drawings. 
A.A.S. Interior Design Degree
This degree prepares students for entry-level employment as interior designers. Students earning this degree can choose to complete a one-credit, 40-hour internship or a capstone project. Many students use the capstone as an opportunity to develop a portfolio of their work. See required courses and interior design course descriptions.
Accredited Kitchen and Bath Design Certificate
This interior design certificate prepares students for the Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD) certification offered through the National Kitchen and Bath Association. As part of our Kitchen and Bath Design certificate, students complete a four-credit internship. Students work under the direction of the program director at a design firm or design-related company in northern Colorado. Past internships have been offered at companies such as Hixon Interiors, Eheart Interior Solutions, Earthwoods, and HighCraft Builders.
Interior Design Careers
An interior design degree could lead you down many different paths. You could work in commercial design in a variety of industries, or you could pursue a career in residential design or new construction and remodeling. You’ll also find a variety of opportunities in retail, sales and marketing, drafting, tenant finishes, and interior design education.
Careers in the kitchen and bath industry are also varied. You could work in cabinet design, casework design, remodeling, sales and marketing, CAD and 20/20 design, plumbing design, retail, or on specialized accessories or appliances.
Meet with the Interior Design Degree Advisor
There are no prerequisites to enter the Interior Design Program, but all students are required to complete assessment testing and place into ENG 090 or above, MAT 060 or above, and REA 090 or above. Before registration, students are strongly encouraged to meet with the program director, Nowell Vincent. Your first-semester class schedule should include AEC 101, CAD 105, IND 105, IND 113, and IND 197.
Interior Design Annual Salaries
| |
Entry |
Average |
Experienced |
| Interior Designer |
$30,885 |
$49,722 |
$59,215 |
| Commercial/Industrial Designer |
$41,864 |
$60,990 |
$70,552 |
| NKBA-certified Kitchen & Bath Designer* |
N/A |
$87,000 |
N/A |
| Kithen & Bath Design Firm Owner* |
N/A |
$114,000 |
N/A |
| Kitchen & Bath Dealership Owner* |
N/A |
$118,000 |
N/A |
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Occupational Statistics Survey (2010)
* NKBA Salary Survey (2008)
Interior Design Resources