Mesa Community College
Enthusiastic, energetic design students with creative flair and an eye for technical detail find that the Interior Design program as Mesa Community College offers them opportunities to develop their skills and create functional, safe, aesthetically pleasing design solutions. The program is comprised of three levels of study, each of which prepares students for a different facet of the design industry. Students who desire to work in an entry-level interior design position choose the Associate in Applied Science curriculum (AAS) and complete general education and specific interior design content courses such as basic design, drafting, space planning, color theory and application, architectural and furniture history, rendering, interior materials, and business procedures. Through studio projects and an internship with a professional interior designer, students put theory into practice, learning how to recognize design problems and then do the necessary research and work to arrive at a creative solution. Students may opt for the Advanced Certificate of Completion in Interior Design, a complete program for those working towards professional certification in interior design. Supplementary coursework includes support systems (lighting, plumbing, acoustics, and ventilation), building codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act, advanced presentation skills, and additional studio work in problem solving. The Certificate of Completion in Home Furnishings and Materials is also offered for those with a working knowledge of the residential home furnishings industry. The curriculum is made up of classes in the fundamentals of design, architectural history, the history of furniture, color theory, fabrics and other residential design materials. Students choose electives based on the industrial sector which interests them the most.
