Program Philososphy

The Interior Architecture Program began in the fall of 1978 with approximately thirty students from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, when that academy closed its programs a major part of its student enrollment was absorbed into Columbia College. At its inception, the new Program was known as the Columbia College Interior Design Program. The Interior Architecture Program nomenclature became effective at the beginning of the 2001 Fall semester.

At the beginning of the Program’s history, the faculty consisted of one full-time faculty member and one part-time faculty member. The Program was placed within the Department of Art and Design, where it still operates as one of the seven areas of concentration within the department today: Fine Art, Advertising Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, Fashion Design and Interior Architecture. The Art and Design Department is one of many departments within the School of Fine and Performing Arts.

The Department’s current number of students is approximately 100 undergraduates. Historically, our students have not enrolled with us directly after graduating from high school. The majority entering the Program have been, on average, in their early twenties. However, recently there has been a greater number of students beginning our Program directly after high school.