California Interior Design Schools
by Wendy CroixSchoolSmart by Design Columnist
Variety is the spice of interior design life, and California interior design schools run the gamut - from top-ranked California College of the Arts to local community colleges.
FIDER-accredited California Interior Design Schools
A lucky thirteen interior design programs in California meet the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research standards for accreditation. These schools offer at least a bachelor's degree in interior design, and they prepare graduates to enter the profession. Learn more about The Art Institute Online's Bachelor Degree program in Interior Design.
FIDER, the educational wing of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) gives the nod to the interior design programs at three Cal State campuses, Fresno, Northridge and Sacramento, as well as Extension programs at UCLA and Berkeley.
A number of arts and design schools get FIDER's endorsement: Academy of Art University, San Francisco; California College of the Arts, San Francisco; the Design Institute of San Diego and the Interior Designers Institute, Newport Beach.
Four smaller colleges and universities complete the list of accredited California interior design schools: American InterContinental University, Los Angeles; West Valley College, Saratoga and Woodbury University, Burbank.
Two-year California Interior Design Schools
Information about adult interior design education can be found under HECT Education on California's Department of Education website. Online certification in interior design is another option for students willing to work as design assistants.If a two-year A.S. program better suits your educational needs, you can find an interior design program in many of the state's 109 community colleges. Community college interior design programs require a 31-unit interior design core, plus additional specialty coursework.
Some California community colleges also offer an A.S. in kitchen and bath design. The two-year degree qualifies students for allied membership in the American Society of Interior Designers.
About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and university professor. In her twenty years as a professional educator, Wendy has guided hundreds of students toward the careers of their dreams.
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