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Interior Design

Home/Programs/Interior Design
Interior Design 2025-04-02T21:17:43+00:00

Interior Design

Elevate Living Through Design

A career in interior design with an associate’s degree can be a fulfilling and creative path, offering opportunities in both residential and commercial spaces. The Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design provides a solid foundation and opens doors to entry-level roles in this fast-paced and exciting field. You will learn to plan and visually present spaces to both residential and commercial clients. Our program covers multiple aspects of interior design and planning, including design principles and concepts, drafting and CAD software, building codes and regulations, textiles and materials, lighting design, and 3D tools that bring your design ideas to life.

Interior Design Program at Highline College

Interior Design Program Video

Course Highlights

  • Space planning
  • Lighting design
  • Sustainable design
  • Residential and Commercial design
  • Specialty design: Kitchen and bath, staging
  • SketchUp 3D Modeling software
  • Lumion and Podium 3D Model rendering
  • AutoCAD Drafting software
  • Revit 3D Drafting software

Academic Pathway

The Interior Design degree is designed to prepare students to enter both residential and commercial design fields. Graduates will learn specific job skills and have the opportunity to apply their skills through an internship.

Careers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for interior designers in 2023 was about $58,500.

The demand for interior designers is expected to grow, especially as people increasingly focus on making their living and work spaces both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This is particularly true with the increased demand for virtual workplaces. The BLS projects a 5% growth rate in the employment of interior designers from 2022 to 2032.

  • Junior Interior Designer
  • Design Assistant
  • Staging Specialist
  • Product Representative
  • Organizational Designer
  • Event Planner
  • Kitchen and Bath Designer
  • Lighting Designer

Program Information

Program Cost:  Approximately $5,743 per academic year (45 credits), includes tuition, books, and required fees. Fees may vary by program. Costs are subject to change.

Program Length:  Two years for full-time students (full-time is 12 credits or more).  Classes are offered in-person, online, and hyflex (flexible modality). Students may also attend part-time.

 

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The AAS in Interior Design transfers directly into the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Integrated Design at Highline College, opening doors for promotion, increased salary, and enhanced creative design.

This program helped me prepare for a career in residential design, and has fueled my desire in becoming an interior designer. The content of classes were practical, providing me with many opportunities to design an actual interior space for an actual client as if I was working for a real job setting. After having completed this program, my vision is to design interiors that are a healthy living space for the people and their environment. —SAORI ICHIKAWA.  Interior Design graduate.