Interior Design
Program Mission
The Interior Design program option at CSUN prepares students to analyze, design, and implement living/working environments that are functionally efficient and aesthetically satisfying to diverse populations.
Want to learn more about our program? Check out the CSUN Arts series episode, 'CSUN Arts: Interior Design', which takes a spotlight to our Interior Design program at CSUN.
Program Philosophy
The Program embraces an environmental and behavioral relationship between people at various ages and developmental stages and the interior environments they occupy.
Program Goals
The primary goals of the FCS Interior Design program are to educate students who will after graduation:
- Accept the responsibility of a professional to assess clients' needs and design environments, and respond to those needs with functional and aesthetic design solutions, which enhance users' dignity and well-being;
- Assume a level of social responsibility for issues of community, health, safety, security, and the environments;
- Adhere to the CIDA definition of a professional interior designer and strive to meet or exceed CIDA standards; and
- Remain current in the profession, and knowledgeable about the world through life-long learning.
California State University, Northridge, Family and Consumer Sciences, Interior Design, Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science, Interior Design (2023-2024)
CSUN’s program prepares students to become informed citizens and professionals of Interior Design. Faculty, advisors, and administrators work together with students to create a plan for completion within 4 years. With CSUN’s large percentage of transfer students in interior design, we work together with students to achieve a timely graduation.
The following data was collected using institutional records.
Student Attrition and Retention:
55% of student currently in the interior design program have transferred from other institutions.
258 student are currently enrolled in the interior design program for the 2023-2024 academic year.
10% of students currently enrolled in the interior design program are international students.
Graduation Rates:
112 students have completed the program in the last three years (2020-2023).
Acceptance into Graduate Programs:
10% of graduates from the past year (2022-2023) are continuing their education in a graduate program.
Job Placement Rates:
100% of graduates from the past year (2022-2023) are employed as interior designers or a related profession.
The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with an option in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation:
206 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW
Suite 350
Grand Rapids, MI, 49503-4014
The CIDA-Accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design (formerly Family and Consumer Sciences with an option in Interior Design) granted by the College of Health and Human Development at California State University, Northridge meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.
Thursday, October 12th, 2023 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm - First Meeting for IIDA CSUN Chapter
Thursday, February 13th, 2020 - Interior Design Student Charrette
- Admission criteria
- General Academic Policy
- Housing
- Financial aid
- Insurance for Students
- Student Services
- Student Health Center
- Office of Disability Resources and Educational Services
- University Counseling Office
- Office of Student Services for College of HHD
- Learning Resource Center
- Oviatt Library
- Information Technology
- Recreational Center
- Grievance procedure
- University calendar
- Graduation Requirements
Mentorship & Advising
All students in the Interior Design program are mentored and guided by our faculty advisers. Our courses integrate the educational experience that will help students attain promising careers in interior design.
- University Catalog: Interior Design Bachelor's Degree Requirements
- Interior Design Program Flowchart
- Interior Design Program Planning Requirements Sheet
- Student Program Planning Worksheet: Interior Design
For any course or program related questions please e-mail one of the following faculty advisers to make an appointment with them during their schedule office hours. Be sure to print and take your most current Unofficial Transcript and any questions you may have.
| Faculty Advisors |
|
Prof. Kristin King |
|
Ms. Rodica Kohn |
|
Dr. Hessam Ghamari |
You can find all faculty and faculty advisor scheduled office hours on the Students page under Advisement Forms and Resources.
Studio Projects
The course work in studios expose students to a broad range of design projects. Some projects that students work on include (but are not limited to) homes, offices, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, spas, cruise ships, wellness centers, hospices, and a variety of mixed-use facilities.
Professional Organizations
Opportunities for leadership, networking, and potential relationships are presented through student membership in:
- The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
- International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
- Annual Interior Design Student Charrette
CSUN student chapters of these organizations are active in the community and participate in competitions and events in association with professional members.
Internships
A crucial component to the Interior Design option is the academic internship. This program prepares students to enter into professional practices in interior design, as well as positions as showroom managers, product representatives, private entrepreneurs and furniture designers. CSUN has internship agreements with various companies across the Los Angeles area.
Internships are available in a variety of industry settings including:
- Interning with an interior designer
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale and retail firms
- Nonprofit community agencies
Careers
Our graduates have found success as:
- Residential or contact interior designers
- Showroom managers
- Sales managers
- Furniture designers and manufacturers
- Materials designers and specialists
- Lighting designers
- Hospitality designers
- Health care facility designers
- Set designers
- Fixtures, furnishings, and finishes specifiers
CSUN Career Center takes a Pathways department insight into the Interior Design program and its careers through this wonderful video.
Employers
Below is a sampling of companies that have hired our graduates. Our students have been employed as residential and contract interior designers, hospitality designers, design showroom managers, sales managers, project manager, CAD designers, furniture designer and manufacturers reps, materials designers, lighting designers, set designers, fixtures, furnishings, and finishes specifiers.
A.S.D. Interiors Inc.— Burbank, CA
Ashley Furniture Industries– Los Angeles, CA
Ateliar Saucier—Culver City, CA
Atwater Studio Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
August Design Consultant Co., Ltd. – Bangkok, Bangkok
Bernards Office Furniture – Los Angeles, CA
Bishop Pass – Los Angeles, CA
Bobby Berk – Los Angeles, CA
Borrenson Design – Los Angeles, CA
Built Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
Caesarstone Ltd. – West Hills, CA
California State University, Northridge (Student Finance Association) – Northridge, CA
California State University, Northridge (Family & Consumer Sciences) – Northridge, CA
Casafina Interior Design – Huntington Beach, CA
Casastilo Inc. – Woodland Hills, CA
Courtney Thomas Design – Pasadena, CA
Cunningham Group Architecture, Inc – Culver City, CA
Décor Interior Design Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
Design Stage Sell – Los Angeles, CA
Design Within Reach – Los Angeles, CA
Design Stiles – Studio City, CA
DDD – Los Angeles, CA
Dewitt Designer Kitchens – Studio City, CA
DILA Showroom/Diamond Interiors – Los Angeles, CA
DRJ Design Group LLC Dunn-Edwards Corporation – Orange County, CA
Dunn-Edwards Corporation – Los Angeles, CA
Ferguson + Knowles Studio – Los Angeles, CA
FKA Studio – Los Angeles, CA
Four Point Design Build Studio Los Angeles– Canoga Park, CA
FREED Expressions Construction – Los Angeles & Venture, CA
HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates – Los Angeles, CA
HD Buttercup – Culver City, CA
Hearts.com – Phoenix, AZ
HPA Design Group – Dallas, TX
Indidesign – Los Angeles, CA
Inner Space Design Group Kamus + Keller Interiors – Westlake Village, CA
JAG Interiors – Calabasas, CA
Jay CAD—Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer Gargano Interiors – Albany, New York
JK Design Group – Northridge, CA
JSDA – Los Angeles, CA
Kashmere Interiors – Woodland Hills, CA
Keller Williams SD Metro
Kelly Architects – Los Angeles, CA
Kerry Joyce – Los Angeles, CA
KKID – Los Angeles, CA
Klawiter and Associates – Los Angeles, CA
KNA Interior Design – Los Angeles, CA
Kravet Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
Krull Interiors – Los Angeles, CA
LA Dodgers (Planning Department) – Los Angeles, CA
LA Dwelling/Interior Luxx Designs, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
LA Furniture Store – Woodland Hills, CA
LA Pierce College – Los Angeles, CA
La-Z-Boy – Northridge, CA
LM-ID Inc. (Lynda Murray Interior Design) – Los Angeles, CA
Lori Erenberg Interior Design – Pacific Palisades, CA
Los Angeles Unified School District – Los Angeles, CA
Lucy Development Co
MAGNI Kalman Design – Los Angeles, CA
Martyn Lawrence Bullard – West Hollywood, CA
Michelle Niday Interiors – Los Angeles, CA
Mitra Design – Los Angeles, CA
MT Interior Design – Woodland Hills, CA
Nelson Worldwide – Seattle, Washington
Netflix (System Source, Inc.) – Los Angeles, CA
One Design Lab, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
One Week Bath – Can Nuys, CA
Pottery Barn (Design Studio) – Pasadena, CA
Pier 1 – Northridge, CA
Rapport International Furniture – Los Angeles, CA
Neiman Studio – Los Angeles, CA
Rane Leama Interior Design – Los Angeles, CA
Richard Hallberg Interior Design – Los Angeles, CA
Rincon Del Plano – Leon Area, Mexico
Romanek Design Studio – Los Angeles, CA
Rosie Navi Design – Beverly Hills, CA
Sarah Bernard Design – Santa Monica, CA
Seed Design Planning – New York, NY
Showcase – Van Nuys, CA
Sierra Custom Kitchens – Pasadena, CA
Simour Design (LA Healthcare Design Inc.) – Beverly Hills, CA
Soho House – West Hollywood, CA & Malibu, CA
Studio Corbeau – West Hollywood, CA
Summer Baltzer Home – Los Angeles, CA
Summit Construction – Los Angeles, CA
Sunday Republic Events – Santa Clarita, CA
Sunland Shutters – Long Beach, CA
The Robert Allen Group – Los Angeles, CA
Vanyan Studio – San Marino, CA
Advisement
Please e-mail your advisor to make an appointment with them during their schedule office hours. Be sure to print and take your most current Degree Progress Report (DPR) and a blank Interior Design Advisement Form to your advisement appointment.
| Advisement by Last Name | Faculty Advisor |
| A-I | Dr. Hessam Ghamari |
| J-R | Prof. Rodica Kohn |
| S-Z | Dr. Kristin King |
You can find all faculty and faculty advisor scheduled office hours on the Students page under Advisement Forms and Resources.
Interior Design Open Studio and Library
The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Department offers open studio and library hours in SQ 201/215 each spring and fall semester for all Interior Design Option students within the FCS major.
You can also find current and previous open lab hours for the Interior Design option by visiting the FCS Open Lab Hours page under Students. Please check back often for updates.