Interior Design, AAS

CIP 500408 (IND)

The Interior Design Program at ACC has been educating Interior Design professionals since 1975, and is one of the oldest programs in the State of Colorado. This program enjoys an excellent reputation of quality education in the Colorado Interior Design community. Interior Designers play an important role in developing efficient, functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces in both residential and commercial interior environments. The Interior Design program at ACC prepares students for a career as a professional interior designer. Students learn to develop not only creative abilities and how to express them, but also the methods and processes needed to practice design ethically, responsibly and profitably.

NKBA Accreditation

The ACC Interior Design Program is accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and was awarded the NKBA Award for Excellence in Education (2011-2012); one of only three schools nationally to receive this award. The Kitchen and Bath industry is a specialized area of residential design. As students near completion of the Interior Design Program, they are qualified to sit for the AKBD exam, which is the Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer qualification. After practicing in the field for a specified number of years, designers may sit for the CKD or CKB exam which qualifies them as a Certified Kitchen Designer or Certified Bathroom Designer. Kitchen and Bath is a part of the regular curriculum of the Interior Design program. However, students who are interested in an abbreviated format specifically in Kitchen and Bath design education, may enroll in the Kitchen and Bath Specialist Certificate program that is now being offered by the ACC Interior Design Dept. (See specific information for the Certificate.)

Admission Requirements

Admission to Arapahoe Community College
Students must attend an Interior Design Program Orientation prior to registration. Dates for orientations are listed on the ACC website.
Students should have been assessed to be at college-level in English (see Student Resources and Services - Assessment in this Catalog)
- OR 95 on ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills within the last 5 years
- OR ACT or SAT scores within the last five years
- OR have earned a previous college degree
- OR have completed any necessary developmental courses, if required, with a grade of “C” or higher before taking Interior Design courses.
Students wishing to transfer in Interior Design or General Education credits to fulfill degree requirements must have official transcripts sent to ACC Admission and Records Office. If you have questions after Admissions and Records has evaluated your transcripts, please call 303.797.5958 to schedule an appointment with the IND Department Chair.

Program Requirements

General Education Requirements (15 credit hours)

ENG 121 - English Composition I: GT-CO1 3 Credits OR
ENG 131 - Technical Writing I 3 Credits
ART 121 - Drawing I 3 Credits
Three additional general education courses - 9 Credits**

Note(s):

* Interior Design students must select one (1) elective below to complete the 60 credit Interior Design Program requirement.

Total: 75-76 credit hours

Graduation Requirements

All courses required for this A.A.S. degree must be completed with a grade of “C” or better to meet admission and graduation requirements.
To graduate, students must apply for graduation and complete the graduation survey (available via myACC). (form available at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation)
After applying for graduation, all correspondence to a student about the status of their program conferral will be sent to their student email address only.
As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.