Design with purpose.
Bachelor of Interior Design (BID) Curriculum
The Bachelor of Interior Design (BID) at Louisiana State University offers a dynamic, studio-centered education that prepares students to shape meaningful, transformative interior environments. Two signature features include the design studio experience and the Option Semester. These distinguish the program and create opportunities for creativity, professional growth, and real-world engagement.
Design Studio Experience
From the first year forward, students are immersed in a sequence of design studios that form the heart of the curriculum. These student-centered, project-based courses emphasize collaboration, hands-on learning, and active dialogue between students and faculty. With low student-to-faculty ratios, studios foster close mentorship while encouraging experimentation, critical thinking, and innovation. As students progress, studios integrate technical skills, theory, research, and professional preparation, building confidence and design expertise at each level.
Option Semester (Spring of Third Year)
In the spring semester of the third year, students customize their educational path through the program’s Option Semester. This experience allows students to apply their knowledge in professional, global, or specialized studio settings while staying on track for graduation.
Students may choose from:
- Full-time professional internship
- Semester-long study abroad experience
- International or domestic exchange program
- Professional practice design studio
The Option Semester gives students the flexibility to explore career interests, gain professional experience, and broaden their perspective, all while strengthening their design portfolio and preparing for senior-level work.
Together, the studio sequence and option semester create a curriculum that balances creativity, technical rigor, and professional readiness, positioning LSU graduates for success in the evolving field of interior design.
Interior Design Curriculum
Curriculum Structure
The Bachelor of Interior Design (BID) degree requires 124 total semester hours, including 39 hours of university Integrative Learning Core (ILC) coursework. The interior design curriculum requires enrollment in specific ILC courses, including College Algebra (Analytical Reasoning), Introduction to Interior Design (Arts), Architectural History (Humanities), Introduction to Environmental Sciences (Natural Sciences), and Contemporary Global Issues (Social Sciences).
Following the recommended sequence of courses is essential, as the curriculum is carefully structured to support progression through the design studio sequence. Students who do not complete required courses within one year of the designated semester may be delayed in advancing to the next studio level.
Key Features of the Curriculum
- Sequential studio-based learning beginning in the first year
- Emphasis on research-informed design and health, safety, and welfare
- Integrated coursework in lighting, materials, systems, and human factors
- Structured spring third-year Option Semester
- Opportunities for professional practice and global engagement
- Senior-level seminar, history, and theory coursework
- Comprehensive final studio experience
Students with questions about the curriculum should schedule an appointment with a counselor in Student Services.