Interior Architecture Degrees in DC
Join the next generation of interior designers who are reimagining the spaces we inhabit and pushing the boundaries of three-dimensional design.
WHY THE CORCORAN SCHOOL AT GW?
PRESTIGE AND ACADEMIC RIGOR
Since 1878, the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at GW has long been synonymous with innovative arts education, and it continues this tradition with the only Interior Architecture (IA) program in the nation’s capital that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
LEADING FACULTY
Courses are taught by internationally recognized, award-winning professionals who bring their unique experiences and projects into the classroom. Our professors are not only design experts who are committed to their students’ personal and professional growth, but are authors, researchers, and speakers, who have ties to prestigious cultural institutions, renown architecture and interior design firms, and notable professional organizations.
DESIGN DC
The nation’s capital offers an endless array of significant architecture and interiors in both classical, modern and contemporary styles. As a result, GW students can access everything from top-notch museums and galleries to hotels, restaurants and fashion-forward retail stores for academic fieldwork, internships and inspiration. More importantly, the Corcoran taps its vast network of professionals from DC’s top architecture and interior design firms for students to gain insightful critiques, lectures, events and invaluable connections.
CORCORAN HIGHLIGHTS
SMALL SCHOOL FEEL IN A MAJOR UNIVERSITY SETTING
Our studio projects take advantage of our location within a multi-discipline research university in the nation's capital with interdisciplinary studies that collaborate with diverse GW departments, adaptive re-use projects positioned within historic contexts in DC, and projects that highlight the global vision of the university. According to U.S. News and World Report's National University Rankings 2022, the Corcoran’s IA BFA program is the 10th highest ranked national university that offers interior architecture. Furthermore, our small studio size allows for one-on-one critiques and discussion with faculty, peers, and professionals.
A DEPTH AND BREADTH OF INSTRUCTION
We believe in fostering an environment that encourages creativity and pushes the boundaries of design with an emphasis on conceptual thinking and the design process. Our studio-based curriculum, the core of our program, is where students learn to design three-dimensional space—from small interiors to larger, more complex commercial and institutional spaces—through the use of dynamic concepts, cutting-edge materials, and innovative methods and techniques. Students are also required to participate in an internship in order to apply their skills to real-world experiences.
VIBRANT HOME IN WASHINGTON, DC
The Corcoran is in the thick of a dynamic arts and culture scene—just minutes away from landmark museums and provocative galleries. Each year, our students work together with a DC non-profit on a community design project; this has strengthened our ties to the city and allowed our students to see their work implemented in the district. Professional opportunities abound as GW is in close proximity to leading architecture and interior design firms, as well as professional organizations including the Washington Design Center, the International Interior Design Association, and headquarters for both the United States Green Building Council and the headquarters of the American Society of Interior Designers.
SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL PATHS
GW’s IA program set its students up for future success. In fact, more than 79% of BFA and 75% of MFA of the Class of 2019 found work in the industry within six months of graduation. While many of our graduates gain positions at many prominent and successful design firms, such as Gensler, Hickok Cole, Deborah Berke Partners, Clodagh Design, and Peter Marino Architect, other intrepid alumni have started their own firms. In just one example, three alumni who met in the IA program started Hutch, a design firm / online platform that has been featured in Shark Tank, and one of its principals, Beatrice Fischel-Bock ’13, was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2018.
WHERE OUR ALUMNI WORK:
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