VCU news

By Tom Gresham

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Interior Design has been recognized as having one of the 10 best undergraduate programs in the country, according to new rankings from DesignIntelligence magazine.

VCU was selected with five other schools in a tie for No. 10 among undergraduate programs in DesignIntelligence’s November/December issue, which was titled “2011 America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools.” VCU’s program, which is part of the VCU School of the Arts, was named a hidden gem by the magazine in its previous rankings.

“We have worked hard to be included in the top ranks of interior design programs in the country,” said Sharran Parkinson, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Interior Design. “The recognition highlights our determination to constantly improve and evolve as a program. Our students are dedicated. And faculty members continually update the curriculum, applying thoughtful methods that allow students to develop a keen understanding of complex problems and solutions associated with the design of the near environment. We also attribute our success to strong undergraduate advising, real-life service learning projects and study abroad opportunities. This recognition rewards those efforts.”
 
The VCU Department of Interior Design, which is one of the oldest programs of its kind in the United States, offers a curriculum that balances academic study with professional training, helping students gain both conceptual knowledge and technical skill. The department is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

The department boasts strong faculty, an active relationship with the professional community, an engaged alumni base and extensive resources for students, including individual work stations for each of the program’s approximately 90 undergraduate students. Students are required to serve internships in a professional design setting, part of the emphasis on real-world experience, and they receive training in all areas of design, including presentation and communication skills.

In addition to the undergraduate program, the Department of Interior Design has a graduate program, which offers a master of fine arts degree in interior environments.