Interior Architecture, part-time
Interior Architecture involves designing living spaces for different purposes, from private residences to furnishing and product designs, exhibition designs or designing shops, show rooms and events. This ten-semester Bachelor's program teaches students the expertise they need in this field.
The practical part-time Bachelor’s program in Interior Architecture offers an alternative way to complete the degree, as students combine concrete practical work with their studies after the fifth semester. The goal of the program is to qualify students for a nationally recognized interior architect professional certificate. Based on a fundamental approach of “Human Centered Design,” this degree program offers both a sound and practical education in the interior design field. Students gain artistic-design, academic-technical and planning-organizational skills. Practical design projects where students design rooms, furnishings, products, installations and communication measures are the focus of the degree program.
The degree program teaches competences and expertise in the following areas:
- Interior design drafts
- Artistic-design basic training
- Cultural and humanities fundamentals
- Technical and design expertise
- Digital design and illustration tools
- Marketing, costs and law
- Communication and presentations
Qualification
This degree program fulfills the statutory requirements of the NRW Construction Chamber Act by ensuring the minimum standard program length for the subject of interior design. Therefore, students are entitled to register with the Chamber of Architects if they fulfill the other requirements.
Graduates will be qualified for careers in the following areas:
- Interior and spatial design for residential, work, recreational, spa and sports, eduction and teaching, and health and nursing environments
- Development and production of furnishings and equipment for both private and public use
- Conceptualizing and designing temporary spaces for brand launches, exhibitions, trade fairs, show rooms, events, theater, film and television
- Planning, organization and management of construction work and design processes
- Developing and designing spatially informed communication processes for companies, institutions and associations
- Designing virtual worlds by using CAD, web design and multimedia design
Entry requirements
- Abitur exam / vocational baccalaureate diploma or another equivalent qualification
- Eight-week basic internship: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the basic internship does not have to be completed before the start of the program for admission to the winter semester, but can be made up by the end of the 2nd semester at the latest. However, it is recommended that the internship be completed before the start of the program if possible.
The basic internship is intended to introduce you to general and constructive contexts of interior design and can be completed, for example, in the fields of carpentry, joinery, wood mechanics, concrete block and terrazzo manufacturers, metal construction, architectural draftsmen, interior decorators, showroom designers, stage technicians, media designers, upholsterers, painters, lighting technicians, restorers and similar.
When switching (by the end of the fourth semester) from the full-time BA in Interior Architecture:
- Completing all modules in the first three semesters and at least two mandatory modules in the fourth semester
- Verification of a contract for practical work in a professionally relevant company or firm
Download contract
Foci
Projects, elective subjects and cumulative modules
Structure and Contents of the Degree Program
The part-time Bachelor’s program has a modular structure, and is ten semesters long:
- Four semesters of full-time studies
- One internship semester
- Four part-time semesters, divided into two days of studying, and three days of practice in a firm/company
- One semester of full-time work to complete the thesis
Students will switch between study and internship phases on week days based on a part-time schedule. This will be binding for the entire semester and set at the start of the semester. Coursework will be completed on two weekdays, or on Saturdays in special cases, or through a compact course (such as an excursion). Internship work at a firm/company should be 18 hours long - and last at least 15 weeks per semester. This work should teach relevant skills, knowledge and expertise through professional practice, and help students understand planning, technical, economic, social and legal contexts and interactions between corporate processes.
Students must submit verification of an internship position by the end of the fourth semester. Students must submit their applications for an internship position to the firm/company which will be concluding a contract with them, following approval by the TH OWL.
Coordination of part-time studies in architecture/interior architecture:
Prof.‘in Dipl.-Ing. Claudia Fries
Tel.: +49 5231 769 6495
E-Mail: claudia.fries(at)th-owl.de