And Anne Arundel Community College’s versatile and award-winning Interior Design option can get you where you want to go. Whether you’re contemplating a career change to follow your passion or just beginning the higher education process, we can boost your career now or help you transfer to a top four-year college or university. The program is affiliated with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).
AACC offers the following Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees. The state of Maryland refers to the A.A.S. as a career degree, because it's intended to provide you with skills to enter the workforce. In some cases, AACC has entered into transfer agreements that allow these degrees to transfer to select colleges.
You’ll learn about both residential and commercial aspects of design and construction such as illustration, color, lighting, textiles, finishes and furnishings. You’ll gain employable skills in design analysis, presentation, CAD (computer-aided design), BIM (building information modeling) and interior material specifications. And when you’re finished? You’ll be ready to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year program.
This degree also satisfies the minimum credit requirements for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) allied or professional membership and the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) certification. The A.A.S. degree provides the foundational steps in the KB+BA pathway meeting the NKBA educational requirements.
If you are interested in transferring to a four-year institution, AACC has many transfer partner relationships.
The following certificates prepare students for employment and feed into the A.A.S. degree, if desired.
Our Interior Design Certificate will set you on a path toward entry-level positions in interior design or allied fields. It’s also ideal if you’re seeking American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) allied membership. You’ll develop an understanding of the design process from start to finish, from client needs, programming, schematic design, design development and product specification to final presentation. Credits earned may be applied to the Interior Design A.A.S. or the Advanced Interior Design certificate.
You’ll build on the Interior Design A.A.S. degree by addressing advanced design aspects, strengthening your aesthetic and technical skills through in-depth study. You’ll learn sustainable and high-performance design based on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system and grow your research, writing and graphic presentation skills. When you’re done, you’ll be prepared to qualify as a candidate for certification as an interior designer in the state of Maryland or transfer to a bachelor’s program. The Advanced Certificate provides the pathway for graduating with NKBA accreditation.
If Interior Design sounds appealing, but you’d like to compare it to other offerings, see if one of these is a better fit.
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School of Science, Technology and Education
Architecture and Interior Design
Victoria Snelgrove completed AACC’s Interior Design program after a career as a neonatal dietitian. While the two fields may seem unrelated, she has found surprising overlap in the skills they require.
Read Victoria's story