Interior Design Pathway (CIDA Accredited)

Cornell’s Design + Environmental Analysis (DEA) program has been accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)—and its predecessor, FIDER—for more than two decades, recognizing the program’s excellence in research-driven, human-centered design education for built environments. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s top research-focused interior design programs, Cornell DEA continues to lead the field in integrating design, evidence-based research and innovation in environmental and spatial experience.

While all DEA students receive a comprehensive foundation in design and the built environment, completion of the CIDA-accredited Interior Design Pathway provides an added professional credential valued by employers and licensing boards. Many DEA graduates have gone on to earn the NCIDQ Certification and pursue successful careers in diverse sectors, including workplace, healthcare, hospitality, retail and residential design. This pathway offers students the flexibility to explore multiple design directions while keeping open the opportunity for professional interior design practice and licensure.

Requirements and guidance

Complete all of the following. Course numbers/titles below should match the official catalog; verify prerequisites and sequencing. 

By fulfilling the IDP requirements, students will also meet the minimum DEA thematic course requirements. 

Minimum grade and GPA requirement: B or above in all required courses and 3.0 overall GPA

Portfolio/Review milestone: Must achieve a B or higher in studio courses for portfolio progression and CIDA review inclusion.

 

  • DEA 1101 Visual Literacy and Design Studio
  • DEA 1110 Making a Difference By Design
  • DEA 1140 Principles of Design Computing
  • DEA 1150 Design Graphics and Visualization 
  • DEA 2201 Magnifying Small Spaces Studio*
  • DEA 2203 Studio S H I F T*
  • DEA 3301 Design UX with Technology Studio*
  • DEA 4401 Adaptive Reuse Studio: Recycling the Built Environment* 

 *DEA Thematic courses
 

  • DEA 2730 Human Centered Design Methods
  • DEA 3050 Construction Documentation: CAD and BIM*

* DEA Thematic courses

  • DEA 3030 Materials for Design and Sustainability*
  • DEA 4040 Professional Practices and Ethics
  • DEA 4050 Design Portfolio and Communication
  • DEA 4800 Ethical Design: Engine of Positive Change

* DEA Thematic courses
 

DEA 2510 History of Design Futures

DEA 1501 Introduction to Environmental Psychology
DEA 3510 Human Factors and Inclusive Design* 
DEA 3550 Research Methods in Human-Environment Relations 
DEA 3500 The Ambient Environment* 
DEA 4590 Problem-Seeking Through Programming 

* DEA Thematic courses
 

Declare and confirm the Interior Design Pathway

  1. Review requirements on this page.
  2. Submit the Interior Design Pathway Declaration form by the end of your first year.  The form is available from the undergraduate program coordinator at dea-dus [at] cornell.edu (dea-dus[at]cornell[dot]edu). 

FAQ

In many cases, yes. Our current CIDA accreditation covers the entire DEA undergraduate program through Spring 2029. We will be working with CIDA in Spring 2026 to formally recognize the Interior Design Pathway as the CIDA-accredited component in DEA.

No substitutions are allowed per the CIDA accreditation.

You will still earn the DEA major. Students who complete the Interior Design Pathway requirements graduate with the CIDA-accredited DEA degree, recognized for meeting rigorous standards in design education that support professional readiness and licensure eligibility.

Contact %20djg326 [at] cornell.edu (Darin Gillenwater) (Undergraduate Program Coordinator ) orkeg95 [at] cornell.edu ( Prof. Keith Green) (Director of Undergraduate Studies) 

Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)

The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Design + Environmental Analysis is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, 206 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. 

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The granted by meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.

Noted below is mandatory posted information for CIDA.

For information on undergraduate career outcomes, including job placement rates and continuing education/graduate studies, please visit Cornell University Career Services.

Employer or continuing educationJob title or degree program
AccentureInteractive Analyst
Accenture, NYSenior Analyst
Ashley McGraw, Syracuse, NYInterior Designer: Education and Health Care
AvroKO, San FranciscoDesigner
Boston Consulting Group    User Experience Researcher
Boston University  Master’s Degree in Graphic Design
Built Ecology (WSP), BostonEnergy Analytics
Busy Bee, Ithaca, NYSustainable Landscaping/Garden Design
CBRE, NYCDesign Strategy and Interior Design
CBRE, Washington DCWorkplace Strategist and Interior Designer
Columbia University, NYCMaster’s Degree in Real Estate Development
Cornell DEAHuman Behavior and Design, Ph.D.
Cornell UniversityMasters in Information Science
d1g1t, Toronto, OntarioUX Designer
E4H Environments for Health ArchitectureInterior Design
EY, NYSenior UX Designer
Frog Design, NYCStrategy Analysist for Product Design
Gensler, LADesign Strategist
Gensler NYCDesign Analyst
Gensler, San FranciscoAnalyst
Gensler, VancouverDesigner
Gensler, Washington DCDesign Strategist and Interior Designer
GilbaneVisual Design and Construction Engineer
Handel Architects, NYInterior Designer
Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen,
Netherlands		Masters in Media, Art, Design and Technology
Harvard Graduate School of Design, BostonMasters in Design
Heather Millward, NYInterior Designer
HKS, NYCInteriors Healthcare Planner
Independent ConsultantProduct Designer
JLL, NYCConsulting
JPMorgan ChaseDesign Analysist
MastercardUser Experience Analyst
MMoser Associates NYCInterior Designer
NantHealthUX Designer
Non-Profit: Electrifying AfricaResearcher
NxStage Medical, NYUX Designer
Perkins + Will, NYCInterior Designer: Health Care
RISDMasters in Design
Rivian, CADesign Manager
Royal College of ArtMasters in Design
Smith Group, San FranciscoDesigner
SooldamhwaGlobal Business Development
SouloCo-Founder & CEO
Team Epiphany, NYExperiential Designer
Tesla, BerlinWorkplace Design
Tetra Tech Architects, Ithaca, NYDesigner
TikTokGrowth Marketing and Content Strategy
TPG Architecture, Santa Barbara, CADesigner
TPG Architecture, NYDesign Strategist
Travelers InsuranceUX Designer
University of Southern CaliforniaMS Integrated Design, Business and Technology
VanWyck, NYCEvent Designer
Viacom CBS/ParamountProduct Designer
ZyyoUX Designer

Graduation Rates

This data comes from the College of Human Ecology and shows the percentage of DEA majors who graduated in 4 years.

  • 90.5% of students from the class of 2023 graduated in 4 years
  • 91.7%  of students from the class of 2024 graduated in 4 years
  • 96.3% of students from the class of 2025 graduated in 4 years

Retention Rates

This data comes from the College of Human Ecology and shows the percentage of students that stayed in the DEA major.

  • 2022-23: 74.1%
  • 2023-24: 65.2%
  • 2024-25: 89.5%

Attrition Rates

This data comes from the College of Human Ecology and shows the percentage of students that left the DEA major.

  • 2022-2023: 18.5%
  • 2022-2024: 21.7%
  • 2024-2025: 5.3%