Experiential Learning Interior Architecture and Design Internships
Our students in the Interior Architecture and Design program are required to participate in the department-coordinated internship program that involves a 480 hour/12-week professional experience which also translates to 3-12 credit hours. At the conclusion of this experience, students submit a final project that demonstrates their growth of knowledge and skills in the field of interior architecture and design. Placements include regional, national, and international, commercial, and residential design firms as well as construction companies and product manufacturers.
Interior Architecture and Design Internships Helpful Links
For Students
Students are required to complete 12 credits of Internship. Each credit is equal to 40 hours of work.
All students wishing to take on an internship must complete the online pre-internship seminar.
Ideally, you will complete your 12 credit experience in the Spring of your Senior year. However, you are eligible to complete up to 3 credits following the Spring Sophomore studio, and the remaining 9 credits following the Fall Junior studio. This is to ensure that you are prepared for the various tasks you may be assigned in an office.
Internships may not be in a purely sales environment, nor may they be in the employ of a relative. Internships do not need to align with the semester beginning and end dates.
During your internship you will be responsible to complete several journal entries and document your internship experience with a poster of your work.
For Firms
The Interior Architecture & Design program at Colorado State University values the real-world experience that internship experiences provide as part of a designer’s education. Therefore, we require students to complete 12 credits of internship experience as a condition for graduation.
The curriculum allows students to use their final semester to obtain a full-time internship. We believe that this commitment on the part of the student and the sponsor is beneficial to both parties – employers are able to count on consistent presence in the office, and students are able to gain a deeper understanding of projects as they move through the design and construction process.
Students are eligible to start earning internship credit in the summer following the Sophomore year; the bulk of the internship, however, must be completed beginning in the Spring of the Junior year. In this way, we can ensure that students are well prepared with knowledge and skills in:
- AutoCAD
- SketchUp
- Revit
- Space Planning
- Hand/Digital Rendering
- Materials and Products
- Construction Documents
To set up an internship please contact Emily Leck, Internship Coordinator at emily.leck@colostate.edu. Internship postings are accepted on a rolling basis and do not need to conform to the semester schedule.
Students work 40 hours per internship credit. Preferred experiences are for three, nine, or 12 credits. Employers complete an Internship Agreement, Midpoint Evaluation, and Final Evaluation. Internships can be set up to have students reach out to employers directly or, in some circumstances, students can be vetted for employers. We especially welcome recurring internships.
While we encourage internships to be paid, we understand that this is your business decision under the guidelines of the Fair Labor Standards Act. For guidance please see Department of Labor Fact Sheet #71.
We look forward to hearing from you!