Bachelor of Interior Design (Entry Level 06) (Honours) (Co-op)
Combine strategic and design thinking for a career creating functional spaces.
- Strong experiential component that includes design studio experiences and an active engagement with the professional design community
- Graduate with an additional qualification of a Building Biology Advocate certification [BBA], from the Building Biology Institute which focuses on the science of healthy buildings
- The only Bridging program in Canada, where interior designers can update their credentials from a 3-year advanced diploma to a Bachelor of Interior design. This can be done fully online
Program Availability and Schedule
Schedule
Coming soon - a schedule that will show when each Level of the program will be delivered. See the Courses tab for further details on the Levels within this program.
Program Summary
Credential
Program Delivery
Program Code
Area of Interest
School
Campus
Eligible for Post-Graduation
Work Permit?
Entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Interior Design program offers an opportunity for interior designers already in possession of a diploma to upgrade to a baccalaureate degree. After meeting program and college eligibility requirements, you receive Level 06 status and complete five online bridging courses. You then progress into the final year of the degree program.
The Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) degree program prepares you to pursue a professional career related to the design of the built environment. The curriculum integrates professional and general studies with an emphasis on critical thinking and applied research....(read more)
Overview
Combine strategic and design thinking for a career creating functional spaces.
Entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Interior Design program offers an opportunity for interior designers already in possession of a diploma to upgrade to a baccalaureate degree. After meeting program and college eligibility requirements, you receive Level 06 status and complete five online bridging courses. You then progress into the final year of the degree program.
The Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) degree program prepares you to pursue a professional career related to the design of the built environment. The curriculum integrates professional and general studies with an emphasis on critical thinking and applied research.
Enriched with a focus on environmental and global perspectives in interior design, you learn to consider ecological, economic and social aspects to analyze and design healthy living and working environments.
Projects increase in scale and complexity from residential scale to medium and large scale projects from commercial sectors such as:
- retail
- workplace
- hospitality
- healthcare
The program contains a strong experiential component that includes design studio experiences and an active engagement with the professional design community. In the fourth year, you have the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest specific to the profession and are required to complete an applied research paper.
You may also earn a Building Biology Advocate (BBA) Certification upon successful completion of the seven required Construction courses and the completion of IBE101. Please speak with the Program Coordinator for specific details and deadlines.
Students also gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term(s) (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term(s) are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note admission to a co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement.
The integration of theory, analysis and practice prepare you to assume a leadership role within the profession. As a graduate, you are able to apply strategic thinking and a research orientation to your responsibilities as a professional interior designer and can contribute to the development and evolution of the field of design.
Courses
Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
Code:
DSN4001
Course Name:
Critical Thinking and Academic Writing
Course Description:
Exercises in speaking, writing, researching and discussing of academic texts inform the preparation of academic documents including summarie... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4002
Course Name:
Topics in Design History and Theory
Course Description:
Through lectures, independent research, and group activities, learners develop the ability to identify and explain historical and theoretica... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4003
Course Name:
Perspectives in Interior Design
Course Description:
Students study the major influencers of design decisions (e.g. cultural implications, technology, demographic trends, sustainability, and bu... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4004
Course Name:
Sustainable Issues
Course Description:
Students study the history and evolution of the built environment and the effects of human development on the availability of natural resour... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4005
Course Name:
Issues in Psychology
Course Description:
Students develop an understanding of psychological concepts as they apply to the relationship of human behaviour to the natural and built en... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4100
Course Name:
Co-Operative Work Term
Course Description:
As members of a design team, Designers are challenged to address increasingly complex design situations encountered in the workplace. Studen... + Read More
Hours:
0.0
Code:
DSN0034
Course Name:
Applied Research
Course Description:
An understanding of applied research, the process of applying existing knowledge or processes to create useful products or services, is prov... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
DSN4076
Course Name:
Design Studio VII
Course Description:
Students apply knowledge obtained in the previous years to complete studio assignments centered upon complex environments with an emphasis o... + Read More
Hours:
84.0
Code:
DSN4078
Course Name:
Construction VII
Course Description:
Focus is on developing an understanding of the integration and coordination of building components through the study of building materials a... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
CUL4000
Course Name:
Global Citizenship
Course Description:
Informed citizens in today's world appreciate the meaning of civic life at the local, national and global level. Students reflect on and dev... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4016
Course Name:
World Literature
Course Description:
Exposure to broad sources of literature promotes an open-minded perspective on today's global society and encourages an appreciation of dive... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4100
Course Name:
Creative Writing
Course Description:
Whether for personal or public consumption, many people enjoy writing short fiction to express their creative energy while improving upon th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4200
Course Name:
New Worlds and Alternative Realities: Speculative Fiction
Course Description:
Speculative fiction gathers together all those works of fiction in which new worlds or alternative realities are envisioned. Within this ca... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4300
Course Name:
The Brave New Worlds of Dystopian Fiction
Course Description:
Over the last century, dystopian fiction has become a remarkably popular genre in literature and film, particularly among young adults. Dyst... + Read More
Hours:
45.0
Code:
PHI4000
Course Name:
Philosophy and Popular Culture
Course Description:
Many facets of today's popular culture engage, directly or indirectly, with the concerns of a variety of philosophical traditions. Drawing o... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4002
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Drugs
Course Description:
Drugs are everywhere: professionals prescribe them to us to make us "better"; we take them recreationally; we give them to our children, pet... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4003
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Love and Sex
Course Description:
Love and sex are central to the human condition, and have been topics of academic inquiry and controversy throughout history. Various practi... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4004
Course Name:
Technology, Society and the Environment
Course Description:
Environmental issues have come to occupy a central place in the marketplace, politics, policy, and society at large. Owing largely to the ma... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4100
Course Name:
Survival in the Information Age: Risk and the Media
Course Description:
On an almost daily basis, the media, through its various outlets - television, radio, web sites, RSS, and podcasts - reports on issues that ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHY4000
Course Name:
Black Holes, Big Bangs and the Cosmos
Course Description:
The dynamic and exciting field of Cosmology outlines our current understanding of the Universe from its start, at the so-called Big Bang, th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4000
Course Name:
Criminology
Course Description:
The interdisciplinary study of social science examining the individual and social aspects of crime is known as criminology. Students work th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4001
Course Name:
Global Perspectives
Course Description:
Sociology, through its exploration of the organization of society and the connections between people and their surroundings, provides new wa... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL2025
Course Name:
Interpersonal Communication
Course Description:
Effectively communicating with others, both professionally and personally, is an art that requires conscious development. Students address t... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FLS3101
Course Name:
French as a Second Language-Beginner 1
Course Description:
The French language is an asset when communicating in the workplace. Students with no prior knowledge of French acquire basic forms and stru... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
FLS3102
Course Name:
French as a Second Language-Beginner 2
Course Description:
The workplace benefits from having professionals with knowledge of the French language. Students with basic knowledge of French gain more co... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GED2300
Course Name:
Indigenous Self-Representation in Contemporary Canadian Culture
Course Description:
Historically, Indigenous peoples and their cultures have been dramatically misrepresented and stereotyped in Canadian literature, music, vis... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GEO2300
Course Name:
Principles of Urban Planning
Course Description:
Increasingly cities and communities are feeling the pressure of expansion, and people from all walks of life feel disconnected from the proc... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
LAN3101
Course Name:
Spanish-Beginner 1
Course Description:
The Spanish language is an asset when communicating in the workplace. Students with no prior knowledge of Spanish acquire basic forms and st... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
LAN3102
Course Name:
Spanish-Beginner 2
Course Description:
The workplace benefits from having professionals with knowledge of the Spanish language. Students with basic knowledge of Spanish gain more ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
LAW2014
Course Name:
Law
Course Description:
The reach of the rule of law extends into our lives on a daily basis. As much as it is present in our lives, very few people are aware of th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI2002
Course Name:
Ethical Decision Making
Course Description:
To avoid potential prosecution, companies and their employees are well-advised to engage in ethical decision-making practices in all busines... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PSI2000
Course Name:
Navigating Canada's Political Landscape
Course Description:
A developed knowledge of government and politics is key to an effective participation in public life. Drawing on current events, students e... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
PSY2100
Course Name:
Introductory Psychology
Course Description:
With its applications to behaviour and personality, psychology extends its reach into many aspects of our personal lives. The broad applicat... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SCI2000
Course Name:
Environmental Science
Course Description:
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary study of how the earth works, human interaction with the earth and how to address the existing... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC2000
Course Name:
Introduction to Sociology
Course Description:
When working with individuals and groups it is important to understand both the background and influences present. Students develop a famili... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
SOC2001
Course Name:
Anti-Racism: Theory and Practice
Course Description:
Anti-racism is the practice of identifying, challenging, and changing the values, structures, and behaviours that perpetuate systemic racism... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN0035
Course Name:
Senior Project
Course Description:
In this culminating advanced studio, students are guided by faculty to apply their accumulated knowledge to a topic and design sector of the... + Read More
Hours:
84.0
Code:
DSN4081
Course Name:
Senior Seminar
Course Description:
Focus is on readings, visual and verbal articulation and discussions to bring forth critical thinking and criticism within the field of inte... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4083
Course Name:
Professional Practice and Ethics II
Course Description:
Students continue their study of the current state of interior design profession and practice, business and project management and ethical ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN4094
Course Name:
Community Connection IV
Course Description:
The spirit of volunteerism and community involvement is an important professional goal. Participating in industry and college events and act... + Read More
Hours:
10.0
Code:
CUL4000
Course Name:
Global Citizenship
Course Description:
Informed citizens in today's world appreciate the meaning of civic life at the local, national and global level. Students reflect on and dev... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4016
Course Name:
World Literature
Course Description:
Exposure to broad sources of literature promotes an open-minded perspective on today's global society and encourages an appreciation of dive... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4100
Course Name:
Creative Writing
Course Description:
Whether for personal or public consumption, many people enjoy writing short fiction to express their creative energy while improving upon th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4200
Course Name:
New Worlds and Alternative Realities: Speculative Fiction
Course Description:
Speculative fiction gathers together all those works of fiction in which new worlds or alternative realities are envisioned. Within this ca... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4300
Course Name:
The Brave New Worlds of Dystopian Fiction
Course Description:
Over the last century, dystopian fiction has become a remarkably popular genre in literature and film, particularly among young adults. Dyst... + Read More
Hours:
45.0
Code:
PHI4000
Course Name:
Philosophy and Popular Culture
Course Description:
Many facets of today's popular culture engage, directly or indirectly, with the concerns of a variety of philosophical traditions. Drawing o... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4002
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Drugs
Course Description:
Drugs are everywhere: professionals prescribe them to us to make us "better"; we take them recreationally; we give them to our children, pet... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4003
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Love and Sex
Course Description:
Love and sex are central to the human condition, and have been topics of academic inquiry and controversy throughout history. Various practi... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4004
Course Name:
Technology, Society and the Environment
Course Description:
Environmental issues have come to occupy a central place in the marketplace, politics, policy, and society at large. Owing largely to the ma... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4100
Course Name:
Survival in the Information Age: Risk and the Media
Course Description:
On an almost daily basis, the media, through its various outlets - television, radio, web sites, RSS, and podcasts - reports on issues that ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHY4000
Course Name:
Black Holes, Big Bangs and the Cosmos
Course Description:
The dynamic and exciting field of Cosmology outlines our current understanding of the Universe from its start, at the so-called Big Bang, th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4000
Course Name:
Criminology
Course Description:
The interdisciplinary study of social science examining the individual and social aspects of crime is known as criminology. Students work th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4001
Course Name:
Global Perspectives
Course Description:
Sociology, through its exploration of the organization of society and the connections between people and their surroundings, provides new wa... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Careers & Pathways
Careers
This program graduates interior designers equipped to fulfill leadership roles within the profession on a national and international level. Graduates may find employment in interior design offices, architectural firms, government planning and facilities management offices, healthcare environments, educational environments or other design and built-environment related fields. Graduates have the skills to work on interdisciplinary, multi-cultural design teams in a variety of settings. Over time, and with suitable experience, some graduates may wish to develop their own firms.
With this degree, graduates may wish to continue their academic studies in interior design and related disciplines, such as environmental studies, environmental psychology and architecture.
Pathways
Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.
Learning Outcomes
The graduates have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Be competent knowledgeable workers able to apply fundamental concepts and skills of design in a variety of contexts.
- Design built environments consistent with industry standards and best practices.
- Be critical and creative thinkers able to analyze situations, draw conclusions and develop innovative and creative products using an accepted decision-making model.
- Be effective collaborators able to use communication and interpersonal skills to fulfill a leadership role on an interdisciplinary, multi-cultural design team.
- Be continuous learners and contributing professionals able to assume the responsibilities of a professional designer, work within legal and ethical guidelines governing their practice and contribute to the development and evolution of the field of design.
- Be informed citizens able to adapt their work across cultural, social political and geographical contexts.
Tuition & Fees
Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.
2026/2027 Academic Year
Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator
Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar's Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro
Fees are subject to change.
Admissions Requirements
All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.
Program Eligibility
Graduates of an advanced (3-year) diploma from a recognized interior design program with a minimum cumulative grade point of 3.0 (B) may be eligible to undertake the five course online bridging program which must be successfully completed to enter into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Interior Design program. Bridging students must also complete a minimum of 14 weeks in a paid summer cooperative placement.
Application Information
BACHELOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN (HONOURS)
Program Code 6148B03FWO
Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:
ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228
Applications are available online at www.ontariocolleges.ca.
Applications for admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.
International applicants please visit this link for application
process information: https://algonquincollege.my.site.com/myac360/s/
For further information on the admissions process, please visit:
Admissions - Registrar's Office https://algonquincollege.com/ro/admissions/
Additional Information
Program Resources
Algonquin College has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting November 6, 2020. The College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable timeframe.
As the interior design profession rapidly matures towards more advanced credentialization across the globe, upgrading one's credential to a baccalaureate degree enables one to function on an equal footing with colleagues around the world. Interior design graduates with a baccalaureate credential may also pursue graduate studies in interior design or related fields.
The following online courses need to be completed:
- Critical Thinking and Academic Writing
- Topics in Design History and Theory
- Perspectives in Interior Design
- Sustainable Issues
- Issues in Psychology
CO-OP INFORMATION
Co-operative education (Co-op) provides students with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning with real-world experience through paid, program-related work terms. Two academic terms before their first co-op work term, students must actively participate in and complete a self-directed co-op preparation course, including required readiness activities and workshops.
Students are responsible for conducting a guided, self-directed job search and securing approved, paid co-op employment related to their program of study. Co-op students compete for positions alongside students from Algonquin College and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. While Algonquin College's Co-op Career Centre supports students by developing co-op opportunities and providing guidance throughout the process, employment is not guaranteed. Co-op work opportunities may require students to relocate. All costs associated with participation-including travel, accommodation, work permits, visa applications, and other related expenses-are the responsibility of the student.
Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during academic terms when students are not enrolled in classes. For details about the number and timing of co-op work terms in your program, please refer to the Courses tab on your program's webpage.
Successful completion of all required co-op work terms listed on the program page is mandatory for graduation. Students are expected to remain on schedule and participate in co-op work terms as planned. Failure to complete a co-op work term as scheduled may result in an unscheduled break in studies, which can delay graduation and may have implications for immigration status for international students.
International students who experience an unscheduled break in studies due to academic progression issues beyond their control may be eligible for an authorized leave. In such cases, consultation with the International Education Centre is required before the scheduled start of the co-op work term to review potential academic and immigration implications.
International students are responsible for ensuring they meet all co-op work permit requirements before participating in a co-op work term. Additional information is available at: www.algonquincollege.com/international/student-handouts
For more information about co-op programs, expectations, and general and program-specific co-op eligibility criteria, visit: www.algonquincollege.com/coop-career-centre
TRANSFER CREDIT RECOGNITION:
Applicants with degrees or degree level courses from Canadian institutions empowered to award degrees and from other degree granting institutions recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To receive a course credit, a minimum grade of C (65%) is required. Official transcripts and course descriptions/outlines must be presented with the application for credit recognition. Applicants with degrees or degree level courses from countries other than Canada or from postsecondary institutions not recognized by the MCU must have their degrees evaluated by a recognized Canadian public or private institution that specializes in the evaluation of international degree programs.
DEGREE ELECTIVE INFORMATION:
Students may choose from a variety of breadth courses. Courses from a range of disciplines are offered within the humanities, social sciences, sciences, global cultures and mathematics. Elective offerings may vary from semester to semester.