High Point University recognizes that many students, for various reasons, choose not to pursue art/design courses or do not have access to art/design courses in high school. Consequently, the Department of Home Furnishings and Interior Design has created three diagnostic courses for its two professional programs that introduce students to foundational history and theory (e.g., elements and principles of design), the design process, and the opportunity to apply this information in an entry-level studio that focuses on creative three-dimensional problem-solving. Upon completion of these three courses (INT 1100, 1220, 1280), students must submit a portfolio of their work before being formally accepted into either major. Prior to successful completion of the Portfolio Review, students interested in ID and VMD are placed in a conditional status, as noted by the registrar’s designations of pre-ID and pre-VMD.
For Portfolio Review, students submit a portfolio of work that consists of selected projects from the freshman-level foundation courses. Faculty will evaluate the quality of the portfolio of work along with the student’s professional behavior (attendance, work ethic, ability to accept constructive criticism) and overall GPA. The program does not have a quota and can accept all students that meet the department’s standards. It is, however, unlikely that students will pass Portfolio Review if the applicant has below a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or a grade of C- or below is received in any of the three foundational courses. A student who does not pass any one of the three foundational courses is not eligible to apply for admission into the major. Students may retake the course and reapply the next spring for fall admission; however, students may not apply to the program more than twice.
After formal acceptance into the major, students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or higher in all required major-specific courses to advance in the program. To graduate with a B.S. in Interior Design or a B.S. in Visual Merchandising Design, students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher per the university’s requirements.
All studio courses require the acquisition of specific materials and supplies. Students are expected to develop and maintain a reference library of texts, samples, and other necessary materials to complete course projects. It is strongly recommended that students retain their textbooks to serve as valuable references in higher level courses and during their professional lives. Many of the texts may be used as references for portions of the comprehensive exams.
Transfer students: Portfolio review by the faculty is required if you are seeking credit for any previously completed design courses.. Since course titles and contents vary from institution to institution, placement and acceptance of credit for High Point University courses are based on examination of student work to ensure that student knowledge, skill sets, and graphic communication abilities are commensurate with acceptable work in specific High Point University design courses. Based on the results of the portfolio review, students may be asked to take an entrance exam for final placement.
If you would like additional information or have questions about our program, please contact Diane Stenersen at [email protected] or 336-888-6355.
