Becoming an Interior Designer? Interior Architect?

College Majors Architecture Major
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<p>After researching for quite a while now, I came down to a few options of choosing my major for undergrad.</p>

<p>I was originally interested in interior design, but I ignored my initiative interest in it due to a misinterpretation of the term "interior design". </p>

<p>Well, now I know that interior design isn't just about decorating, in fact, there's a whole another aspect to it (which I find very interesting). But as I looked through alotta colleges, I've noticed the major named "interior architecture". This really confused me. </p>

<p>I literally looked through every single thread in this forum, and I did find out few things about architecture/interior architecture/interior design. I read that you can become an interior designer or interior architect (i really dont get the difference) after getting a degree in architecture.</p>

<p>How is that possible? if that is so, why does the major called "interior design" even exist? I've read that most successful interior designers have degrees in architecture. What happened to those who acquire a degree in interior design/interior architecture?
Wouldn't your roles at the firms at least be different if you hold a degree in architecture rather than interior design/interior architecture?</p>

<p>And for RISD, interior architecture program that leads you to Bachelor of Interior Architecutre was a 5-year-program. So is that like an architectural program now..? Would this degree get me any farther than getting a Bachelor of Interior Design or Bachelor of Architecture? (in terms of being an interior designer) would my roles at an architecture firm differ according to my degree?</p>

<p>if it is too hard to differentiate interior design/interior architecture, can any of you at least help me with choosing my major? I like the idea of interior design. I enjoy viewing interior more than exterior of a building. I think I'm interested in going for Architecture for undergrad and work as an interior designer at an architectural firm more than anything; if I'm not misunderstanding this whole concept</p>

<p>ah, pardon my wordy thread
but seriously, I need you guys' help
thank you.</p>

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<p>my take on it is if you do architecture, you can do interior design.</p>

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<p>could u maybe explain a lil more about that please?</p>

<p>wat interior designers with interior design degree would do thats different than those with architecture degree</p>

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<p>My understanding was that most or possibly all programs which called themselves 'Interior Architecture' were Interior Design programs which were tired of the confusion between interior design and interior decoration, so started using 'interior architecture' to further distance themselves from decoration.</p>

<p>A degree in Interior Architecture does not qualify one to become a licensed architect, but I believe a degree in Architecture (B.Arch or M.Arch) does allow one to practice Interior Design in most areas, or is one step towards being qualified to do so.</p>

<p>edit: just to clarify, this is coming from the perspective of an architectural designer. I have worked closely with someone who had a degree in interior architecture in the past, and much of my knowledge of this was gained through her. So if someone else who's actually in one of these programs had different information, I will gladly defer, I am just trying to help by contributing what I know (or think I know).</p>

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<p>oh i see..</p>

<p>but as i mentioned, for RISD, their curriculum for interior architecture was 5 yrs (bachelor of interior architecture) where as all the interior design programs in other schools r 4 yrs.. so maybe i thought.. i donno..</p>

<p>do u kno if theres a difference in income with different degrees?</p>