Section 1255.30  Approved Programs

a)         The Division shall, upon recommendation of the Board, approve an interior design or architecture program if it meets the following minimum criteria:

1)         The educational institution is legally recognized and authorized, through appropriate agencies such as a ministry of education or higher education governing board, by the jurisdiction in which it is located at the time the degree/certificate was obtained to confer any of the degrees/certificates required for registration in accordance with Section 8 of the Act;

2)         Permanent student records are maintained by the institution which summarize the credentials for admission, attendance, grades and other records of performance;

3)         The program has a designated director and a sufficient number of instructors to make certain that the educational obligations to the student are fulfilled.  The faculty must have demonstrated competence as evidenced by degrees in their areas of teaching from professional colleges or institutions;

4)         The curriculum provides educational experience with practical application encompassing:

A)        Drafting

B)        Two-Dimensional Design

C)        Three-Dimensional Design

D)        Design and Composition Fundamentals

E)        Color Theory

F)         Fundamentals of Design

G)        Building Systems

H)        Materials

I)         Codes and Ordinances

J)         Presentation Skills

K)        Business Practices and Management

L)        History of Art, Architecture and Design

M)       Computer Aided Drafting and Design

N)        Lighting;

5)         A 2-year program shall include 8 or more of the courses listed in subsection (a)(4) and include a minimum of 40 semester/60 quarter credits of interior design coursework;

6)         A 3-year program shall include 8 or more of the courses listed in subsection (a)(4) and include a minimum of 60 semester/90 quarter credits of interior design coursework;

7)         A 4-or 5-year program shall include 8 or more of the courses listed in subsection (a)(4) and include a minimum of 60 semester/90 quarter credits of interior design coursework.

b)         In determining whether a program should be approved, the Division shall take into consideration, but not be bound by, accreditation or approval by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) or the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) formerly known as the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research or FIDER.

c)         The Division has determined that all interior design programs accredited or approved by CIDA or FIDER as of July 1, 1995 meet the minimum criteria set forth in this Section and are, therefore, approved.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6274, effective April 20, 2023)