Environmental + Interior Design

Program Advisor: Joan D. Riggs, ASID, IIDA, IDEC, CAPS

FREEDOM to EXPLORE...SKILLS to EXCEL
Interior Design is the rigorous process of problem-solving that integrates the technical skills of the crafts person, the aesthetic sensibilities of the artist, and the empathy of the humanist

 Mission Statement

The mission of the Environmental + Interior Design Program (EID) is to educate, engage and empower students to respect, appreciate and inspire design of the built environment as it relates to our global, multi-cultural, multi-generational living and working communities. Graduates are prepared to make the transition to entry-level professional practice and to collaborate with interior designers, architects and related industry professionals. 

Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH) offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an Associate of Arts degree in Environmental + Interior Design (E+ID). CUH-EID is the exclusive degree-granting program in the State of Hawaii. The CUH-EID program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), a leader in recognition of academic excellence and professional preparation. They are located at the following address: 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503-4014 or at the following website: www.acredit-id.org.

E+ID Assessment Plan

Each course’s learning outcomes (CLOs) are linked to the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) in the course syllabus. Selected outcomes from the courses’ exams, exercises and projects are linked to the PLOs through tools designed to assess the student’s progress through the course and the curriculum. The CLOs and PLOs are, in turn, linked to the CIDA standards which assist in maintaining our accreditation status. The student’s successful completion of the assessment activities   indicates the readiness of the student to continue in the program. The assessment process guides faculty changes and adaptations in individual courses, as well as informs programmatic changes.

At each level of the program, milestones provide students with achievement targets and faculty with key assessment opportunities. The first milestone assessment tool is the comprehensive exam and practicum. The written exam assesses the student’s retention of knowledge from all lower division required courses. Review and study guide are provided. The practicum project serves to assess the student’s ability to apply the knowledge and skill sets learned as indications of readiness for the rigor of upper division course work. Remedial work, if necessary, can be done during the break session(s) between semesters. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for such remedial work.

Two additional milestones students reach provide them with interaction opportunities with the professional design community. Upon completion of their 300-level studio courses a student’s progress is assessed through a juried portfolio review. Participation in this review prepares students for their internship experience and future employment.

Remediation, if necessary, is prescribed on an individual basis with faculty and juror supervision. Upon completion of all major requirements all BFA-EID students are required to participate in a public exhibit celebrating their completed academic portfolios, which is the culminating E+ID program milestone.

Hogan Entrepreneurial Program

Students in the Environmental + Interior Design program are encouraged to participate in this university specialty program. Should an E+ID student be accepted into the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, the Environmental + Interior Design Program Director will work with the student to substitute appropriate course(s) to allow participation in the requirements of the program.