Furnishings and Interiors is an interior design program focused on residential design and is structured to you the skills needed to work in a professional design firm.
Student Projects
There are seven studio courses that the students take to enhance their skill sets and knowledge about interior design projects.
CAD Lab
There is a dedicated computer lab for the technical courses and studio classes where the students learn how to use AutoCAD, REVIT, Design 2020 and various other programs to complete their projects.
Industry Experience
Through a variety of studio projects, students have opportunities to work with real clients and real projects to help maximize their learning experience.
Career Paths
For Interior Designers there is a wide range of occupations or areas of design that one can go into such as visual merchandising, strictly doing show homes, project management, technical drafting, specifier, heath care, hospitality, certified kitchen and bath designer, commercial design, residential design, wayfinding, and accessibility.
Student Group
For Furnishings and Interiors, we have the UGA NKBA Student Chapter organization that meets six times a semester on Tuesdays to learn more about the kitchen and bath industry through guest speakers such as kitchen and bath designers, interior designers, manufacturer representatives, former alumni, as well as visiting local showrooms to learn more about that side of the business.
Scholarships
For FACS students, there are a couple of scholarships that FI students can apply for to help with their student costs for tuition and internships. Additionally, for students that like to do research, they can do so through the UGA CURO program and for study abroad; the Global Education of UGA has other scholarship opportunities as well.
-
History of the FI Program
The Furnishings & Interiors program was officially established as a major in 1975, initially within the Department of Housing, Home Management & Furnishings. By 1977, the department evolved into Housing, Home Management, and Consumer Economics.
Today, we thrive as part of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors within the College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS)—an eclectic group offering diverse opportunities for student collaboration and research.
As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary in 2025, our program's significant growth is a testament to our wonderful, talented, and supportive faculty. Our dedicated educators equip Furnishings & Interiors (FI) students with the essential skill sets needed for a variety of roles within the interior design profession.
Program interest and recognition from alumni and graduates, particularly through our annual senior portfolio show celebrating student success, have doubled our enrollment in the past few years.
Meet Our Students
Lily Fowler
TMI student values encouraging nature of FACS professors
MaryBeth White
White's grandmother instilled in her a love for design
Niasia Ferguson
Ferguson found a home at FACS the minute she walked into the drafting studio.
I wanted to be in a field that balanced helping people, problem solving and allowed me to be creative. The hands-on, cohort class style of the program also drew me to Furnishings and Interiors. Having faculty and peers who really know you and are able to challenge you is so beneficial.
I was nominated to showcase my work at the 2021 National Kitchen and Bath Association Gala. There I met with design professionals from Metro Atlanta. It was an incredible opportunity to network and learn from designers in the field.