News and Media

Published: Jan 7, 2011

SAVANNAH, Ga.-The Savannah College of Art and Design's undergraduate and graduate interior design programs have been ranked among top in the nation by DesignIntelligence in the 2011 edition of  "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools."

The SCAD undergraduate program was rated No. 2 among all programs in the country. SCAD's graduate interior design program earned a No. 4 rating. This year's rankings note that SCAD's programs, both undergraduate and graduate, are leading among sustainable design practices and principles, which, according to DesignIntelligence's report, is one of the profession's "biggest emerging concerns."

For "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools 2011," DesignIntelligence, on behalf of the Design Futures Council, surveyed professionals "who have direct experience in hiring and in evaluating the performance of recent… design graduates." A total of 220 professional organizations participated.

"The recent rankings for the SCAD interior design programs validate the values of the university in that we provide our students with an exceptional education while being innovative and results-oriented," said Herbert Brito, dean of SCAD's School of Building Arts. "Our interior design students graduate from SCAD at the top of their field ready for cutting-edge work in the industry."

In addition to the interior design rankings, DesignIntelligence selected Victor Ermoli, dean of the SCAD School of Design, as one of the Most Admired Educators of 2011. The Most Admired Educator designation honors "a team of educators and education administrators who exemplify excellence in design education leadership."

SCAD offers one of the largest and most professionally engaged interior design programs in the United States. Students benefit from the expertise of full-time professors who hold terminal degrees in the field and share a common belief that a holistic educational framework guides future professional development and inspires life-long learning. The interior design program challenges students to become innovative designers who are capable of critical thinking and effective communication. Professional ethics and values are stressed within the context of social, environmental and global design practice.

SCAD's interior design program, offering the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at both the Atlanta and Savannah locations, is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). CIDA's accreditation affirms that SCAD's interior design program meets or exceeds the rigorous standards of CIDA and ensures that SCAD interior design graduates are prepared to enter professional practice.