9 Courses
39 Hours Per Course
Online
Certificate in as little as 2 Years
Program Description
Thoughtful interior decorating has the power to inspire and uplift those who have the pleasure to experience it. By earning your Residential Interiors Certificate, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to help create spaces that improve people’s daily lives. This unique program combines design theory and practice across the fields of visual arts, architecture, and business—making it the first of its kind in Western Canada.
Is This Program Right For You?
This program is designed for individuals who are:
- 🗸 Busy people juggling career and personal commitments
- 🗸 Individuals with a keen interest in home décor and fashion
- 🗸People with good spatial perception and the ability to work well with all types of people
- 🗸Anyone excited about the career possibilities of interior decorating, from high school graduates to those looking for a career change
Questions? Contact us at ridesign@ualberta.ca
What You'll Learn
- 🗸Develop an awareness of the art, pragmatics, and aesthetics of housing and furnishings
- 🗸Understand basic business principles and practice interview strategies to identify and interpret clients’ needs
- 🗸Improve your drawing, drafting, and presentation skills
- 🗸Gain knowledge of colour theory, space planning, and effective use of products and finishes
- 🗸Qualify to join the Decorators & Designers Association of Canada (DDA) and the Decorating and Interior Design Association of Alberta (DIDAA), leading to careers such as interior decorating consultant, manufacturer’s representative, and retail consultant
What You'll Earn
- 🗸 You’ll earn a Residential Interiors Certificate after completing all the program requirements. Or take individual courses to add new skills and advance your career.
- Approximate cost of the full program:$6,795 CAD effective Fall 2025
- Submit your program declaration at no extra cost
- Flexible payment – pay course-by-course as you go
- Courses are GST-exempt.
- Some courses may require additional resources, such as textbooks
- This program is comprised of six core courses and three electives. Each course is 39 hours, for a total of 351 instructional hours.
- It’s designed for part-time study and can generally be completed within two years.
- It’s recommended for you to complete EXRI 4676 Introduction to Residential Interior Design first.
- Some courses have prerequisites, and the order in which you complete the courses will impact your program length.
- You have the flexibility to schedule courses around your availability. Most students complete 1–2 courses per semester.
- Grading is through assessments, which might include quizzes, exams, discussion forums, papers, and presentations.
- It’s a flexible online experience, with courses offered synchronously. More info about online delivery formats can be found here.
- Course materials are shared in CE Canvas. Some courses may require additional resources, such as textbooks.
You could be eligible for funding and scholarships – explore your Funding and Scholarship Opportunities.
- After you successfully complete your program requirements, you’ll receive an email letting you know when your certificate is ready. If you have any questions about your credentials, please contact the program office. Once you receive your certificate, you’ll also be eligible to become a UAlberta Associate Alumni.
- The Residential Interiors Certificate courses are on the Approved Program Electives (APE) list for any Human Ecology student with a major in Clothing Textiles and Material Culture (CTMC). See the EXRI Residential Interiors courses here: BSc Human Ecology — Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture Approved Program Electives (APE)
- The completion of this certificate qualifies students to join the Decorators & Designers Association of Canada (DDA) and the Decorating and Interior Design Association of Alberta (DIDAA)
- To learn about transferability from other institutions, see our Transfer Credit information
- International Students are welcome to enroll and pay the same course fees as local students.
- Proficiency in English and a stable internet connection are needed to participate and succeed in our courses.
- Please note that non-credit programming does not qualify for a study permit, therefore, this program cannot be used for immigration to Canada. For more information, please contact University of Alberta International Student Services.