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DSNI 340

DSNI 340: Pre-Internship Seminar

Prerequisite: Successful completion of portfolio review.

Credit Hours: (3) 

Prepares students for an internship experience in the interior design industry for the program-required summer semester internship. 

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

Prepares students for an internship experience in the interior design industry. Addresses the development of a professional brand identity expressed through resume and portfolio design; understanding and navigating the professional practice landscape, professional communication, interview preparation; and identifying goals and expectations for the program-required summer semester internship. 

Major topics include: 

  1. Professional brand identity 
    1. Personal exploration: Identifying strengths, opportunities for professional development; Telling your story (Talent & Career Development workshop) 
    2. Communication: Cover letter; Resume – Standard vs. Creative; Portfolio; Design template; Organization of information; Balance of technical and conceptual 
    3. Building Social Media Presence: LinkedIn; Pinterest 
  2. Understanding the professional landscape – firms and practices 
    1. Professional Landscape Map (activity description below) 
    2. Research on firms and practices 
    3. Cities and regions 
    4. Social media – tracking and following firms/designers 
  3. Finding your best fit 
    1. Goals and objectives for internship 
    2. Expectations for internship experiences 
    3. Setting targets 
    4. Prepping for interviews, interviewing techniques 
    5. Professional attire and behavior
  4. Building a Professional Network 
    1. Professional associations, certifications 
    2. Contact development, networking (Professional Network Mapping Activity) 
    3. Connecting with alumni, finding mentors 

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Instructional strategies to include:

  • Lecture and discussion 
  • Presentations and guest speakers (alumni and advisory board members, practicing designers) 
  • Hands-on active learning strategies (mapping exercises, small group work, etc.) 
  • Engagement with external resources – Career & Talent Development workshops, Departmental Advisory Board interactions, community service activities, career and internship fair participation 
  • Design projects – resume, portfolio layout 

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:  

  1. Identify and critically reflect on the range of professional and career opportunities within the interior design profession.  
  2. Understand personal requirements for summer internship (i.e., identifying and pursuing opportunities, time management, organizational skills, etc.) 
  3. Understand program requirements for the summer internship experience (i.e., course credit enrollment, contractual requirements, representation, work ethic, and responsibilities) 
  4. Establish clear and measurable goals and objectives for the summer internship experience 
  5. Produce a competent professional resume 
  6. Produce a competent layout design for a professional portfolio 
  7. Apply active listening skills and interviewing techniques, including appropriate attire and conduct, questions and answers, phone/zoom interview protocol, follow up, etc. 
  8. Demonstrate effective professional brand identity development and communication 

In addition to the student learning outcomes listed above, learning outcomes pertinent to the program's Council on Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) standards related to Global Context," "Collaboration," "Business Practice and Professionalism," and "Communication" will be applied to this course. A listing of those standards will be provided upon request.

 

Assessment Measures

Graded work:  

  • Firms and cities analysis:  
    • Professional landscape map (a visual mapping activity that looks at the professional practice landscape related to students’ goals and interests –  a combination between a concept map and a stakeholder map) 
    • Research on target firms (connected to landscape map) 
    • Research on target cities and/or regions  
  • Internship goals and objectives 
  • Resumes – standard and creative 
  • Cover letter 
  • Portfolio layout – 3 sample projects to demonstrate template design and application 
  • Professional networking map (a visual mapping activity like a stakeholder map to have students think about how they can build their professional network) 
  • Role-playing and video recording: elevator pitch 
  • Mandatory activities:  
  • In-class discussion and presentations 
  • Advisory board activities 
  • Community service (5hrs) 
  • Career and Internship fairs 
  • Career & Talent Development workshops (choose 2 from list of 4-5) 

 

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval

February 28, 2024

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