In Fall 2027, Biola University is launching two new undergraduate academic programs, the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, which will exist in a new division in the School of Arts and Letters. Keelan Kaiser, FAIA, who has contributed to the development of architecture and interior design programs around the country, most recently at California Baptist University, joins Biola as associate dean for the Division of Architecture and Interior Design.

The launch of the new programs comes as the next generation of designers are up and coming. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 6,900 openings for architects each year through 2035, many of them from architects retiring or changing careers. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), 14% of licensed architects are over 65, while only 3% are under 30.

"These new Biola programs are poised to shape the future of design education within the context of Christian higher education," Kaiser said.

According to Kaiser, the programs share a mission to stir the imagination and cultivate the design sensibility of emerging designers, with particular attention to telos, the ultimate purpose of design, and to how the built environment can foster human flourishing and the good life.

The architectural studies major is a four-year, pre-professional degree designed to prepare students for future graduate study toward a professionally accredited master's degree in architecture. Students will work in a cohort in a dedicated studio, study the history and traditions of sacred architecture and apply them to the design of sacred spaces for the 21st century. They will also explore contemporary housing and education building types, while completing 30 credits of biblical and theological studies, an enduring cornerstone of Biola’s Christ-centered undergraduate education.

“The impact of the culture of the Biola educational experience, along with the theology minor and the Torrey Honors College option, will be extremely distinctive within Christian design education,” said Kaiser.

Site visits and fieldwork across greater Los Angeles and the Southwest will be paired with a semester in Rome, where architecture students will study the city's architecture, history and culture firsthand.

"Graduates will be prepared for graduate study at the finest institutions in the country and world," Kaiser said.

The interior design major is also a four-year program, built around real-world engagement with the Los Angeles design market. Studios focus on sacred interiors, hospitality, preservation and residential design. During the summer after their junior year, students will travel for two to three weeks to design centers and offices in design cultural hubs such as Chicago, New York, Paris and Milan. The degree prepares students for interior design practice and meets the educational requirements toward licensure in California. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, interior design jobs are projected to grow in the next ten years, with about 7,700 openings a year.

"The interior design program prepares graduates to work in both commercial and high-quality boutique settings, from design offices to furniture, lighting and product design firms, anywhere creative problem-solving improves the quality of the built environment," Kaiser said. "We're excited about the momentum this program has and the strong connections we're building across LA and the greater SoCal design community."

Kaiser brings over thirty years of experience in architecture and design in higher education at multiple universities across the country. At California Baptist University, he led the M.Arch. program through NAAB accreditation and managed substantial program growth. He has practiced architecture in New York and Chicago, where he is currently licensed, and holds both an NCARB certificate as well as LEED AP bd+c credentials. He has recently published research in leading peer-reviewed venues, including the MDPI journal Heritage and Elsevier journals available through ScienceDirect. His forthcoming book on travel study in architectural education will be released this fall by Kendall Hunt.

Lindye Galloway (Maples, B.A. ’08), a Biola communication studies alumna, is the founder and chief creative officer of Lindye Galloway Studio, an Orange County-based interior design firm, and Le Maé, a luxury home furnishings brand. She shared her enthusiasm for the beginning of the new programs.

"The opportunity to expose students to the breadth of the industry, from interiors and architecture to furniture, lighting, and design on a global scale, is such an exciting addition to the Biola experience and one I'm thrilled to see available to the next generation of designers,” said Galloway.

Kaiser has also noted what the launch means for Christian higher education.

"With the addition of Biola's new architecture degree, there is now a meaningful array of architecture programs in faith-based schools,” said Kaiser. “Praise the Lord!"

Students interested in either major can learn more on the architectural studies and interior design program pages, schedule a visit or learn more about applying to Biola.

Written by Lily Journey, Biola University storywriter. For more information, contact beacon@biola.edu.