Palomar College has been approved to offer a new bachelor’s degree in building performance and environmental design that will allow graduates to find jobs in the design and operation of climate-responsive buildings.
The bachelor’s degree, available in Fall 2026, is the first time that Palomar College will be offering a baccalaureate degree in addition to the more than 250 certificates and associate degrees it has long offered.
“This degree is designed to equip the next generation of professionals with the expertise needed to create environmentally and socially responsible buildings,” said Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent/President of Palomar College. “There is a growing demand for sustainability experts in the construction and design industry, and this program will have a direct impact on fulfilling this need in our region’s workforce.”
In San Diego County, students seeking a bachelor’s degree in architecture or interior design have few options. A few private colleges offer the degrees at costs of about $50,000 a year, and San Diego State University’s programs have limited enrollment.
The bachelor’s degree offered at Palomar College campus will cost a total of about $12,000 for four years of study.
Dr. Tina Recalde, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction at Palomar College, said the program provides opportunities for more students to complete their education.
“It allows students to stay within their local community while earning a degree that prepares them to enter a workforce within a specific field that will provide their family with a living wage at an affordable price,” she said.
Jobs in the field of building performance and environmental design are in high demand. A labor market study found that San Diego has more than 1,900 annual job openings in the field, with almost 19,000 annual job openings in the state.
Professor Joseph Lucido, chair of Palomar College’s architecture department, said many students need nine years to complete the education and training they need to earn certification as an architect. The new program allows them the opportunity to enter the field after earning their bachelor’s degree.
“It’s much more financially responsible and much more expedient,” he said.
Professor Jessica Newman, chair of Palomar College’s Interior Design department, said the new bachelor’s degree acknowledges that the building industry contributes 40% of landfill waste and that 42% of annual global emissions come from the built environment. The bachelor’s degree in building performance and environmental design will teach students about designing and operating energy-efficient buildings.
“If we’re part of the problem, we want to also be the solution,” she said.
To enter the bachelor’s degree program, students must first earn an associate degree in Architecture, Interior Design or Building Information Modeling from Palomar College, or a similar degree from another college. They must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in their core classes, complete their prerequisite upper division classes, and prepare a portfolio. Details about the program and requirements for entry are available at the program webpage.
The degree program will focus on four major concepts: design, construction, sustainability, and professional development. Students are also encouraged as part of their studies to learn about construction techniques outside of the United States.
Anthony Alvarez, an architecture and interior design major at Palomar College, heard about the new bachelor’s degree and is planning to pursue it after earning his associate degree in Spring 2026.
“It really caught my attention. I’ve always been into the environmental side of things,” he said. “It’s focused on environmental design. With the state of the world, it’s something we have to look at more often.”