SAN MARCOS — After operating for decades as a successful two-year community college, Palomar College will be expanding its educational opportunities by offering its first-ever bachelor’s degree next fall.
Palomar, which currently offers more than 250 certificates and associate degrees, will introduce a bachelor’s program in building performance and environmental design starting in September 2026, with applications opening the following spring. The program is described as bridging architecture, interior design, sustainability and environmental systems.
Students can enter the program after first earning an associate degree in architecture, interior design, or building information modeling from Palomar or a similar degree from another college.
The four-year program will cost approximately $12,000 — significantly less than other institutions offering similar programs — and prepare students to enter the industry with expertise in creating environments that have positive social and environmental impacts.
“This degree is designed to equip the next generation of professionals with the expertise needed to create environmentally and socially responsible buildings,” said Palomar Superintendent and President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey. “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.”
Many students take a total of nine years to complete the necessary education and training to become an architect, said Joseph Lucido, a professor and co-chair of Palomar’s architecture department. With a bachelor’s degree from Palomar, students will be able to enter the field after graduation.
“It’s much more financially responsible and much more expedient,” Lucido said.
It also gives more opportunities for students to stay local while continuing their education.
Palomar officials said the new program addresses a growing need in the job market, focusing on building performance and environmental design. A labor market study found that San Diego has more than 1,900 annual job openings in the field, with nearly 19,000 annual job openings statewide.
The program will also build on standards set by the US Green Building Council and the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system.
Students will also have the opportunity to explore building techniques outside of the United States, and can earn credits by participating in a global case study unit during a summer trip.
Current Palomar students working on their associate degrees are already eyeing the new program. Anthony Alvarez, an architecture and interior design major, said he is now planning to pursue his bachelor’s at Palomar after earning his associate’s next spring.
“It really caught my attention. I’ve always been into the environmental side of things,” Alvarez said. “It’s focused on environmental design. With the state of the world, it’s something we have to look at more often.”
For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Building Performance and Environmental Design, visit palomar.edu/bped.
