Interior Design Programs
Interior Design Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS)
Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA)
Learn to create the environments where we live and work.
As you prepare to enter the industry in a range of roles, you’ll learn the creative and technical skills from experienced professionals who share their firsthand knowledge. Our graduates pursue careers in creative positions, as residential or commercial interior designers, exhibit designers, designers in architectural firms, and more.
In a curriculum developed with input from industry experts, you’ll:
- Explore design fundamentals, theory, visual communication, culture, and history
- Work on projects exploring all aspects of design through sketching, drafting, and color composition
- Learn modern computer-aided design using current design industry software, such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp Pro, Rhino, and rendering with V-Ray
The art and technique of creating functional and aesthetic environments for living and working.
Interior Design degree programs at Berkeley College focus on the creative and technical aspects of this exciting industry. Graduates are prepared with the necessary skills and practical knowledge to enter the industry in a range of roles. The BFA in Interior Design offered at the Woodland Park campus is accredited by CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation).
Here’s what sets the Berkeley Interior Design program apart:
- You’ll learn in small classes with personal attention from instructors with real-world design experience
- You’ll be prepared for a wider range of career opportunities than many programs because of the rich and diversified curriculum and the professional experience of the faculty
- You’ll have access to current technology used by design professionals
- An emphasis on critical thinking and creative problem solving
- You’ll have opportunities for field trips, guest lectures, and other design-related events
- You may have the opportunity to participate in an internship or job-related assignment for a valuable learning experience
- You’ll have exceptional networking opportunities through faculty and alumni connections
Is a Degree in Interior Design Right for You? Find Out Now!
Take the Berkeley College Interior Design Degree Readiness Quiz
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Get Your Interior Design Degree Readiness Score Now »Accreditation
Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA)
The Interior Design program offered by Berkeley College New Jersey at the Woodland Park Campus leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, https://www.accredit-id.org/, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503; telephone: 616-458-0400.
The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The BFA in Interior Design granted by Berkeley College meets the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/for-exam-candidates/eligibility/.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Student Achievement Data
Berkeley College collects and publishes the following information in connection with its accreditation with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). A full-time student taking 15 credits or more each semester could complete the Interior Design BFA program in four academic years or less. An academic year is comprised of two semesters. A part-time student taking nine credits each semester could complete the program in seven academic years or less. The following data was collected using institutional records and by Career Services outreach 6 months after a student completed his/her degree.
Note: Berkeley College is required to disclose program length, retention rates, graduation rates, and employment rates in accordance with federal disclosure requirements. The following data was calculated in accordance with CIDA rules, and may differ from the data used in federal disclosures.
Student Attrition and Retention
89% of students admitted in the fall of 2024 returned in the fall of 2025, putting attrition at 11%.
Completion Rate:
Of the students who completed the BFA program between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, 73% did so in 4 years or less. This rate includes first-time and transfer students. This rate is separate from and differs from the graduation rate used in federal disclosures.
Acceptance into Graduate Programs
None of the students who completed the BFA program between September 1, 2024 and August 30, 2025 applied to graduate school.
Employment Rates:
58.3% of the available students who completed the program between September 1, 2024 and August 30, 2025 are employed in interior design or in a related profession. 16.6% of the available students who completed the program are employed in an area other than Interior Design. 8.5% of the students who completed the program were not authorized to work in the United States. Information is not available for the remaining 16.6% of the students who completed the program.
Employment rates of graduates are calculated based on communications between graduates and Career Services staff. Those percentages include all graduates who were employed in a full-time, part-time, contract, and/or per diem position within 180 days after graduation. The numbers include graduates who have found employment through direct referrals provided by Career Services; students whose Berkeley College internships have led to full-time, part-time, contract, and/or per diem employment; students who have found employment on their own, including many who have benefited from coaching and resumé assistance offered by Career Services; and students who have remained in positions they held prior to enrolling at and/or while attending Berkeley.
Graduates who decline Career Services placement assistance and/or do not respond to outreach from the College are not reflected in the employment calculations, unless Career Services learns of their employment through another source of information, such as those listed above. Reasons for declining placement assistance may include a lack of U.S. work authorization for international students, relocation, continuing education, military service, and medical or other personal issues and preferences. These rates include all graduates who were employed within 180 days after graduation. The 2023-2024 academic year included three academic semesters (fall, winter, and spring). These rates include students who graduated at any point in the academic year (end of fall semester + 180 days; end winter semester + 180 days; etc.).
Interior Design Advisory Board
Leo Clavel
Leo Clavel
Senior Design and Development Executive
Leo Clavel is a senior design and development executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning retail, corporate, manufacturing, and distribution environments. He has led national store development, construction, facilities, and prototype initiatives for major retail brands. Known for building and scaling high-performing teams, Clavel oversees the full development lifecycle – from real estate due diligence and feasibility analysis through design, construction, procurement, and facilities management. As a strategic and operational leader, he specializes in brand-driven environments, process optimization, vendor management, and value engineering that delivers measurable cost savings and operational excellence. Clavel is an alumnus of the Berkeley College School of Professional Studies, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.
Erik Polyzou
Erik Polyzou
Senior Project Manager
RSC Architects, Hackensack, New Jersey
Erik Polyzou is a Senior Project Manager at RSC Architects in Hackensack, New Jersey, with more than 15 years of experience delivering healthcare projects of varying complexity and scale. A Board-Certified Healthcare Architect, he has contributed to major projects, including the largest hospital expansion project in New Jersey for Hackensack Meridian Health at Hackensack University Medical Center. Known for his passion for the built environment and his ability to communicate effectively with clients and consultants, Polyzou helps lead innovative, collaborative design solutions. In addition to his service to Berkeley College, he is actively involved with the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ) and the American College of Healthcare Architects through committee leadership and mentorship.
Gregory Shunick
Gregory Shunick
Chair
Architectural Review Board of the Village of Pelham, New York
Mr. Shunick has over forty years of experience in architectural design. Shunick received a Master’s degree in Architecture from Columbia University, a Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech, and additional training at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He is licensed to practice architecture in 23 states and Washington, D.C. He also holds a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
Shunick began his professional career with a small architectural firm on Long Island specializing in building design and restoration, including the renovation of the exterior of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Shunick has worked in a variety of specialties, including retail design, high-end residential apartments and homes, commercial interior design, and specification writing.
Shunick is currently the Chair of the Architectural Review Board of the Village of Pelham, New York, and a member of the Berkeley College School of Interior Design Advisory Board. He has previously worked as the President of Manhattan Studio Architecture & Design, P.C., which later acquired Group 3 Interiors, a long-established corporate interiors design practice. The firm currently operates under the name G3 Architecture Interiors Planning and has multiple offices across the country. In 2022, a subsidiary called G3 Landscape Architecture was established. Shunick has previously served on the boards of the Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America, the Leadership Committee of the Greater New York YMCA, and The Opera Singers Initiative.
The details depicted in the profiles have been provided and authenticated by each Advisory Board member, who bears sole responsibility for such content.
Catalog
Interior Design Programs
You’ll find additional information in our Catalog, including the different degrees offered, descriptions of the courses you’ll take, the department faculty, and much more. You can always live chat or contact us with questions.
Faculty
Alfonso Torino (Chair)
Brian J. Callahan
Robert A. Federico
Ernesto Fong
Student Gallery
The Interior Design program at Berkeley College allows students to turn their creative ideas into interior design masterpieces. Focusing on the creative and technical aspects of interior design, Berkeley degree programs prepare students for a range of careers, including residential and commercial interior designer, exhibit designer, as a designer in architectural firms, and more. Berkeley students benefit from professors with extensive professional design experience and instruction in current design programs, such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp Pro, Rhino, 3ds Max, and rendering with V-Ray. The gallery below shows just some of the exceptional work that Berkeley students have created.
Designed by Jaesik Chang
Designed by Lauren DiGenova
Designed by Leo Clavel
Designed by Josefine Forsman
Designed by Miao Li Chen
Designed by Jaesik Chang
Designed by Jaewon Lee
Designed by Jaesik Chang
Designed by Jaesik Chang
Designed by Helga Richter
Locations Offered
The Interior Design BFA and AAS degree programs are offered by Berkeley College New Jersey and Berkeley College New York. The Interior Design program courses are offered online and as identified in the Course Schedule for each semester.
Testimonials
Maureen Carley-Vallejo
Berkeley College Alumna
“Attending Berkeley College was a defining experience. The comprehensive curriculum and internship program provided the expertise, hands-on experience, and industry connections that launched my career.”
Terri Fiori
Berkeley College Alumna
“The classes I took at Berkeley College challenged me to think outside of my comfort zone. The professors were very nurturing and instilled confidence in myself and my work. I graduated with the tools that I needed to be confident in starting my own business and I use those tools every day in my practice.”
