Interior Design

OCC’s interior design program combines the human and professional sides of decorating a building’s interior and the designing of environments. This degree focuses on:

Developing artistic maturity
Analytical strengths
Balancing creative talent with technical skills

Arts, Culinary & Humanities Open House

Explore a Career in Interior Design. Join us at the Culinary & Humanities Open House, on April 3, 2025, to learn about OCC's creative programs. Learn more and register now.

Register for National Signing Day 2025

Are you starting this program in Fall of 2025? If so, you qualify to participate in OCC’s National Signing Day. Be celebrated, meet faculty and students, sign your letter of intent, get OCC branded merch. Sign up today. Registration closes April 1.

Explore Different Career Options

Use your A.A.S. degrees to become:

Interior Designer
Kitchen and Bath Designer
Lighting Designer
Showroom Manager
Design Consultant
Interior Stager
Outside Sales Representative
Visual Merchandiser
And More

Job Market Outlook

OCC Interior Design graduates are working for a variety of different employers, such as:

California Closets
Gardner Builders
Ellwood Interiors
Beaver Tile and Stone
Whiski Kitchen and Bath
Kirkshire Group

Gain Industry Experience with an Internship

Designed to help you get a foot in the door to start your career, you will complete a mandatory internship as part of an internship class. Along with real-world experience, you will gain credits toward your degree.

Businesses where you could intern:

Reservation and Renovation
Ellwood Interiors
Interiors by Sonia
Proven Kitchen and Bath
Dwyer Marble & Stone
Beaver Tile and Stone
Diva by Design, Harlingen
Clark + Aldine

Building a High Quality Portfolio at OCC

You will learn to build a portfolio that includes visual presentations, drawings and scaled models using a drafting board and AutoCAD software. You will have the opportunity to have one-on-one portfolio reviews with faculty.

You will work on a project to create a fully accessible bathroom. This project addresses issues of the National Bath and Kitchen Association (NKBA).

You will learn about finish materials and how those can provide for Universal and Barrier Free Design according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Transferring Made Easy

OCC’s Interior Design program’s articulation agreements provide easy transfers to continue your studies at universities such as:

College for Creative Studies in Interior Design
Eastern Michigan University in Interior Design and Technology Management
Oakland University in Interdisciplinary Studies

In-Person and Online Learning

This program is offered on the Orchard Ridge campus. INT courses meet for a 3 hour class period once a week.

Associate Degree

Interior Design (INT.AAS) (62 credits)

Hear from Alumni and Faculty

Returning Student Finishes Her Degree, Earning Dream Job Offers

"Had I not done that internship as part of OCC’s curriculum, I would not have gotten those career opportunities."
Read Etrelya's story

“OCC’s program exceeded my expectations. Every assignment is designed to use the skills that we learn in class and is based on actual client projects.The instructors truly care about the success of the students and provide the support needed to be successful.” -Liz B., OCC Alum and Owner BDA, LLC

Professor Michelle Pergeau-Dudgeon has been a faculty member at OCC since 2001 and is both Program Director and Internship Coordinator for the Associate Degree in Interior Design. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Western Michigan University and worked for ten years in the lighting industry receiving her Lighting Specialist Certification from the American Lighting Association. She owned a residential design business for five years.

Get Started Today!

Ready to begin your studies? Get started now:

Apply to OCC. If you’re not already an OCC student, create a profile and complete our online application.
On the application select the degree program ‘Interior Design’.
Existing OCC students can update their academic program using the Change of Program Form.