Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design / Pre-professional is an undergraduate degree program that prepares candidates for admission with advanced standing to most professional architecture graduate programs. It is also good preparation for other roles that benefit from an understanding of and exposure to architectural design and problem solving such as government, development, management, planning, art, graphic design, and digital arts.
Applicants are admitted into the program in their junior year after completing two years of coursework and undergoing a competitive admissions process in the spring of sophomore year. During Years Three and Four, the coursework provides students with a firm foundation in the historical, theoretical, technological, and environmental forces that influence architectural design. Architectural design studios provide students with the opportunity to synthesize their knowledge and skills through design projects undertaken in the creative space of the architectural studio.
The prerequisite classes students must take for admission into the program include:
ARCH 200: Architectural Design and Representation I (AU)
ARCH 201: Architectural Design and Representation II (WI)
ARCH 350: Architecture of the Ancient World (AU)
ARCH 351: Architecture of the Medieval and Early Modern World (WI)
ARCH 352: History of Modern Architecture (SP)
For application guidelines and materials, see Admissions.
The Architecture Department also offers a dual degree program leading to a BA in Architectural Design and BS in Construction Management. Visit here for more information.
All interested University of Washington students are welcome to participate in the ARCH courses listed above. Pre-architecture majors should seek advising through the UW UAA Advising Center to ensure their prerequisite courses are being met. For more information or to speak to the undergraduate pre-major advisor please contact:
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
141 Mary Gates Hall
(206) 543-2550
advice@uw.edu
Curriculum
This program consists of two 2-year sequences. During Years One and Two students complete coursework including 19 credits of architectural prerequisites and 71 credits satisfying the UW’s General Education Requirements. These include coursework in the visual, literary and performing arts, math, science, the social sciences, and other knowledge areas. In the first two years, students build their skills in visual literacy, graphic and verbal communication, and critical thinking; they also gain broad exposure to allied disciplines in the built environment in order to make more informed academic and career decisions, and to provide the broad academic foundation essential to successful study in architecture.
Download a PDF of the BA Arch Design curriculum template.