Why pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture?
The Department of Architecture offers two undergraduate degree pathways for students interested in architecture, design and the built environment. Students can also pursue a Minor in Architectural Studies or connect with undergraduate advising for help planning their academic path.
BA in Architectural Studies
BA in Architectural Design
Minor in Architectural Studies
Undergraduate Advising
Choose the Path That’s Right for You
BA in Architectural Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies is a liberal studies degree that combines a liberal arts philosophy with the study of architecture. Architecture and design provide a framework for exploring culture and society, past, present and future.
Areas of study include sustainable development, materials and making, and history and theory. The program offers flexibility for students interested in adding a minor or second major while still providing a strong foundation for graduate study and careers related to architecture, design and the built environment.
Admission is available at the freshman or junior level.
BA in Architectural Design
The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design is a pre-professional degree for students seeking a more intensive undergraduate education in architectural design.
The program includes six quarters of design studios along with coursework in building technologies and architectural theory. Students develop design skills that prepare them for graduate study in architecture and related design disciplines.
Admission is offered at the junior level through a competitive application process following completion of general university requirements and program prerequisites.
Additional Opportunities
Minor in Architectural Studies
The Minor in Architectural Studies is available to undergraduate students outside the Architecture majors who want to explore architecture, architectural history and related areas of the built environment.
The 25-credit minor includes lower- and upper-division Architecture coursework as well as upper-division coursework within the College of Built Environments.
Dual Degree in Construction Management
Students in the BA in Architectural Design may apply for the Dual Degree in Construction Management during the spring of their junior year. The dual-degree option combines architectural design with additional study in construction management.
Preparing for Graduate Study & Licensure
Graduates of both undergraduate programs are well positioned for a variety of paths in architecture and related design disciplines and have a strong foundation for professional study at the graduate level.
In the United States, most state architectural registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The UW undergraduate Architecture degrees are not professional degrees; students pursuing architectural licensure typically continue into a professional Master of Architecture program.
Learn more about the path to becoming an architect: