Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design is a pre-professional degree that prepares students for advanced-standing admission to many professional graduate programs in architecture. It also provides strong preparation for careers and fields that benefit from architectural design thinking and problem-solving, including government, development, management, planning, art, graphic design and digital arts.
Students apply to the major during their sophomore year and, if admitted through the competitive spring admissions process, begin the program in their junior year.
During Years Three and Four, students build a strong foundation in the historical, theoretical, technological and environmental forces that shape architectural design. Design studios allow students to integrate this knowledge through hands-on projects in the collaborative environment of the architectural studio.
Prerequisite Courses
Students must complete the following prerequisite courses before admission to the program:
- ARCH 200: Architectural Design and Representation I — Autumn
- ARCH 201: Architectural Design and Representation II — Winter
- ARCH 350: Architecture of the Ancient World — Autumn
- ARCH 351: Architecture of the Medieval and Early Modern World — Winter
- ARCH 352: History of Modern Architecture — Spring
See BA in Architectural Design Admissions for application requirements, guidelines and materials.
Dual Degree Option
The Department of Architecture also offers a dual degree leading to both a BA in Architectural Design and a BS in Construction Management. Learn more about the Architecture + Construction Management Dual Degree.
Pre-Major Advising
All interested University of Washington students are welcome to take the prerequisite ARCH courses listed above. Pre-architecture students should work with UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising to make sure they are meeting prerequisite and degree requirements.
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
141 Mary Gates Hall
206-543-2550
advice@uw.edu
UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
Curriculum
The BA in Architectural Design consists of two two-year sequences. View the full curriculum for a four-year course plan, architecture prerequisites, major requirements and degree-planning information.
During Years One and Two, students complete:
- 19 credits of architecture prerequisites
- 71 credits toward UW General Education Requirements
General education coursework includes the arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences and other areas of knowledge. During these first two years, students develop visual literacy, graphic and verbal communication skills, and critical thinking while gaining broad exposure to related built-environment disciplines.
This foundation helps students make informed academic and career decisions and prepares them for advanced study in architecture.
Download the BA in Architectural Design curriculum information sheet (PDF)