Program Overview

Architectural Technology

Program Overview

As a student in Madison College's Architectural Technology program, you will:

• Develop the skills to enter the architectural field or transfer into a bachelor's degree program in architecture
• Build experience working with architectural engineering and construction teams to address challenges in the building industry
• Learn to draw, animate, draft, model, render and create architectural plans
• Train with the most current technical software, tools and methods
• Use computer lab software that is often one year ahead of the procession
• Learn 2D and 3D software skills, including 3D modeling, animation and rendering
• Understand building materials, construction methods, building codes, site design and structural analysis
• Practice client relations, including cost estimation and presentation skills
• Learn architectural design history
• Assist architects and engineers in developing plans and specifications, and comparing building compliance with contract documents in the field
• Learn from instructors who work in the field

Program Details

• Students in the Architectural Technology program can attend full- or part-time.
• Architectural Technology program classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.

Careers in Architectural Technology

Madison Area Technical College Architectural Technology program graduates are prepared to work in:

• Architecture
• Structural Engineering
• Urban Planning
• Construction
• Landscape Design
• Interior Design
• Building Inspection
• Building Estimating
• Facilities Management

Curriculum and Experience

• First Semester:
  • Introduction to Architecture (3 credits)
  • Construction Materials - Architectural Technology (3 credits)
  • Architectural Software 1 (4 credits)
  • Architectural Studio 1 (4 credits)
  • College Mathematics (3 credits)
• Second Semester:
  • Architectural Building Codes (3 credits)
  • Architectural Professional Practice (3 credits)
  • Architectural Software 2 (4 credits)
  • Architectural Studio 2 (4 credits)
  • Written Communication (3 credits) or English 1 (3 credits)
• Third Semester:
  • Architectural Software 3 (3 credits)
  • Architectural Building Structures (3 credits)
  • Architectural Studio 3 (4 credits)
  • Site Design (3 credits)
  • Technical Reporting (3 credits) or Oral/Interpersonal Communication (3 credits) or English 2 (3 credits)
• Fourth Semester:
  • Architectural Theory 1 (2 credits)
  • Architectural Software 4 (3 credits)
  • Architectural Building Detailing (3 credits)
  • Architectural Studio 4 (4 credits)
  • Introduction to Diversity Studies (3 credits) or Economics (3 credits) or Contemporary American Society (3 credits)
  • Psychology Of Human Relations (3 credits) or Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)

Admission

• To Apply:
  • Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities.
• Application Dates:
  • Fall 2025: Application open, Application completion deadline is August 31, 2025
  • Spring 2026: Application open, Application completion deadline is January 15, 2026
• Admission Requirements:
  • 1. Admission Application: The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
  • 2. Education Completion: Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
        • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
        • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
        • Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript

Transfer Opportunities

• UW System Schools:
  • UW Oshkosh: The terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • UW Platteville: Students with an AAS transfer in with articulated general education transfer credit, 12 credits of 1000T Industrial Studies credits, and 15 credits of 3000T Industrial Studies credits. 27 credits of Industrial Studies electives can apply to the ITM.
• Wisconsin Private Schools:
  • Concordia University: Students with an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.
  • Lakeland University: Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering: Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.
• Out-of-State Schools:
  • Bellevue University: Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.
  • Capella University: Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.
  • Colorado State University Global Campus: Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.
  • Franklin University: Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree.

Career Outcomes

MATC Architectural Technology program graduates are prepared to:

• Demonstrate Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills using industry-standard software commensurate with an Architectural Engineering Construction (AEC) project
• Interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of building codes and their applications to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the building occupants
• Communicate technical/design information clearly and professionally to peers, supervisors and clients
• Draw commonly accepted architectural details and sections for various materials
• Apply math skills commensurate with performing basic design and structural calculations and material take offs
• Apply general computer skills: word processing, spreadsheets, file management and other programs as applied to architectural work
• Work as a team member by demonstrating good communication and listening skills, cooperation and providing a supportive environment
• Apply a working knowledge of structural, heating, plumbing, electrical and other mechanical systems within a building
• Communicate clearly and professionally in both written and oral communications to peers, supervisors and clients, using positive interpersonal skills including but not limited to, empathy, active listening and flexibility
• Demonstrate an understanding of sustainable building philosophy and an ability to apply a working knowledge of sustainable building considerations and techniques to an AEC project

Graduate Summary

• Graduate Report Summary Overview Count
  • Percents| 2022| 2023| 2024
    • Number of Program Graduates| 14| 19| 21
    • Number of Surveys Sent| 14| 19| 21
    • Number of Surveys Returned| 11| 11| 11
    • Percent of Surveys Returned| 78.6%| 57.9%| 52.4%
    • Available for Employment| 9| 10| 10
    • Percent Available for Employment| 81.8%| 90.9%| 90.9%
    • Not in Labor Market| 2| 1| 1
    • Percent Not in Labor Market| 18.2%| 9.1%| 9.1%
• Available for Employment Count
  • Percents| 2022| 2023| 2024
    • Graduates Employed| 9| 10| 8
    • Percent of Graduates Employed| 100.0%| 100.0%| 80.0%
    • Employed in Related Occupation| 8| 9| 7
    • Percent Employed in Related Occupation| 88.9%| 90.0%| 87.5%
    • Employed in Unrelated Occupation| 1| 1| 1
    • Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation| 11.1%| 10.0%| 12.5%
    • Employed - No Response| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Employed - No Response| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Seeking Employment| 0| 0| 2
    • Percent Seeking Employment| 0.0%| 0.0%| 20.0%
• Reaction To Training at Madison College Count
  • Percents| 2022| 2023| 2024
    • Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)| 3.4| 3.6| 3.7
    • Number of Satisfaction Responses| 11| 11| 11
    • Very Satisfied (4)| 4| 7| 8
    • Percent Very Satisfied| 36.4%| 63.6%| 72.7%
    • Satisfied (3)| 7| 4| 3
    • Percent Satisfied| 63.6%| 36.4%| 27.3%
    • Unsatisfied (2)| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Unsatisfied| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Very Unsatisfied (1)| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Very Unsatisfied| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
• Primary Reason for Attending Madison College Count
  • Percents| 2022| 2023| 2024
    • Number of Primary Reason Responses| 11| 11| 11
    • Preparation for Getting a Job| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Preparation for Getting a Job| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Career Change| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Career Change| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Improvement of Existing Skills| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Improvement of Existing Skills| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Preparation for Further Education| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Preparation for Further Education| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Personal Interest| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Personal Interest| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • Other| 11| 11| 11
    • Percent Other| 100.0%| 100.0%| 100.0%
• When Employment was Obtained Count
  • Percents| 2022| 2023| 2024
    • Number of When Employment Obtained Responses| 9| 10| 8
    • Before Enrollment| 1| 0| 0
    • Percent Before Enrollment| 11.1%| 0.0%| 0.0%
    • While Attending the College| 6| 8| 2
    • Percent While Attending the College| 66.7%| 80.0%| 25.0%
    • After Training at the College| 2| 2| 6
    • Percent After Training at the College| 22.2%| 20.0%| 75.0%
• Location of Employment (related and unrelated) Count
  • Percents| 2022| 2023| 2024
    • Number of Employment Location Responses| 9| 10| 8
    • In College District| 9| 6| 7
    • Percent In College District| 100.0%| 60.0%| 87.5%
    • In Wisconsin, Not in District| 0| 3| 1
    • Percent of In Wisconsin| 0.0%| 30.0%| 12.5%
    • Outside of Wisconsin| 0| 1| 0
    • Percent Outside Wisconsin| 0.0%| 10.0%| 0.0%
    • Employer Location Unknown| 0| 0| 0
    • Percent Location Unknown| 0.0%| 0.0%| 0.0%

Graduate Employers

• Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024
  • Employer(s)| Job Title| City***| **State| Positions
    • Excel Engineering| Architectural Technician| Fond du Lac| |
    • JDR Engineering| CADD/ Revit Technician| Fitchburg| |
    • Potter Lawson| Architectural Associate| | |
    • Sketchworks Architecture| Architectural Designer| Middleton| |
    • Stoughton Lumber| Designer| Stoughton| |
    • Westphal & Co| Detailer| | |