Architecture

Program Overview

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Program Details

Overview

The Bachelor of Architecture program at the University of Arizona is a five-year accredited degree that allows students to pursue professional registration. The program is divided into three phases: Foundation, Core, and Research + Innovation. Students will need to show competency in the Foundation Phase to move to the Core Phase, which will be determined by Milestone.

Learning Outcomes

• Studio: Students will demonstrate the ability to design comprehensively and synthetically, inclusive of other disciplines and with particular appreciation of climate and setting.
• Technology: Students will demonstrate the ability to design with technological criteria, materiality, and constructability, giving particular value to post-carbon sustainability.
• Design Communications: Students will demonstrate the ability to execute and present architectural projects with clarity, precision, and conviction, particularly in current professional methods.
• History & Theory: Students will demonstrate the ability to research, analyze, and appreciate the historical and theoretical traditions of the discipline, with particular understanding of their practice impact.
• Professional Practice: Students will demonstrate understanding of professional ethics, regulatory requirements, and fundamental business processes relevant to architecture practices and the forces that influence such.

Program Details

Sample Courses

• ARC 227: Architectural Programming
• ARC 231: History & Theory of Architecture
• ARC 326: Site Planning

Career Fields

• Architecture
• Preservation and Heritage Conservation
• Product and industrial design
• Project management
• Design
• Television and film production design

Level of Math

• Substantial Knowledge: This strand involves skill and facility with calculus. The S-strand begins at one of two calculus options - MATH 122A/B (Functions for Calculus and First-Semester Calculus) or MATH 125 (Calculus I). Students who successfully complete the S-strand may continue on to MATH 129 (Calculus II), MATH 223 (Vector Calculus), or beyond. Those who choose but are not ready to begin the S-strand will be required to take preparatory work.

Level of Second Language

• 2nd Semester Proficiency: Second-semester skill level in a second language is required. Non-B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options: 1. Scoring the equivalent of second-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona. 2. Completion with a C or better of a second semester course at the post-secondary level. 3. An AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate) or CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) language score determined by the individual language department. 4. In the College of Engineering by a method determined within the College; however, all students in the college must also take a language placement examination on entrance to the University.

Pre-major Required?

• Yes

Additional Admissions Requirements

• This major has additional admission criteria. Please see the College of Architecture, Planning, & Landscape Architecture requirement page for more information.

This Major's College

• College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture

Degree

• Bachelor of Architecture

Sample Plans

2025, Architecture

• 5-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework

First Year

1st Semester

• ARC 101A - Foundation Studio 1A (2 credits)
• ARC 131A - Design and the Environment I (1 credit)
• ARC 101B - Foundation Studio 1B (2 credits)
• ARC 131B - Design and the Environment II (1 credit)
• MATH 108 - Modeling with Algebraic and Trig Functions (4 credits)
• ENGL 101 - English Composition I (3 credits)
• Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1 credit)

2nd Semester

• ARC 102 - Foundation Studio 2 (4 credits)
• ARC 121 - Physical Principles of the Built Environment (2 credits)
• ENGL 102 - First Year Composition (3 credits)
• Second Language (4 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

Second Year

3rd Semester

• ARC 201 - Design Studio 1 (6 credits)
• ARC 221 - Building Construction 1 (3 credits)
• ARC 231 - History and Theory of Architecture 1 (3 credits)
• ARC 241 - Techne 1 (3 credits)
• Second Language (4 credits)

4th Semester

• ARC 202 - Design Studio 2 (6 credits)
• ARC 222 - Building Technology 1 (3 credits)
• ARC 232 - History and Theory of Architecture 2 (3 credits)
• ARC 242 - Techne 2 (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

Third Year

5th Semester

• ARC 301 - Design Studio III: Integrations of Place (6 credits)
• ARC 321 - Building Technologies 2 (3 credits)
• ARC 326 - Practice 1 (3 credits)
• ARC 333: History & Theory 3 (3 credits)
• ARC 341 - Techne 3 (3 credits)

6th Semester

• ARC 302 - Design Studio IV: Urban I Housing (6 credits)
• ARC 322 - Building Construction 2 (3 credits)
• ARC 435 - Forms of Critical Inquiry and Expression (3 credits)
• ARC 436 - Ethics + Practice (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

Fourth Year

7th Semester

• ARC 401 - Design Studio 5 (6 credits)
• ARC 421 - Building Technologies 3 (3 credits)
• ARC 441 - Contract Documents (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

8th Semester

• ARC 410F: Advanced Studio (6 credits)
• Research & Innovation Elective (R&I) (3 credits)
• Research & Innovation Elective (R&I) (3 credits)
• Research & Innovation Elective (R&I) (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

Fifth Year

9th Semester

• ARC 410F - Advanced Studio (6 credits)
• ARC 497 - Project Inquiry (3 credits)
• Research & Innovation Elective (R&I) (3 credits)
• Research & Innovation Elective (R&I) (3 credits)
• General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1 credit)

10th Semester

• ARC 498 - Capstone Studio (6 credits)
• Research & Innovation Elective (R&I) (3 credits)

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This accredited five-year degree allows students to pursue professional registration. The program is divided into three phases: Foundation, Core, and Research+Application, each separated by a milestone. The five-semester Core develops professional skills and knowledge in history and theory, design communications, building technology and practice, all of which are synthesized in design studios. Finally, the three-semester Research+Application phase develops a personal research trajectory through options studios and focused coursework that teaches collaboration and complex design problems, culminating in the student's individual vision demonstrated in a capstone project.

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Outline:

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Foundation Year

• Basic design
• Hand and computer-aided drawing
• Introduction to history and theory of the built environment

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Core

• History and theory
• Design communications
• Building technology and practice
• Design studios

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Research+Application

• Options studios
• Focused coursework on collaboration and complex design problems

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Careers:

• Architecture
• Preservation and Heritage Conservation
• Product and industrial design
• Project management
• Design
• Television and film production design

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Other:

• Students will demonstrate the ability to design comprehensively and synthetically, inclusive of other disciplines and with particular appreciation of climate and setting.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to design with technological criteria, materiality, and constructability, giving particular value to post-carbon sustainability.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to execute and present architectural projects with clarity, precision, and conviction, particularly in current professional methods.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to research, analyze, and appreciate the historical and theoretical traditions of the discipline, with particular understanding of their practice impact.