Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree is a five-year program that provides an outstanding foundation for a future career in architecture. The program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and leads to licensure. Students will earn a professional degree in five years, with options to gain internship experience, study abroad, and enrich their degree with an additional one-year research master’s degree.

Program Details

The program begins with a preparatory year in the Core Design Program, followed by focused architectural studies. The BArch curriculum is designed to provide hands-on experience, increasing flexibility throughout the program, and well-rounded skill sets for a variety of career paths. The program culminates in a final year that features a semester of disciplinary focused research inquiry working with a faculty member of choice, and a semester of interdisciplinary studies in a college-wide collaborative studio setting.

Curriculum

The five-year program of study includes a preparatory year in the Core Design Program, followed by four years of focused architectural studies. The curriculum is designed to provide hands-on experience, increasing flexibility throughout the program, and well-rounded skill sets for a variety of career paths.

Accreditation

Iowa State’s undergraduate BArch degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture.

Minors

The College of Design offers or participates in eight undergraduate minors that are available to all undergraduate design students. Certain design minors are recommended to pair with the Bachelor of Architecture degree, including Urban Studies, Sustainability, Critical Studies, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media, and Preservation and Cultural Heritage.

STEM Designation

This degree program has been officially designated as a STEM degree program, which refers to the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM major designation is determined by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost and the Iowa Board of Regents.

Recommended High School Preparation

Beyond meeting the minimum high school course requirements for admission to Iowa State University and the College of Design, students who plan to enter the professional BArch degree program are encouraged, but not required, to take:

• 1 semester of trigonometry
• 1 semester of analytic geometry
• 1 year of physics
• 1 year of studio art classes

Career Paths

As the 10th “Most Hired From” architecture program in the country with 99% of graduates employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation, the program makes it easy for students to explore career opportunities. Some recent graduates of Iowa State’s architecture program have pursued careers in:

• Architectural construction materials and technology specialty
• Architectural design
• Architectural firm management
• Architectural illustration/rendering, modeling, and computer imaging
• Architectural journalism and photography
• Furniture and lighting design
• Historic preservation and restoration
• Space planning and interior architecture
• Project coordination
• Technical design
• Housing development

Average Starting Salary

The average architecture starting salary is $57,954.

Success in Design

Students graduate career-ready with internships, capstone projects, professional practice, and portfolio classes integrated into the Design programs, and support from the Design Career Services Office. The college also hosts an annual Design Career Fair focused only on design majors, attracting more than 125 firms recruiting for jobs and internships, with College of Design alumni making up more than half of the recruiters in attendance.