Architecture

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture is an accelerated four-year pre-professional program designed to efficiently dovetail with the Master of Architecture, our NAAB accredited professional degree (and with similar Master of Architecture degrees offered at other institutions).

The Architecture Program offers a four-year undergraduate course of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Architecture. This degree program is designed to provide students with comprehensive liberal education while delivering rigorous pre-professional study in architecture. Upon completion of the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree students may apply to continue in the accredited Master of Architecture professional degree program.

The undergraduate program in architecture is designed to minimize the time required to complete the curriculum leading to the professional degree. Many students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Maryland continue in our Master of Architecture program or elect to pursue graduate studies at another institution. Many schools of architecture nationwide provide Master of Architecture programs that are compatible with our undergraduate degree (consult the NAAB directory of accredited programs in North America).

The initial years of the program blend general education requirements with foundational work in design thinking and making, design media (manual drawing, digital media, and physical model-making), architectural history and theory, building methods and materials, as well as introductory design studio. 

One feature of the program is the potential for a junior-year semester abroad, which is facilitated by a partnership between the University of Maryland and the International Studies Institute in Florence, Italy.  Students learn Italian, live in the heart of this historic city, and draw upon the rich history of the Italy.  Is a semester abroad too long a stay for you?  We offer three-week winter term and six-week summer session programs to Italy, Turkey, France, UK, Scandinavia, and more.

Most students will complement their undergraduate major with a minor to give them specific academic credentials in a particular field.  Some of the most popular minors are:

• Construction Project Management
• Real Estate Development
• Art History
• Archaeology
• Geographic Information Science
• Sustainability Studies

Senior year includes capstone projects that work directly with communities throughout the State of Maryland to address real-world problems.  The Partnership in Active Learning through Sustainability program, or PALS for short, brings the intellectual powerhouse of Maryland students into direct service of citizens throughout the state.  The opportunity to explain your ideas directly to non-architects helps you to find your own professional voice.

And what happens after you complete your degree?  Some graduates elect to spend a year or two away from academia in order to develop their professional interests while working as paid interns in an office.  Many students will continue to complete their professional degree either here at Maryland or one of the many NAAB accredited programs nationwide.

Year 1:

Fall:

• ARCH 171 - Design Thinking and Making (3)
• MATH120 or MATH140 - Calculus I (4)
• UNIV100 - The Student in the University (1)
• ENGL101 - Academic Writing (3)
• Elective (3)

Spring:

• ARCH225 - History of World Architecture I (3)
• ARCH200 - Design Media and Representation I (3)
• PHYS121 - Fundamentals of Physics I (4)
• Elective (3)
• Elective (3)

Year 2:

Fall:

• ARCH226 - History of World Architecture II (3)
• ARCH300 - Design Media and Representation II (3)
• ARCH201 - Elements and Principles of Architecture (1)
• ARCH462 - Methods and Materials of Building Construction (3)
• Elective (3)
• Elective (3)

Spring:

• ARCH400 - Architecture Design Studio I (6)
• ARCH463 - Sustainable Systems in Architecture (3)
• Elective (3)
• Elective (3)

Year 3:

Fall:

• ARCH401 - Architecture Design Studio II (6)
• ARCH464 - Architectural Structures I (3)
• ENGL39X - Professional Writing (3)
• Elective (3)

Spring:

• ARCH402 - Architecture Design Studio III (6)
• ARCH465 - Architectural Structures II (3)
• Directed Elective* (3)
• Elective (3)

Year 4:

Fall:

• ARCH403 - Architecture Design Studio IV (6)
• ARCH474 - Integrated Education in Architecture NAAB/IDP (1)
• ARCH466 - Environmental Systems in Architecture (3)
• Elective (3)
• Elective (3)

Spring:

• ARCH601 - Topical Studio (6) or Directed Elective* (6)
• Directed Elective* (3)
• Directed Elective* (3)
• Elective (3)

Requirements

• Nonrefundable application fee of $75
• Two letters of recommendation are required for a completed application: one from your school counselor and one from a teacher. Recommendations must be sent to us directly from the recommender.
• Official copy of your high school transcripts
• Where appropriate, include official results and certificates of completion from national secondary school examinations such as GCSE/GCE, CBSE national and regional, CXC/CSEC and WAEC. Transcripts must be sent in the native language with a certified English translation.
• The SAT or the ACT is required.
• If neither the SAT nor the ACT is available in your country, submit a written request for a waiver of this requirement with your application. Applicants who don’t submit some form of official standardized testing may be at a competitive disadvantage.
• Activities and awards list or resume
• If English is not your native language—regardless of your citizenship—you must have an official report of your scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the address below by the appropriate application deadline. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will consider all materials submitted in the application package to determine your level of English proficiency.

Scholarships

• Merit-based scholarships