Architecture
The Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree offers a rigorous sequence of STEM-designated courses, providing students with a solid foundation of math, science, and physics. Since architects’ lead projects using engineers as consultants, they must know technical and engineering concepts and principles, understand structures, building systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, daylighting principles and system design) and go beyond the core curriculum to ensure they are well-prepared to lead architectural projects and collaborate effectively.
Our architecture-driven curriculum and studio-based experiences will develop your capacity for design thinking. You will leverage creative thinking as a tool in rapidly expanding fields.
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About the Program
We deliver a 21st-century education building on timeless principles while engaging with current, emerging, and projected trends. Motivated 2nd-year ARCH students who aspire to become licensed professional architects have the option to participate in the Integrated Path to Architecture Licensure (iPAL) program to simultaneously pursue the three essential components for licensure, i.e., Education (Accredited degree), Experience (AXP), and Examination (ARE 5.0), thereby reducing the overall time required to obtain an architectural license. The curriculum requires all 3rd-year undergraduate students to study away from the Texas A&M Main Campus for one semester. Students can elect to participate in an internship or study abroad program to gain global architecture and design perspectives. The Bachelor of Science in Architecture prepares graduates to continue their professional education through a NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture program.
Areas of Emphasis
- Design thinking
- Architectural history, theory and criticism
- Representation
- Building technology
- Social, professional and community engagement
Careers
The Bachelor of Science in Architecture prepares students to pursue careers in a wide range of design related fields.
Graphic design
Industrial design
Interior design
Robotics
Architecture design*
* Students interested in professional architecture registration must complete a National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) accredited Master of Architecture program after completing the four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree.
** Salary ranges estimated from PayScale.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a 120-credit-hour degree organized over the course of eight semesters. Coursework encourages multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives, communication skills, and team-oriented methods of production. Knowledge gained in the core curriculum is complemented by learning by doing in the design studio sequences.
Students often supplement their degree plans with minors offered through the department, including art and architectural history; sustainable architecture and planning; architectural fabrication and product design; and architectural heritage conservation.
Degree Plan 2023–2024
All students are placed on the current catalog when they enter the Department of Architecture. Students can request to be moved forward into a newer catalog by contacting their academic adviser.
Year 1 31 credit hours
Fall Semester – 14 credit hours
ARCH 249 Survey of World Architecture History I 3 credit hours
ARCH 281 Seminar in Contemporary Architecture 1 credit hour
ARCH 105 Design Foundations I 4 credit hours
ARCH 115 Design Communication Foundations 3 credit hours
MATH 140 or MATH 152 or MATH 168 Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences or Engineering Mathematics II or Finite Mathematics 3 credit hours
Spring Semester – 17 credit hours
ARCH 250 Survey of World Architecture History II 3 credit hours
ARCH 108 Design and Visual Communication Foundations II 5 credit hours
ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric 3 credit hours
MATH 142 or MATH 151 Business Calculus or Engineering Mathematics I 3 credit hours
Cultural Discourse 3 credit hours
Year 2 33 credit hours
Fall Semester – 17 credit hours
ARCH 205 Architecture Design I 4 credit hours
ARCH 212 Social and Behavioral Factors in Design 3 credit hours
ARCH 330 The Making of Architecture 3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification in environmental design or approval of instructor or ARCH classification.
PHYS 201 College Physics 4 credit hours
Government/Political science 3 credit hours
Spring Semester – 16 credit hours
ARCH 206 Architecture Design II 5 credit hours
ARCH 213 Sustainable Architecture 3 credit hours
CARC 481 Seminar 1 credit hour
American History 3 credit hours
Life and Physical Sciences 4 credit hours
Year 3 27 credit hours
Fall Semester – 15 credit hours
ARCH 305 Architectural Design III 5 credit hours
ARCH 331 Architectural Structures 3 credit hours
ARCH 335 Architectural Systems 3 credit hours
Communication 3 credit hours
Life and Physical Sciences 1 credit hour
Spring Semester – 12 credit hours
ARCH 494 or CARC 301 Internship or Field Studies in Design Innovation 12
Study away elective
Year 4 29 credit hours
Fall Semester – 15 credit hours
ARCH 405 Architectural Design IV 5 credit hours
ARCH 431 Integrated Structures 2 credit hours
ARCH 435 Integrated Systems 2 credit hours
American History 3 credit hours
Government/Political Science 3 credit hours
Spring Semester – 14 credit hours
ARCH 350 History and Theory of Modern and Contemporary Architecture 3 credit hours
ARCH 406 Architectural Design V 5 credit hours
Directed elective 3 credit hours
Directed elective 3 credit hours
All proposals for undergraduate independent study must be signed by the supervising faculty and submitted to the department for approval; forms are available from the Department of Architecture undergraduate advisor (in Langford ARCA 219) and on the department website.
A grade of C or better must be made in all College of Architecture courses (ARCH, ARTS, COSC, CARC, ENDS, LAND, LDEV, URPN, and VIST). Students must also make a grade of C or better in any course used as an equivalent substitution for College of Architecture courses satisfying degree requirements.
Past Degree Plans
- ENDS Catalog 142 (’19-’20) (PDF) and Catalog 142 Directed Electives (PDF)
- ENDS Catalog 141 (’18-’19) (PDF) and Catalog 141 Directed Electives (PDF)
- ENDS Catalog 140 (’17-’18) (PDF) and Catalog 140 Directed Electives (PDF)
- ENDS Catalog 139 (’16-’17) (PDF) and Catalog 139 Directed Electives (PDF)
- ENDS Catalog 138 (’15-’16) (PDF) and Catalog 138 Directed Electives (PDF)
- ENDS Catalog 137 (’14-’15) (PDF) and Catalog 137 Directed Electives (PDF)
FAQ about the Bachelor of Science in Architecture
How can I prepare academically for the architecture program?
Students hoping to prepare for the program while still in high school are encouraged to take courses in geometry, algebra, calculus, trigonometry, physics, art, 3D art, and design.
How long will this program take to complete?
This bachelor’s degree is organized into eight semesters with required studio sequences. There is no way to overlap to get ahead with studio courses as they are meant to be taken in sequential order. Your degree’s completion time will depend on your AP, transfer, or dual credits and overall academic performance, but typically takes at least four years.
Design Studios
The design studio sequence encourages individual exploration, research, and team-based collaboration through project-based learning and application. Students learn and develop skills through a variety of theoretical, experimental, and practical design projects. Design studio projects place a shared emphasis on the:
- Technical and expressive content of design work
- Processes used to research, synthesize and document design ideas
- Creation of tangible, high-quality products
Read our studio culture philosophy
How to Apply
Admission to our architecture program is offered to students seeking a bachelor’s degree and who meet the Texas A&M University’s entrance requirements.
FAQ about the admission process
Is a portfolio required to apply?
No.
Do you accept transfer students?
Yes. However, it can take up to eight semesters (4 years) to complete the environmental design program after transferring because it requires a studio sequence. There is no way to overlap to get ahead with studio courses as they are meant to be taken in sequential order. Departments may offer summer studio courses to accelerate a program.
How does the admission process work?
Submit your application to Texas A&M University through ApplyTexas or Coalition. Select Architecture as your intended major in your application.
How much does it cost to attend?
The cost to attend varies depending on a variety of factors, including semester of admission, student type, how many hours you take per semester, and rate type. Additional costs to consider include course materials, housing, meal plans, parking, and fees.
For a better understanding of your total cost of attendance, please visit the Texas A&M University cost and tuition rates webpage. This webpage will provide you with an opportunity to review estimated cost of attendance information for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as other resources such as the tuition calculator and billing and fee explanations.
What kinds of financial aid does the program offer?
Numerous scholarships and financial aid are available through Texas A&M University, the School of Architecture, and the Department of Architecture. Incoming freshmen applicants are considered for university scholarships through the ApplyTexas Application or the Coalition Application. Continuing students can apply for additional scholarships through the University Scholarship Application for Continuing Students or through our departmental scholarship application process. For more information about university scholarships, visit scholarships.tamu.edu.
Helpful Resources
Our Commitment to Our Students
We are committed to delivering a 21st-century, student-centered education to all of our students. We weave diversity, inclusivity and critical thinking throughout all of our courses. We view design, both as a process and a product, as the unifying force within our program.