Arts & Design

Architecture

Designing buildings that are functional, safe, and meaningful.

Content last reviewed: August 2026

Architecture studies the design of buildings and structures, balancing aesthetics, function, safety, and technical feasibility. Undergraduate architecture programs (often five-year professional degrees) combine design studio work with technical courses in structures, materials, and building systems.

Studio culture defines the degree: long hours developing and refining a design through iteration, models, and drawings, followed by juried critique ('crits') where you present and defend your design decisions to faculty and outside architects.

Typical courses you might take

✓Architectural Design Studio (every semester)
✓Architectural History
✓Structures
✓Building Materials & Methods
✓Environmental Systems (HVAC, lighting)
✓Site Planning
✓Digital Design Tools (CAD, BIM)
✓Thesis Design Studio

Sample four-year plan

Illustrative, not a registration plan

One possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.

Year 1 · Fall

✓Architectural Design Studio (every semester)
+General education requirement

Year 1 · Spring

✓Architectural History
+General education requirement

Year 2 · Fall

✓Structures
+General education requirement

Year 2 · Spring

✓Building Materials & Methods
+Free elective

Year 3 · Fall

✓Environmental Systems (HVAC, lighting)
+Free elective

Year 3 · Spring

✓Site Planning
+Elective in the major (or minor coursework)

Year 4 · Fall

✓Digital Design Tools (CAD, BIM)
+Elective in the major (or minor coursework)

Year 4 · Spring

✓Thesis Design Studio
+Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)

Skills you'll build

Architectural design and spatial reasoningTechnical drawing and 3D modeling (CAD/BIM)Understanding structural and building systemsModel-making and physical prototypingPresenting and defending design work in critiqueBalancing creativity with codes and constraintsSustained, iterative project development

Explore more majors that build these skills →

This major might be a good fit if you...

★Enjoys design work that's both creative and technically rigorous
★Comfortable with long studio hours and iterative critique
★Spatially minded and detail-oriented
★Interested in how buildings shape human experience

Common minors & double-major pairings

Civil Engineering · Art History · Environmental Science

Frequently asked questions

What is a Architecture major?

Designing buildings that are functional, safe, and meaningful.

What courses do Architecture majors take?

Typical coursework includes classes like Architectural Design Studio (every semester), Architectural History, Structures, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.

What skills do you build in a Architecture program?

Architecture coursework typically builds skills like Architectural design and spatial reasoning, Technical drawing and 3D modeling (CAD/BIM), Understanding structural and building systems, Model-making and physical prototyping.

Is Architecture a good major for me?

It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Enjoys design work that's both creative and technically rigorous" or "Comfortable with long studio hours and iterative critique" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.

What other majors pair well with Architecture?

Common minor or double-major pairings include Civil Engineering, Art History, Environmental Science.

How is Architecture different from Civil Engineering?

They're related but distinct. Architecture: Designing buildings that are functional, safe, and meaningful. Civil Engineering: Designing the infrastructure that cities and communities run on. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.

How long does it take to earn a Architecture degree?

Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.

From our guides

How to Choose a College Major: A Complete Guide for Students and ParentsA practical, step-by-step framework for figuring out what to study, how to test a major before committing to it, and what to do if you're still not sure by move-in day.How to Switch College Majors Without Losing a SemesterA third of students change their major at least once. Here's how to do it while keeping as many of your credits, and as much of your timeline, intact as possible.Accreditation, Explained: Why It Matters More for Some Majors Than Others"Is this program accredited?" isn't a yes-or-no question. There are two different layers of accreditation, and only one of them is close to mandatory for every major.Should Your Student Start at Community College and Transfer? What Parents Should KnowStarting at community college can genuinely cut costs, but the savings depend entirely on whether credits actually transfer into the destination major, not just onto the transcript.

This overview describes what the field of study typically covers. It's not a guarantee of course availability, job placement, or earnings, program details vary by school. See our disclaimer.