BFA Architectural Design

While MICA’s program is rooted in creative exploration, it provides a strong foundation in architectural thinking and design:

• Small faculty-to-student ratio allows personalized mentorship and guidance through studio projects.

• Access to the architecturally acclaimed Brown Center, housing modern studios and fabrication labs.

• Dynamic campus resources including an on-site art supply store, campus-wide workshops, and digital/media labs.

• Strong opportunities to collaborate across art, design, and technology disciplines, supported by MICA’s interdisciplinary structure.

• Emphasis on project-based learning and creative research.

• Collaborative classroom environments promote critiques and teamwork, helping students develop professional communication and iterative design skills.

MICA’s BFA in Architectural Design blends architecture with fine art, resulting in graduates who often work as architectural assistants, spatial artists, design researchers, or set and environment designers.
Here’s what helps MICA grads stand out:

• MICA Career Development: Offers personalized support, connections with design/art residencies, and the Internship + Practicum Program that helps students get professional experience before graduation.

• Creative career outcomes: 88–90% of graduates are employed or in graduate programs within a year. Roles vary widely, and starting salaries range from $50,000–$65,000, depending on creative sector and city.

• Partnerships with design-driven orgs: MICA students intern with the likes of HOK, FXCollaborative, and local innovation labs in Baltimore.

• Artistic flexibility: As an art school program, the degree emphasizes creativity and design experimentation within spatial and architectural contexts.

• Capstone and thesis studio: Every student builds a final thesis project that pushes conceptual boundaries in architecture and design.

Further Academic Progression:
MICA BFA grads are uniquely positioned to apply for M.Arch programs, MFA in Spatial Arts, or interdisciplinary degrees like Environmental Design or Architecture & Media Studies at institutions like Yale, MIT, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.