B.S. in Architecture, El Paso

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Texas Tech University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Architecture, El Paso at Texas Tech University’s Huckabee College of Architecture develops students’ abilities in architectural design, technology, representation, history, computation, and research, preparing them for careers in architecture, the building industry, and related fields. The El Paso program suits students seeking a design-focused architectural education in a multicultural border-city setting, with the pathway also providing preparation for continued study toward the NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their architectural foundation through ARCH 1301 Architectural Design I, ARCH 1101 Architectural Representation I, and ARCH 1311 Design, Environment, and Society, developing observation, design communication, representation, and an understanding of architecture’s environmental and social context. The El Paso pathway uses lower-division coursework through its El Paso Community College (EPCC) partnership, including architectural design, representation, history, mathematics, physics, and core studies.

Year 2: Students progress into more developed design and technical studies, with the EPCC pathway including ARCH 2603 Architectural Design and ARCH 2604 Architectural Design, alongside ARCH 2312, ARCH 2101, and ARCH 2102 equivalents that build architectural history and representation skills. This stage prepares students for the upper-level Texas Tech curriculum through portfolio-based academic progression and technical foundations.

Year 3: At Texas Tech El Paso, students undertake advanced studio and technical work through ARCH 3601 Architectural Design Studio V, ARCH 3602 Architectural Design Studio VI, and ARCH 3352 Building Information Technology. They also study ARCH 2355 Architectural Technology II – Gravity, ARCH 3350 Architectural Technology III – Assemblies, ARCH 2362 Fundamentals in Architectural Thinking, and ARCH 3373 Site Design, connecting design development with building technology, BIM, site planning, and architectural thinking.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced integrated design through ARCH 4601 Architectural Design Studio VII and ARCH 4602 Architectural Design Studio VIII, supported by ARCH 3355 Architectural Technology IV – Atmosphere and ARCH 4341 Digital Architectural Representation. Students can also explore Historic Preservation, Cultural Tourism, Contemporary Issues in Architecture, and Architectural Studies Seminar, with ARCH 4392 Historic Preservation Internship available as an option.

Focus Areas

Architectural design, digital representation, building information technology, architectural technology, site design, architectural history, historic preservation, cultural tourism, contemporary architecture, computation, research, and design thinking.

Learning Outcomes

Architectural idea development and communication, technical understanding of design systems and materials, environmental stewardship, integrated design solutions, digital representation, building information technology, site analysis, architectural research, and the ability to synthesize multiple design variables.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

NAAB status: The B.S. in Architecture is a non-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited. Texas Tech states that its Master of Architecture is the NAAB-accredited professional degree, allowing the B.S. to serve as preparation for continued professional architectural education.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

DesignIntelligence: Texas Tech’s Huckabee College of Architecture reports that DesignIntelligence ranked it 10th nationally among architecture schools for the number of graduates most hired by firms. This is a college-level architecture employability ranking rather than a ranking specifically for the El Paso B.S. program.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Architecture, El Paso at Texas Tech University provides hands-on learning through design studios, digital media, architectural representation, fabrication, and community-oriented projects. Students have access to a dedicated Digital Media Lab, computer and printing resources, the CoAMP mentor program, and opportunities to engage with POST (Project for Operative Spatial Technologies), a research initiative focused on the U.S.–Mexico border and its built environment. Students can build practical skills through studio work, digital tools, community projects, and professional development opportunities, including the program’s architecture-focused resources:

Design Studios: Students develop projects through sequential architectural design studios, including ARCH 3601 Architectural Design Studio V, ARCH 3602 Architectural Design Studio VI, ARCH 4601 Architectural Design Studio VII, and ARCH 4602 Architectural Design Studio VIII. Studio work combines design development with architectural technology, site design, digital representation, and cultural context.
Digital Media: The El Paso program offers a Digital Media Lab with on-site printing, 3D printing, and laser-cutting services, allowing students to produce drawings, models, and digital-fabrication work as part of their projects.
Software: Students are required to have a personal computer and the latest Rhino software, while the wider Huckabee College of Architecture provides access to AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe design software, and additional 3D design and visualization software.
Digital Fabrication: Students can develop physical prototypes using laser cutters and 3D printers; the college's fabrication resources include 36 Prusa i3 MK3S+ 3D printers and large-format laser cutters, supporting computer-controlled model and prototype production.
Model Making: The Huckabee College's Wood & Model Shop supports architectural design exploration through wood, metal, and other materials, with equipment including band saws, sanders, drill presses, and CNC equipment. Shop access requires safety training.
Building Information Technology: ARCH 3352 Building Information Technology gives students experience with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the preparation of technical information and construction documents.
Community Projects: The CoAMP Mentor Program supplements coursework with workshops and community projects while connecting students with fellow students and architecture professionals.
Border Research: POST (Project for Operative Spatial Technologies) is based at the El Paso program and investigates the U.S.–Mexico border as a design and research context, including cross-border spatial research, mapping, environmental data, and design research.
Research Opportunities: Students are exposed to architecture research through courses such as ARCH 4000 Architecture Research, while the El Paso site also participates in research activities coordinated through the Architecture Research & Design Center.
Library Resources: The program provides access to Library Resources, while the Huckabee College's Architecture Library supports architecture and design research with more than 34,000 print volumes, electronic books, digital image collections, computers, scanners, and course-specific research instruction.
Professional Exposure: Students can connect with the profession through firm visits, guest lectures, career fairs, and professional-development workshops offered through the Huckabee College of Architecture.
Internship: The El Paso curriculum specifically lists ARCH 4392 Historic Preservation Internship as an optional three-credit course, providing a structured opportunity for practical experience related to historic preservation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Architecture, El Paso prepares graduates for opportunities in architecture, the building industry, and related fields while developing skills that can support further professional study. Texas Tech specifically describes the degree as a pathway that prepares students to continue into a master’s program for an accredited professional architecture degree.

Typical career roles: Architectural Designer, Architectural Assistant, Design Professional, Building Industry Professional.

Key progression and career opportunities include:

Career support: Texas Tech’s University Career Center provides Red Raider GradStats, which allows students to explore alumni employment, salaries, career trajectories, employers, and skills associated with different majors. The El Paso program also provides CoAMP Mentor Program resources and AXP – Getting Started guidance for students beginning their professional experience pathway.
Employment data: Texas Tech publishes alumni employment and salary information through Red Raider GradStats; detailed major-level information is available to students through the university system. The university also reports that its Huckabee College of Architecture was ranked 10th nationally for graduates most hired by firms by DesignIntelligence.
Industry exposure: Students can gain professional context through Texas Tech's architecture ecosystem, including faculty collaboration, research, studio-based learning, and the El Paso location on the Texas/Mexico border, which the university describes as providing a distinctive multicultural setting for architectural education.
Professional experience: The El Paso program provides AXP – Getting Started resources, helping students understand the Architectural Experience Program as they work toward professional development and eventual licensure.
Long-term accreditation value: The B.S. in Architecture is a non-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited. Texas Tech's Master of Architecture is NAAB-accredited, and the university states that the B.S. prepares students to continue into this accredited professional degree; the M.Arch is designed for individuals seeking architectural licensure.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can enter architecture and related building industries or continue their education. Texas Tech also offers the opportunity to combine architecture with Civil Engineering or General Business through dual-degree pathways, expanding possible professional directions.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Architecture, students can progress to Texas Tech’s NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture, a two-year, 60-credit professional degree for students seeking architectural licensure. The B.S. can also be followed by graduate study in areas such as Historic Preservation or interdisciplinary research, while the El Paso location specifically offers a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.