Bachelor's in Architecture

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Texas Tech University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Architecture at Texas Tech University is a 124-credit, four-year program that develops students’ abilities in architectural design, technology, computation, research, and the relationship between architecture and social, political, cultural, and environmental issues. It suits students seeking a strong pre-professional foundation for careers in architecture and the building industry, as well as students planning to continue into Texas Tech’s NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their architectural foundation through courses such as ARCH 1301 Design Studio 1, which introduces form, space, architectural representation, drawing, and model-making, alongside ARCH 1311 Design, Environment, and Society, which examines architecture within social and environmental contexts. ARCH 2311 History of World Architecture I introduces the historical development of architecture and helps students understand architecture within broader cultural contexts.

Year 2: Students progress into more developed architectural design and technical studies, building their understanding of design processes, architectural history, building systems, site conditions, and digital representation. Coursework develops the connection between architectural ideas and their technical realization, preparing students for the more advanced pre-professional studios that follow.

Year 3: Students undertake increasingly complex design and technology work through courses such as ARCH 3352 Building Information Technology, which focuses on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and construction documentation, together with advanced architectural design and building-technology studies. The curriculum increasingly integrates program, site, form, building technology, and computation into architectural problem-solving.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced integrated design through ARCH 4601 Architectural Design VII and ARCH 4602 Architectural Design VIII, while students also explore professional and technical topics through upper-level architecture coursework. ARCH 4601 specifically integrates architectural theory, building technology, computation, program, site, and form within complex design projects, providing a strong transition toward graduate professional study.

Focus Areas

Architectural design, architectural representation, history and theory, building technology, BIM, computation, environmental systems, site and context, sustainable design, research, digital design, fabrication, social and cultural issues, professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

Architectural thinking and communication, design development, technical knowledge of systems and materials, environmental stewardship, integration of multiple design variables, digital and computational skills, research and analysis, and development of integrated architectural solutions.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Architecture is a non-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited. Texas Tech identifies its Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) as the NAAB-accredited professional degree, so the B.S. provides the pre-professional foundation for students who wish to progress toward an accredited professional architecture degree.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

DesignIntelligence: Texas Tech’s Huckabee College of Architecture states that it was ranked 10th nationally for the number of graduates most hired by firms, reflecting the college-level employment reputation reported by DesignIntelligence. This ranking applies to the Huckabee College of Architecture rather than specifically to the B.S. in Architecture.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Architecture at Texas Tech University emphasizes learning through design studios, model-making, digital production, and direct engagement with architectural materials and technologies. Students have access to specialized College of Architecture facilities, including computer labs, digital fabrication equipment, laser cutters, 3D printers, and architecture library resources, allowing them to turn studio concepts into physical and digital work:

Design Studios: Students develop architectural projects through the College’s studio-based learning environment, combining drawings, models, research, design development, and critiques with faculty and peers.
Digital Fabrication: The College provides laser cutters and 3D printers for producing architectural models and prototypes. Students submit digital files for fabrication, giving them direct experience moving from digital design to physical output.
Laser Cutting: The laser-cutting facility supports materials including acrylic, Baltic birch, basswood, cardboard, chipboard, MDF, and museum board, allowing students to test detailed architectural models and components.
3D Printing: Students can submit STL files for 3D printing and are instructed to use Netfabb to check and repair meshes before printing, providing practical experience with digital fabrication workflows.
Digital Design: Students work with digital production workflows that connect architectural design, visualization, drawing, and fabrication. The College's laser-cutting instructions specifically support Adobe Illustrator workflows for preparing vector and outline files.
Computer Labs: The Huckabee College of Architecture provides dedicated computer laboratories for architecture students, supporting digital design work and studio production.
Architecture Library: Students have access to the Architecture Library, along with architecture research guides and specialized books, journals, computers, printers, and scanners for design and research work.
Research & Design Projects: Architecture students can engage with faculty-led research and specialized design areas, including healthcare facilities design, urban design, environmental design, and evidence-based architecture, connecting studio work with real architectural research questions.
Physical Model Making: The combination of digital fabrication, laser cutting, 3D printing, and architectural studio work allows students to test ideas through physical models and prototypes, rather than relying only on screen-based representations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Texas Tech University prepares graduates for architecture-related design and project roles while providing a pathway into professional graduate study. Graduates can build careers in architectural design and project coordination, while the accelerated B.S.-to-M.Arch option can allow eligible students to complete up to nine graduate credits during the bachelor’s degree and streamline their progression toward professional practice.

Typical career roles include Architectural Designer, Designer, Project Coordinator, and Project Manager. Texas Tech’s official architecture graduate data also identifies employers such as Parkhill, Perkins&Will, Corgan, Gensler, WRA Architects, GFF, HKS Architecture & Planning, BRW Architects, Pluger Architects, and Huckabee.

Career development and progression are supported through several university resources:

Career Services: The University Career Center provides internship and full-time job listings, career appointments, job-search resources, resume support, career fairs, and portfolio guidance specifically applicable to architecture students.
Internships: Texas Tech’s College to Career program provides undergraduate students with paid internship opportunities through approved on-campus and Lubbock-community placements, while the Career Center also supports architecture internships and employer connections.
Industry Connections: The Huckabee College of Architecture connects students with practicing architects through firm visits, guest lectures, its college career fair, and professional-development workshops.
Employment & Salary: Texas Tech’s Red Raider GradStats reports an average estimated salary of $71,411 for Huckabee College of Architecture alumni, based on 785 reported graduates. Frequently reported titles include Architectural Designer, Designer, Project Manager, Senior Architectural Designer, and Project Coordinator.
Employer Network: Reported architecture alumni employers include Parkhill, Perkins&Will, Corgan, Gensler, WRA Architects, GFF, HKS Architecture & Planning, BRW Architects, Pluger Architects, and Huckabee, providing evidence of employment across established architecture and design practices.
Professional Preparation: The Career Center helps architecture students develop portfolios, resumes, interview skills, and job-search strategies, while its employment platform provides access to internships and full-time opportunities.
Accreditation Value: The B.S. in Architecture is a non-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited. Texas Tech’s Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) is NAAB-accredited, and the university states that professional architectural licensure commonly requires an accredited professional degree.
Graduation Progression: Students who want to continue toward professional architecture practice can use the accelerated B.S.-to-M.Arch. pathway, which allows qualifying students to earn up to nine graduate credits while completing the undergraduate degree.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Architecture, students can progress to Texas Tech’s NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), which requires a pre-professional undergraduate architecture degree plus 42 graduate course credits. The accelerated B.S.-to-M.Arch. option can overlap up to nine graduate credits for qualifying students, creating a more streamlined route toward professional architectural education and subsequent licensure requirements.