Bachelor of Architecture

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Miami

Program Overview

The University of Miami’s five-year Bachelor of Architecture is a professional, NAAB-accredited program that builds a strong foundation in architectural design, visual representation, history, building technology, environmental systems, and structural systems before moving into advanced studio work and professional practice. It is well suited to students who want to develop both creative and technical architectural skills through studio-based learning, specialized electives, and study of real-world urban and environmental challenges in Miami.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals of architectural thinking and representation through ARC 101 – Architecture Design I, ARC 111 – Visual Representation I, and ARC 121 – Architecture and Culture. The year develops design thinking, site analysis, architectural concepts, analog and digital representation, while Architecture and Behavior and supporting courses in calculus, physics, and writing broaden the foundation.

Second Year: Students progress into more developed architectural design through ARC 203 – Architecture Design III and ARC 204 – Architecture Design IV, while ARC 230 – Building Technology I: Materials and Methods and ARC 231 – Building Technology II: The Elements of Structure introduce material and structural principles. History of Architecture I and History of Architecture II place design within its historical and cultural context, complemented by Visual Representation III and Architecture and the Environment.

Third Year: The curriculum moves toward integrated architectural and environmental design through ARC 305 – Architecture Design V and ARC 306 – Architecture Design VI. Students also study Environmental Building Systems I & II and Behavior of Structural Systems I & II, developing the ability to coordinate architectural design with environmental and structural considerations.

Fourth Year: Students enter the advanced portion of the professional curriculum with ARC 407 – Architecture Design VII and ARC 408 – Architecture Design VIII, alongside architecture electives that allow them to explore specific areas of interest. ARC 451 – Profiles in Practice introduces professional perspectives, while cognates and non-architecture electives broaden students’ academic experience.

Fifth Year: The final year continues advanced studio development through ARC 509 – Architecture Design IX and ARC 510 – Architecture Design X, supported by ARC 452 – Management of Professional Practice and further architecture electives. Students therefore finish the five-year, 171-credit curriculum with advanced design experience alongside an understanding of professional practice and management.

Focus Areas

Design, visual representation, architectural history, building technology, materials and assemblies, structures, environmental building systems, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, resilience and adaptation, urban and architectural design, professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop architectural and environmental design skills, critical thinking and evaluation, effective written/oral communication, and the ability to use traditional graphic and digital representation technologies throughout the architectural design process.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

NAAB accreditation: The University of Miami identifies the Bachelor of Architecture as a NAAB-accredited professional degree; the program is designed to fulfill the educational requirements associated with professional architectural registration.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Official ranking: The University of Miami’s official program sources reviewed do not state a current QS or Guardian subject-specific employability ranking for the Bachelor of Architecture, so no ranking is provided here. The University does provide dedicated architecture career resources through its Toppel Career Center.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The five-year Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Miami emphasizes hands-on design, visual representation, building technology, materials, environmental systems, and advanced architectural studios. Students work in dedicated studios and gain access to a Design-Shop, computer lab, digital fabrication laboratories, model shop, Fabrication Lab, and specialized architecture library, while Miami itself serves as a living laboratory for studying urban development, conservation, and design challenges. The program also connects students with practical design-build activities, fabrication technologies, architectural research resources, and international field-based learning through the School's Rome Program:

Design Studios: Students progress through Architecture Design I–VI, with studio-based work forming a major part of the 171-credit B.Arch curriculum and allowing them to develop architectural projects from conceptual design through more advanced study.
Digital Fabrication: The School's Fabrication Lab provides access to digital fabrication equipment, including 3D printers and a robotic arm, allowing students to turn conceptual designs into physical models and prototypes.
Model Making: The School provides a dedicated Model Shop and Design-Shop, supporting physical model development and hands-on exploration of architectural forms, materials, and assemblies.
Computer Resources: Students are supported by a dedicated School of Architecture computer lab, with computing resources available for design-studio work. The program also requires students to have their own computers for studio use.
Design-Build Projects: The B.E. & W.R. Miller BuildLab supports design-build activities where students can translate architectural concepts into built work; School materials document student participation in projects such as constructing the Kampong Pavilion.
Materials & Building Technology: Courses such as Building Technology I: Materials and Methods, Building Technology II: The Elements of Structure, and Environmental Building Systems I give students practical exposure to materials, construction, structures, and building-performance principles.
Rome Program: Upper-level students can participate in the Rome Program, which combines design, architectural theory and history with lectures, workshops, guided walking tours, and field trips in Rome.
Architecture Library: The Paul Buisson Architecture Library within the Architecture Research Center supports undergraduate research with architecture-focused collections and research services. Architecture students also have access to dedicated printing and scanning facilities.
Research & Community Engagement: The School's location in Coral Gables and Miami provides opportunities to investigate real urban conservation and development challenges, while the School emphasizes problem-based learning, project-based research, professional engagement, real-world applications, and community service.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Miami is a five-year professional degree designed to prepare students for careers in architecture, urbanism, and related fields. Graduates can build professional experience through the School of Architecture’s internship and research opportunities, career forums, employer networking, and access to the university’s career services. The NAAB-accredited B.Arch also provides a professional educational foundation relevant to architectural licensure, subject to applicable state registration requirements.

Typical Career Roles: Architectural Designer, Architectural Intern, Design Professional, Urban Design/Planning Professional.

Career Services: The Toppel Career Center provides architecture students with individual and small-group coaching, résumé critiques, internship and job-search guidance, networking events, employer presentations, and on-campus recruiting. Its Handshake system provides access to thousands of job and internship opportunities.
Architecture Career Forum: University of Miami’s Architecture Career Forum connects architecture students and alumni with firms from across the country recruiting for internships and full-time positions, including opportunities to meet recruiters individually and through group sessions.
Internship & Research: The School of Architecture’s Professional Advancement, Internship and Research (PAIR) pathway combines professional work with academic research. Selected students can spend 40 hours per week with a host office, dividing their time between professional practice and faculty-supported research.
Employment Opportunities: Current University of Miami architecture listings include internships and entry-level opportunities involving schematic design, construction documents, site investigations, 3D visualization, and project collaboration, giving students a direct view of the skills sought by architectural employers.
Employment Statistics: The School of Architecture’s 2023 NAAB annual report records that, for the 2019–2020 B.Arch cohort, 15 of 15 graduates seeking employment were employed in a field for which the program prepared them within one year; the report also records 27 total graduates and employment information for 15. These figures are historical and should not be treated as a current placement rate.
Salary Information: The University of Miami’s architecture career resources provide access to Lightcast job-market data covering annual earnings, employment trends, employers, job titles, and technical skills. The university does not state a specific B.Arch graduate salary figure on the official pages reviewed, so a university-specific salary range or median is not stated.
Industry Connections: Students can connect with architecture firms through the Architecture Career Forum, Handshake recruiting, the PAIR program, and School of Architecture career activities. Current university-posted opportunities demonstrate connections with firms such as CEBRA, Carlos Diaz Architecture + Interior Design, and Arcadis.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The B.Arch is NAAB-accredited, and the University of Miami states that most U.S. registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional architecture program as a prerequisite for licensure. The university lists the next accreditation visit for its architecture programs as 2033.
Graduation Outcomes: The five-year B.Arch is a professional degree of 171 undergraduate credits and is specifically structured to prepare students for professional leadership and lifelong learning in architecture, urbanism, and related fields.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.Arch, students can continue at the University of Miami through the Master of Architecture I AP, a two-year advanced-placement professional program, or pursue the Master of Science in Architecture, with tracks including Digital Fabrication & Technology, Hospitality Design, Healthcare Design, Classical & Traditional Design, Historic Preservation, and Contemporary Theory and the Built Environment. Other graduate options include the Master of Urban Design, Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism, and interdisciplinary programs such as Urban Sustainability and Resilience and Data Science with a Smart Cities track.