BA Architecture

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Program Overview

The BA Architecture program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a four-year, 120-credit pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Design (BSD) pathway that develops students’ abilities in architectural design, technology, research, and the relationship between buildings, people, and the environment. It suits students who want a strong design foundation and practical preparation for professional architecture, with the BSD leading directly into UNL’s two-year, NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the d.ONE common foundation, developing core design skills through DSGN 110 Design Thinking, DSGN 111 Design Making, and DSGN 120 Design Drawing. DSGN 123 Computer Applications in Design and DSGN 140 History of Design add digital design skills and an understanding of design history, while the studio-based approach introduces teamwork, composition, craft, presentation, and idea generation.

Year 2: Students enter focused architectural studies through ARCH 210 Architectural Design Studio: Representation, ARCH 211 Architectural Design Studio: Ideation, and ARCH 222 BIM for Design – Introduction to BIM. They also study ARCH 231 Structural Fundamentals, ARCH 232 Materials and Assemblies, and ARCH 262 Building Organization, connecting design concepts with structural systems, materials, spatial organization, and building information modeling.

Year 3: Students develop increasingly complex architectural design abilities through ARCH 310 Architectural Design Studio: Organize and ARCH 311 Architectural Design Studio: Situate, while ARCH 332 Structural Optimization and ARCH 360 Site Context Issues deepen their understanding of structure, site, and environmental context. This stage helps students integrate architectural proposals with technical and contextual considerations.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes collaboration, research, and technological integration through DSGN 410 Design Studio: Collaborate, ARCH 489 Design Research, and ARCH 411 Architectural Design: Integrate. Students also study ARCH 333 Building Environmental Technical Systems I, ARCH 461 Urbanism, ARCH 341 Architectural Theory, and ARCH 430 Technological Integration, bringing together environmental systems, urbanism, theory, research, and advanced architectural design.

Focus Areas

Architectural design, design thinking, design making, digital design, BIM, representation, ideation, building organization, structures, materials and assemblies, site context, environmental systems, urbanism, architectural theory, design research, technological integration, collaboration.

Learning Outcomes

Design inquiry, visual and diagrammatic communication, creative problem-solving, interdisciplinary integration, environmental and ethical awareness, technical understanding, integrated design development, design research, innovation, and preparation for professional graduate architecture study.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Pre-professional degree: The BSD in Architecture is a pre-professional undergraduate degree and is not itself NAAB-accredited; it leads directly to the two-year Master of Architecture, which is the professional degree and is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Official employment outcome: The UNL College of Architecture reports a 96% job placement rate for its architecture program and states that 74% of licensed architects in Nebraska have a degree from Nebraska’s College of Architecture. These are official university-reported outcomes rather than a QS or Guardian ranking specifically for the BSD in Architecture.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s architecture program gain practical skills through project-based design studios, collaborative work, design research, and hands-on making. The program combines digital design with physical fabrication, while Architecture Hall provides dedicated computer labs, a media center, library, shop, laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC equipment for developing and presenting architectural work. These opportunities include:

Design Studios: Students undertake project-based experiential learning throughout the program, with fourth-year Design Studio: Collaborate (DSGN 410) and Architectural Design: Integrate (ARCH 411) focusing on complex architectural problems, collaboration, environmental stewardship, technical documentation, accessibility, and building-envelope systems.
Team Projects: The first-year DSGN 110 Design Thinking and DSGN 111 Design Making courses are hands-on and require students to work in teams while developing skills in composition, craft, presentation, and idea generation.
Digital Design: DSGN 123 Computer Applications in Design introduces digital design tools, while the College maintains two computer labs with dual-monitor workstations, scanning equipment, and software used across its architecture, design, and planning programs.
Architecture Software: Students have access to the College’s Autodesk Student Software Program, which provides Autodesk software through educational licenses; the College also provides information for Rhino 8 and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Fabrication & Prototyping: The more than 3,000-square-foot Architecture Shop gives students hands-on experience working with wood, plastic, and metal using power and hand tools. The facility also includes three laser cutters, several 3D printers, and a three-axis CNC router.
Design/Build Studios: The College’s FACT (Fabrication and Construction Team) and PLAIN design/build studios connect design thinking with actual project development and construction, with students working with creative and nonprofit clients and collaborating with builders, fabricators, and other makers.
Undergraduate Research: Students can work directly with faculty through Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) projects, gaining experience in design research alongside their studio education.
Career & Internship Exposure: The College hosts an annual Career Fair where architecture firms recruit students and maintains a dedicated listing of architecture internships and job opportunities.
Architecture Library: The Architecture Library is a 2,490-square-foot facility containing resources in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and related fields, together with an extensive online image collection and large-format scanning facilities.
Media & Presentation: The Media Center provides large-format color and black-and-white printing, scanning, digital cameras, photography equipment, model photography facilities, laser cutters, and 3D printers to support project development and presentation.
Living Laboratory: The HDR Pavilion functions as a living laboratory for students studying mass-timber design and construction and includes 14 open-loft studios, classrooms, and support spaces within the Architecture Hall complex.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA Architecture provides a foundation for architectural practice, design, research, and further professional study, with UNL reporting strong employment and continuing-education outcomes across its College of Architecture. Graduates can build careers in architectural and design-related settings while developing the portfolio, professional connections, and practical experience needed for progression into professional architecture education.

Typical career roles include: Architectural Designer, Architectural Assistant, Design Coordinator, Architectural Technician.

Career Services: Architecture students have access to a dedicated career team in Architecture Hall, including career coaching, resume reviews, mock interviews, and career-development support. Students also receive access to Handshake for internships, jobs, and employer connections.
Career & Internship Fair: The College of Architecture hosts a dedicated annual career and internship fair where architecture students can connect directly with recruiting firms; preparation includes resume and portfolio development, interview skills, and negotiation strategies.
Industry Exposure: UNL's College of Architecture provides architecture-specific internship opportunities and maintains job listings from architecture employers, including opportunities such as Project Architect and Architectural Designer positions.
Employment Outcomes: The College of Architecture reports an average 95% employment or continued-education rate within six months of graduation across its undergraduate programs. UNL's broader Class of 2025 undergraduate data reports more than 71% secured employment or continued education within six months, with a $60,000 median starting salary.
Architecture Employment: UNL's 2025 College of Architecture economic-impact report states that architecture and interior-design graduate job placements in 2024 ranged from 96% to 100%. The report also states that architects earned an average annual wage $32,950 above the average Nebraska worker in 2024; this is an occupation-level figure rather than a BA-specific starting salary.
Employer Connections: Nebraska's College of Architecture maintains connections with major regional architecture, design, and planning employers. The university's career materials specifically identify HDR, DLR, and Leo A Daly among major firms associated with Nebraska's architecture, design, and planning sector.
Professional Preparation: The College's career and internship infrastructure gives students opportunities to develop portfolios, meet employers, pursue internships, and transition from academic design work into professional environments. International students can also use UNL's resources for CPT and OPT when eligible.
Accreditation Value: The undergraduate architecture degree at UNL is a pre-professional qualification, not a NAAB-accredited professional architecture degree. UNL's professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) is NAAB-accredited, so students completing the undergraduate pathway can continue into the professional degree that forms the accredited stage of their architectural education.
Graduation Outcomes: UNL's College of Architecture reports 95% employment or continued education within six months for its average undergraduate population, while its 2024 economic-impact reporting documents 96–100% job placement for architecture and interior-design graduates.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA Architecture, students can continue into UNL's professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) pathway. UNL identifies the M.Arch. as its first professional architecture degree and states that the professional M.Arch. is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB); the university offers two-year and three-year professional M.Arch. routes depending on the student's prior architectural education.