Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Washington

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design at the University of Washington is a pre-professional architecture degree designed for students seeking intensive preparation in architectural design and advanced standing in professional graduate architecture programs. Students build their foundation through architectural history, representation, structures, construction, environmental technologies, theory and six quarters of design studios, developing the design and problem-solving skills needed for further study and careers related to architecture and the built environment.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a broad academic foundation through UW general education in Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, English Composition and Calculus. This first year develops the communication, critical-thinking and analytical foundation that supports later architectural study.

Year 2: Students begin the architecture prerequisite sequence with ARCH 200: Design and Representation I, ARCH 201: Design and Representation II, and architectural history courses including ARCH 350: Architecture of the Ancient World, ARCH 351: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance Architecture, and ARCH 352: History of Modern Architecture. These courses introduce architectural representation and design while establishing a historical understanding of architecture before students apply to the major during spring quarter.

Year 3: After admission to the major, students move into intensive studio and technical coursework through ARCH 300, 301 and 302: Introduction to Architectural Design I–III, alongside ARCH 320, 321 and 322: Introduction to Structures I–III. Courses such as ARCH 315: Design Drawing III, CM 313: Construction Materials and Assemblies, ARCH 380: Computers in Architecture, and ARCH 362: Architecture and Theory connect design practice with structural, construction, digital and theoretical knowledge.

Year 4: Students advance through ARCH 400, 401 and 402: Architectural Design IV–VI, completing three further six-credit design studios while choosing coursework in areas such as History/Theory, Building Science/Materials and Graphics. The final year provides greater scope for upper-division electives and allows students to deepen their architectural interests while completing the 90-credit Architectural Design major.

Focus Areas:

Architectural design, design representation, architectural history, structures, construction materials and assemblies, architectural theory, computer applications in architecture, energy and buildings, building science/materials, graphics, and advanced architectural design studios.

Learning Outcomes:

Architectural design development, visual and graphic communication, structural understanding, construction knowledge, digital architecture skills, architectural theory, environmental and energy considerations, historical analysis, and integrated design problem-solving.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Pre-professional degree, not NAAB-accredited. The University of Washington states that its undergraduate Architecture degrees are not professional degrees and that students pursuing architectural licensure typically continue into a professional Master of Architecture; UW's M.Arch. is NAAB-accredited.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Program-specific employability ranking: not stated by the official University of Washington Architecture sources. The department does state that the BA in Architectural Design prepares students for advanced-standing admission to many professional graduate architecture programs and for fields including government, development, management, planning, art, graphic design and digital arts.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the BA in Architectural Design gain hands-on experience through six quarters of design studios, where they integrate architectural theory, building technologies, environmental considerations and design skills through collaborative studio projects. The University of Washington supports this practical learning with dedicated design studios, digital computing resources, fabrication facilities, materials and daylighting laboratories, photography facilities and a specialized built-environments library.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Collaborative design studios: The program includes six quarters of design studios, providing an intensive environment where students develop and apply architectural design skills through hands-on projects.
Storefront Studio: Undergraduate students can participate in this community-focused studio, working with small towns in Washington State on architecture, landscape architecture and urban-design projects. Students conduct community meetings, map physical and social assets, develop proposals and present their work to community members; projects can lead to executed installations.
Field trips and site research: Storefront Studio includes day trips and, often, an overnight field trip, while students combine on-site observation with digital research and community engagement.
Digital design facilities: The Digital Commons provides a 5,500-square-foot digital laboratory with Windows and Macintosh workstations, large-format scanners and plotters, a digital classroom, projectors and whiteboards.
Architecture computing: Archnet provides Windows and Mac computing resources, design-studio workstations, printers, plotters and student software for architecture students.
Fabrication Lab: Students can build architectural models, furniture and small-scale building components in a fully staffed facility containing wood-working, metal-working and digital fabrication equipment. The lab supports design studios, structures, materials and digital-fabrication courses as well as independent projects.
Materials and daylighting research: The Materials Library provides physical material samples for studying material properties, while the Daylighting Lab includes a heliodon, Overcast Sky Simulator and Mock-up Room for investigating daylight and lighting design.
Laser cutting and model making: Architecture Hall's design studios provide access to large-format scanning and printing, while the building also includes laser cutters for students and faculty.
Photography and visual documentation: The Photo Lab includes a traditional film darkroom and studio space for lighting and photographing large models and artwork, supporting both film and digital photography.
Architecture research resources: The Built Environments Library holds the University's primary architecture collection, including materials covering architecture, construction management, landscape architecture and urban design and planning.
International study: Architecture students have access to international programs in Australia, Japan, Mexico City, Rome and Scandinavia, giving them opportunities to directly study architecture, urbanism and different cultural contexts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Architectural Design at the University of Washington is a pre-professional degree that prepares graduates for advanced-standing admission to professional Master of Architecture programs while also developing transferable architectural design and problem-solving skills for fields such as planning, development, management, government, graphic design and digital arts. Graduates can build careers such as Architectural Designer, Design Assistant, Urban/Community Planner, or Architectural/Graphic Design Professional, with professional licensure requiring subsequent completion of an accredited professional architecture degree.

Career development and progression include:

Career services: The UW Career & Internship Center provides undergraduate students with one-to-one career guidance, webinars, career-readiness resources, Handshake job and internship listings, career fairs and internship support. College of Built Environments advisers also specifically support students with internship and career planning.
Professional internships: The Architecture Professionals Advisory Council (PAC) operates an Internship Program connecting students with paid professional experience in Seattle-area design offices; internships typically involve 320–400 hours and are aligned with NCARB experience requirements.
Industry engagement: Students benefit from the Architecture Department's relationships with the Seattle architectural community, including professional design reviews, visits to local firms and direct collaborations between professionals, faculty and students.
Professional networking: PAC activities include student seminars, construction tours, mentorship initiatives and the 47°N lecture/discussion series, giving students opportunities to interact with practicing architects and explore professional pathways.
Employment opportunities: The department states that its students have secured part-time positions at design firms during the academic year and full-time positions during summer, while regularly sharing local firm opportunities through departmental channels.
Employment statistics: A BA Architectural Design-specific employment rate is not published by UW on the official program page, so a program-specific percentage should not be inferred.
Salary figures: A BA Architectural Design-specific graduate salary figure is not stated on the official UW program source; therefore, no program-specific salary estimate is provided.
Industry partnerships: The Professionals Advisory Council provides a formal connection between the department and professional practice, while its internship program places students with Seattle-area design offices and its construction tours are organized with UW Capital Planning and Development.
Accreditation value: The BA in Architectural Design is explicitly a pre-professional degree and is not itself a professional architecture degree. UW's subsequent Master of Architecture programs are NAAB-accredited, and the BA in Architectural Design is designed to prepare students for advanced-standing admission to professional M.Arch. study.
Graduation pathway: After completing the BA, students can progress into professional graduate architecture education; UW specifically offers a 2-year M.Arch. for applicants with a pre-professional BS or BA in Architecture or Environmental Design.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into the University of Washington Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Advanced Standing pathway, which is the professional degree route for students seeking preparation toward architectural registration and licensure. They may also pursue related graduate fields such as urban planning, landscape architecture, construction management, real estate or other built-environment disciplines, depending on their academic and professional goals.