Bachelor of Science in Architecture

The best way to learn more about the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation is to visit. Throughout the year, both the School and the University of Maryland invite prospective undergraduate students to "Visit Maryland Days" and prospective graduate students to attend our annual Graduate Open House. Whether you choose to visit on one of these special days and get the grand tour or you prefer to arrange an individual tour, a visit will certainly help you decide if the University of Maryland is the place to start your future. In addition, architecture studio reviews are always open to the public.

• Make an appointment online for a School Tour
• Attend a Prospective Students Open House (check for an upcoming open house in the News/Events page)

All applicants must meet the University’s requirements for admission and are evaluated by academic and many other criteria. For comprehensive information, see Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Freshman applicants must request Architecture as their choice of major. A limited number of candidates is admitted to the major in the Fall semester each year.

In order to continue in the Architecture program, current students and incoming transfer students will need to pass the Studio Placement Review to ensure they are ready to enter the intensive studio environment in junior year.

Current UMD Students:

During the sophomore year, students will need to submit an essay, transcript(s), and portfolio due in February. This will decide if you can enter studio the following semester or will need to take an extra year to complete the Bachelors degree. More information can be found at Student Services -- use the black navigation bar and select "Undergraduate Advising."  Scroll down to "Studio Placement Review Process" and click to expand that section.

Transfer Students:

If you have attended more than one semester of college elsewhere, you will need to submit a portfolio to the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation when you apply to the University of Maryland. More information can be found below in the Transfer Students Section.

Q: Are internships apart of the Architecture curriculum?

A: Mandatory internships or Co-ops are not a part of the curriculum at the University of Maryland; however, students are highly encouraged to seek out internships during the summer and winter recesses.

Q: Do I need a portfolio to apply as an incoming freshman?

A: The University of Maryland does not require freshman applicants applying directly to the B.S. in Architecture program to submit a full portfolio. Instead, the applicant must submit a drawing with their application material. For specifications on the drawing, please visit:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/requirements/ArchitectureMajors.php

Additionally, after completing 45 credits, students are required to apply to a Review Process before entering the studio sequence, during which a portfolio is required. 

Q: I’m not a student yet, but can I still come in to talk to an advisor?

A: Any student interested in Architecture is welcome to make an advising appointment with the Undergraduate Advisors. Taking a tour of the Architecture building and facilities is highly recommended in addition to an advising appointment.

Q: Will I be able to become an architect with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture?

A: Since the B.S. in Architecture is considered a pre-professional architecture degree, students holding this degree will have to complete a professional degree before being able to sit for the Architect Registration Exam. Many students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Architecture continue in our professionally accredited Master of Architecture program or elect to pursue graduate studies at another institution.

Q: Who should I contact if I have any questions?

A: The Undergraduate Advisors in the Office of Advising will be happy to answer any and all questions you might have. Architecture Undergraduate Advisors are graduate students (M. ARCH candidates) who are trained in the curriculum, admissions process, and the review process. Please contact them at archadvise@umd.edu.

Q: Will I get credit for my AP, IB and CLEP Scores?

A: Maryland will give credit for many different AP, IB and CLEP tests and scores. Generally, you must earn a minimum score on a test to receive credit. You can find a complete list of the tests and credits here: http://www.tce.umd.edu/tclookup.html. 

Q: What is studio?

A: Design studio is an intensive teaching-learning environment that involves hands-on learning.  It is an integrated experience where students learn not only from faculty members, but also from their peers.  Students analyze and propose innovative solutions to contemporary problems using a variety of media (hand drawing, physical modeling, and digital media).  The studio environment encourages integration of knowledge gleaned from other courses taken throughout the curriculum and encourages students to work collaboratively and individually based on a “learning by doing” educational ethic.

Q: What is the difference between a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BS Arch) and a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)? 

A:  First and foremost, the Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a pre-professional degree, similar to pre-Med or pre-Law.  To practice these professions an accredited professional degree is typically required.  The B.S. degree offers students increased opportunity to develop a solid liberal educational base, prior to delving deep into the professional and technical requirements of a professional degree.  Upon completion of the B.S. in Architecture students may elect to pursue the Master of Architecture (professional degree), continue graduate studies in another profession such as historic preservation, landscape architecture, real estate development, or urban planning to name but a few fields, or they may take time to intern in an architect’s office.  In contrast to the B.S. in Architecture, the Bachelor of Architecture degree is a five-year undergraduate professional degree that emphasizes a more narrow focus on professional education.  The B ARCH degree historically predated the M ARCH.  In the late 1960’s the American Institute of Architects issued the “Princeton Report on architectural education” and schools nationwide began to shift the awarding of the professional degree in architecture to the graduate level.  Today there are three accredited professional degree tracks recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, they are the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture (see: www.naab.org).

Q: Will I be able to become an architect with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture?

A: Since the B.S. in Architecture is considered a pre-professional architecture degree, students holding this degree will have to complete a professional degree before being able to sit for the Architect Registration Exam (in most jurisdictions). Many students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Architecture continue in our professionally accredited Master of Architecture program or elect to pursue graduate studies at another institution.  For questions about professional registration prospective students should visit (www.naab.org).

Q: What kind of jobs will I be prepared for after completing my Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree at the University of Maryland?

A: Employment opportunities for students who hold a B.S. in Architecture are quite diverse.  The most common is to work in the office of a registered architect in the capacity as an intern.  Other fields that students commonly enter are graphic design, website design, 3-d visualization and animation, industrial design, and construction fields.