Design Your Future
Get a nationally recognized design education.
Tackle the defining challenges of the 21st century, with a curriculum driven by collaboration, critical inquiry, creative problem-solving, innovation and socially and environmentally-minded practice.
Work alongside dedicated faculty mentors.
Practicing architects, scholars, and professional mentors help you to explore design fundamentals, historic context, urbanism and sustainable building technologies.
The world is your classroom.
Experience the culturally and architecturally-rich D.C. region, while also engaging in global project collaborations, education abroad and international competitions.
Become an Architect: Your Path Starts at UMD
- Begin in the B.A. Program. All students start in our flexible, liberal arts–based degree that invites students to explore architecture while pursuing a wide range of interests.
- Apply to the B.S. Program. Apply to the competitive-enrollment B.S. Architecture degree during your first studio course—usually during your Sophomore year—or as a transfer student.
- Pursue a Master’s after graduation. Upon completing your pre-professional B.S. or BA Architecture degree, pursue a master’s degree at UMD or another institution, a prerequisite for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE).
Our advising team is ready to guide you at every step. Read more about each program experience below.
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
This interdisciplinary program provides a strong foundation in architecture while also supporting an infinite number of career paths, from real estate development and construction project management to urban planning and graphic design. Early coursework blends general education with hands-on design studios and classes in design thinking, architectural history and theory, digital and manual media, model-making, and building materials and methods.
As a B.A. Architecture student, you’ll work one-on-one with advisors to tailor studies to your strengths, goals and interests. Many pair the major with a minor—popular options include construction project management, real estate development, creative placemaking, geographic information science and sustainability. Students looking towards a professional architecture path begin in the B.A. degree program, and apply the competitive, pre-professional B.S. degree during their first studio course.
B.A. Curriculum
Degree Planning
When planning out your degree plan, please remember the following:
- All students must earn a minimum of 120 credits to graduate from the University of Maryland. No exceptions will be made.
- All students must earn a minimum of C- in all courses required for the Architecture or Real Estate in the Built Environment majors. This includes PHYS121 and MATH120 for Architecture, and REBE electives for the REBE major. No exceptions will be made.
- All Gen Ed requirements must be met.
Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a pre-professional program designed to seamlessly transition into the NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture degree required for architecture registration in most jurisdictions. It pairs a rigorous architectural curriculum with foundational and advanced courses in design thinking, digital media, architecture history, and structures and building technologies.
At the heart of the program are architecture design studios, where students work individually or in teams to conceive projects in a collaborative environment that mirrors the profession; from a visitor’s center for the National Park Service to the redevelopment of an industrial site in Washington, D.C., studio projects are sited in the real world and often have real clients.
The B.S. degree program is a competitive enrollment program; students who pursue their B.S. begin as part of the B.A. program and declare their interest during their first B.A. studio course. Admission to the program is capped and fluctuates based on the number of applicants.
B.S. Curriculum
Degree Planning
When planning out your degree plan, please remember the following:
- All students must earn a minimum of 120 credits to graduate from the University of Maryland. No exceptions will be made.
- All students must earn a minimum of C- in all courses required for the Architecture or Real Estate in the Built Environment majors. This includes PHYS121 and MATH120 for Architecture, and REBE electives for the REBE major. No exceptions will be made.
- All Gen Ed requirements must be met.
Your Maryland Experience
Education Abroad
Learn about our semester-long and summer/winter trips at MAPP, and our project-based collaborations with peers around the world.
Creative Spaces & Studios
Great designs start here! Explore our collaborative studio, woodshop and MAPP’s makerspaces.
Student Organizations
Connect with peers at MAPP and “find your thing” at Maryland by exploring our student groups and organizations.
Admissions
Prospective Students
All prospective students must apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If you are interested in pursuing architecture as your major at the University of Maryland, make sure that you indicate this on your undergraduate admissions application. The Bachelor of Arts in Architecture is not a restricted program, so if you are accepted to the University of Maryland, you will be accepted into the Bachelors of Arts degree program. A portfolio is not required for freshman applicants.
For a comprehensive list of the requirements for admission, please see the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.
Undergraduate Admissions sponsors many events and opportunities throughout the year for prospective students. We encourage you to visit campus! Contact Undergraduate Admissions at applymaryland@umd.edu.
Preparation in High School:
The undergraduate program in architecture is focused on both of the arts and the sciences. To prepare for this program, you should:
- Pursue the highest level math classes you can in high school through senior year. AP Calculus is encouraged if offered.
- Take physics in high school. AP Physics is encouraged if offered.
- Take freehand drawing and art classes in any and all media. Computer drafting courses are not required.
The University of Maryland gives credit for many different AP, IB and CLEP tests and scores. You can find a complete list of the tests and credits here: http://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc.html.
Current UMD Students
Any student who is interested in architecture can become an architecture major, although we strongly encourage you to take at least one architecture class before declaring.
Current UMD students interested in declaring the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture as a primary or secondary major* must complete the following change of major process:
Step 1: Submit the Change Major Request on TerpEngage.
Step 2: Complete Canvas Course
Step 3: Form Completion
Step 4: Meet with an Advisor
A portfolio is not required for the B.A. program, but students interested in our B.S. Architecture Program must submit a portfolio and participate in the Degree Placement Review Process.
Transfer Students
All transfer applicants should list architecture as your intended major on the application.
Pre-Transfer Advising Program:
The Pre-Transfer Advising Program provides support to prospective transfer students from two-year and four-year schools before they apply to the University of Maryland to complete an undergraduate degree. Students are encouraged to use pre-transfer advising services to assess their readiness to transfer and estimate their time to degree completion. Sign up for a pre-transfer advising appointment.
Transfer Credits:
The transfer credit evaluation process usually begins for newly admitted students two weeks after you receive your admission letter. To learn more about this process, please visit the Transfer Credit Services website.
Transfer courses that have already been evaluated can be found in the Transfer Database. If you would like to request an evaluation of a course(s) not appearing in the database, simply send an email to transfercredit@umd.edu with your name, UID (if you are a current student), name of the institution where the course was taken, the course ID and course title at the transfer institution, along with a detailed course syllabus.
Transfer Student Requirements:
Go to the Undergraduate Admissions website for transfer application requirements.
Deadline:
For best consideration, transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline. For fall, this is March 1st and for spring, this is August 1st. All transfer deadlines to the University of Maryland can be found on the Undergraduate Admissions website.
B.S. Architecture Degree Placement Review Process
Current UMD Students
Students admitted as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) students may apply for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Architecture during their sophomore spring semester while enrolled in ARCH400.
B.S. Application Documents: Submit the application form with an unofficial transcript, resume, essay, portfolio, and optional letter of circumstance. Portfolio requirements are detailed in this B.S. ARCH Portfolio Requirements document. The application is evaluated on academic performance, portfolio, aspirations, and skills by faculty.
Deadline: For Fall 2025, the application deadline is April 11, 2025. Ensure the application form is submitted by this date.
Transfer Students
Transfer Students: Begin as B.A. students and can apply for the B.S. degree if they meet prerequisite coursework, applying in the spring for the following fall. Admission to UMD is required alongside architecture program requirements.
Bachelor of Arts Track: Transfer students admitted to UMD's School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation start on the Bachelor of Arts track. Indicate Architecture Bachelor of Art as your major on the application.
Bachelor of Science Consideration: Participate in the Degree Placement Process for B.S. track eligibility.
Pre-Transfer Advising: Offers support for prospective transfer students. Sign up for pre-transfer advising.
Transfer Credits: Evaluation begins two weeks after admission. Learn more at the Transfer Credit Services website. Find evaluated courses in the Transfer Database or request evaluation by emailing transfercredit@umd.edu with course details.
Transfer Requirements: Visit the Undergraduate Admissions website for application requirements.
Deadlines: Check all transfer admission deadlines.
Prerequisites:
- English Composition (ENGL101)
- Calculus (MATH120 or MATH140)
- Physics with lab (PHYS121)
- Introductory Architecture courses (ARCH171 and ARCH200/300 equivalents)
- History of Architecture (ARCH225 and ARCH226)
- Methods & Materials of Building Construction (ARCH462)
Degree Placement Review Process: Transfer students start as B.A. students and may apply for the B.S. degree in the spring for the following fall if prerequisites are met. Details are in the “Degree Placement Review Process” section.
Deadline:
For best consideration, transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline. For fall, this is March 1st and for spring, this is August 1st. All transfer deadlines to the University of Maryland can be found at: https://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/ApplicationDeadlines.php
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid
For current tuition and fees, please visit the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website.
Deadline
Fall Application Deadlines:
U.S. and International Freshmen:
Early Action: November 1
Regular Deadline: January 20
U.S. and International Transfer:
Early Action: March 1
Regular Deadline: June 1
Spring Application Deadlines:
U.S. Freshmen:
Early Action: December 1
International Freshmen & Transfer:
Early Action & Regular Deadline: August 1
U.S. Transfer:
Early Action: August 1
Regular Deadline: November 15
Additional information can be found on UMD’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Students are strongly encouraged to apply by the early action deadline.
Technology Requirements
Visit the Technology Requirements web page for details.
High School Student? Try Us Out!
Our three-week, college-credit summer programs for high school students, including Discovering Architecture, are a window into studio life, coursework and the amazing University of Maryland campus.
Featured Student Work
A chessboard designed by an architecture freshman used aspects of architect Michael Graves’ St. Coletta of Greater Washington Church as precedent. Each student took on the design and 3D printing of an individual piece, which came together as a unified concept.
Architecture students in the ARCH200 class focused on creating analytical diagrams of a Piet Mondrian painting on watercolor paper.
The ARCH400 Architecture Design Studio studied and sketched open park spaces in Washington, D.C. The field trip was an important learning experience for students to understand human interaction, plaza design, edges, thresholds and use of natural elements.
The ARCH403 Architecture Design Studio explored integrating text-to-image AI into their design processes.
Contact the Architecture Program
For inquiries, please email archadvise@umd.edu.