Architecture
A student's creativity and individualism is rewarded in the School of Architecture's studio-based learning experience. Students benefit from the close student-to-teacher ratios and a true interdisciplinary learning environment.
About This Major
- College: Design, Construction and Planning
- Degree: Bachelor of Design (a preprofessional degree, BDes)
- Hours for the degree: 120
- Minor: No
- Website: www.dcp.ufl.edu/arch
Overview
Many students supplement their education with study-abroad and off-site learning opportunities in Vicenza, Hong Kong, Mexico, Nantucket and more. An extensive library, modern computer labs, woodshop, dark room and beautiful college environment facilitate creativity. Students regularly exhibit their models and drawings in the college's gallery.
The studio sequence progressively and thoroughly explores various formal, conceptual and technical considerations and how they interrelate in the creation of space. The ideas and experience that students gain in design studio are reinforced and amplified by support courses in history, theory, structural tectonics, building technology and construction materials and methods.
The School of Architecture's preprofessional Bachelor of Design program prepares students for graduate school studies toward an accredited two-year Master of Architecture degree or jobs in the private practice.
National Architectural Accrediting Board
Most states require architects to hold an accredited degree. Two types of degrees accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) are the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. Both degrees are structured for registration and licensure. The four-year preprofessional degree is not accredited by the NAAB. The preprofessional degree is useful to those who want a foundation in the field of architecture as preparation for continued education in a professional degree program or for employment in fields related to architecture.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- Complete ARC 1301 and ARC 1701
- 2.75 UF GPA required semesters 1 - 4
Semester 2
- Complete ARC 1702 and ARC 1302
Semester 3
- Complete ARC 2303, ARC 2180, ARC 2201
- Complete MAC 1147 (or MAC 1140 and MAC 1114) or PHY 2004
Semester 4
- Complete ARC 2304 and ARC 2461
- Compete MAC 1147 (or MAC 1140 and MAC 1114) and PHY 2004
- Complete pin-up requirement
Semester 5
- Complete ARC 3320, ARC 3503 and ARC 3743
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| ARC 1301 Architectural Design 1 | 4 |
| ARC 1701 Architectural History 1 (GE-H, N) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| ARC 1302 Architectural Design 2 | 4 |
| ARC 1702 Architectural History 2 (GE-H, N) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Summer | Credits |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (4) * (GE-M) or MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra (3) (GE-M) and MAC 1114 Trigonometry (2) (GE-M) | 4-5 |
| Total | 4-5 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| ARC 2180 Introduction to Digital Architecture | 3 |
| ARC 2201 Theory of Architecture 1 (GE-H) | 3 |
| ARC 2303 Architectural Design 3 | 5 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| ARC 2304 Architectural Design 4 | 5 |
| ARC 2461 Materials and Methods of Construction 1 | 3 |
| PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 or PHY 2053 Physics 1 (GE-P) * | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
* The School of Architecture requires students to complete MAC 1147 and PHY 2004 before Semester 5. Due to the rigorous nature of design studio, students are strongly encouraged to complete these particular courses during the summer semesters.
Note: This program is limited access. At the end of semester 4, students will be selected according to a competitive ranking of all applicants by overall GPA, architectural GPA and faculty evaluation of design quality in the annual pin-up exhibits.
The department requires 60 credit hours, including electives, taken at the 3000 level or above. Elective foreign language courses below the 3000 level need adviser approval.
Electives: Any 3000-level or higher academic course, any 1000-level or higher foreign language course of which the student is not a native speaker taken at an SUS institution or any course sequence toward a minor.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| ARC 3320 Architectural Design 5 | 6 |
| ARC 3503 Introduction to Architectural Structures | 3 |
| ARC 3743 Architectural History 3 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| ARC 3181 Advanced Topics in Digital Architecture or ARC 4310C Building Information Modeling | 3 |
| ARC 3321 Architectural Design 6 | 6 |
| ARC 3610 Environmental Technology 1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| ARC 4220 Architectural Theory 2 | 3 |
| ARC 4322 Architectural Design 7 | 6 |
| ARC 4620 Environmental Technology 2 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| ARC 3463 Materials and Methods of Construction 2 | 3 |
| ARC 4323 Architectural Design 8 | 6 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 15 |