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  • 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 (B.Des., a preprofessional degree)
    • 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, Asia, Mexico, Nantucket and more. An extensive library, modern computer labs, woodshop, 3D fabrication lab 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.

    Required field trips broaden and expand students' educational experience. Students may also be required to attend state and national professional meetings.

    The School of Architecture's preprofessional Bachelor of Design program prepares students for graduate school studies toward the accredited two-year Master of Architecture degree or for jobs in private practice.

    National Architectural Accrediting Board

    Most states require architects to hold accredited degrees. Two types of degrees accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) are the Bachelor of Architecture (5 years) and the Master of Architecture (1, 2 or 3 years depending on institution). Both degrees are structured for registration and licensure. UF's four-year preprofessional degree is not accredited by the NAAB; however, the two-year master's degree is.

    Critical Tracking

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

    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
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    Recommended Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. Students are required to complete HUM 2305 The Good Life (GE-H) in semester 1 or 2.

    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
    ARC 1000 Architecture and Humanity is recommended for first-year students. ​3
    Semester 2 Credits
    ARC 1302 Architectural Design 2 4
    ARC 1702 Architectural History 2 (GE-H, N) 3
    HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H) 3
    Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) 3
    Total 13
    Summer Credits
    MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (4) * or
    MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra (3) and MAC 1114 Trigonometry (2) (GE-M)
    4-5
    Total 4-5
    Semester 3 Credits
    ARC 2303 Architectural Design 3  5
    ARC 2201 Theory of Architecture 1 (GE-H) 3
    ARC 2180 Introduction to Digital Architecture  3
    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
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    * 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 should complete these courses during the summer semesters. MAC 2233 should be completed before graduating because of the requirements of some graduate programs.

    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.

    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 3321 Architectural Design 6 6
    ARC 3610 Environmental Technology 1 3
    ARC 3181 Advanced Topics in Digital Architecture or
    ARC 4310C Building Information Modeling **
    3
    Elective *** 3
    Total 15
    Semester 7 Credits
    ARC 4322 Architectural Design 7 6
    ARC 4220 Architectural Theory 2 3
    ARC 4620 Environmental Technology 2 3
    Elective *** 3
    Total 15
    Semester 8 Credits
    ARC 4323 Architectural Design 8 6
    ARC 3463 Materials and Methods of Construction 2 3
    ARC 3181 Advanced Topics in Digital Architecture ** or
    ARC 4310C Building Information Modeling ** or
    Elective ***
    3
    ​Elective *** ​3
    Total 15

    ** The School of Architecture requires students to complete ARC 3181 or ARC 4310C before graduating, in semester 6 or 8.​ Students should try to complete both courses.

    *** Electives: Any 3000-level or higher academic course, any 1000-level or higher foreign language where the student is not a native speaker and where the course is taken at an SUS institution, or any course sequence toward a minor.

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majors: architecture