20 Best Bachelor’s Degrees In Architecture

The University of Southern California offers a Bachelor of Architecture through its School of Architecture. The degree program takes a global, culturally sensitive approach to architecture and its role in society and the environment. It is a STEM-designated program. The curriculum begins with foundational architecture courses, followed by courses in areas of individual interest. Courses include Architecture: Culture and Community, Building Structures and Seismic Design, and World History of Architecture. Students must complete a comprehensive design studio project as well as a culminating building project, professional practice, and a specialized research design studio course. The program is designed to be completed in five years.

Founded in 1880, USC is the oldest private research university in the state of California. It is also the largest private employer in the city of Los Angeles. The campus is primarily built in red-brick Romanesque Revival style, supplemented by Modernist and Brutalist structures. A sea- and space-grant institution, USC and its research has led to innovations such as antivirus software, DNA computing, and the Domain Name System. U.S. News & World Report ranks USC at No. 37 in Best Value Schools, No. 28 in Most Innovative Schools, and No. 22 in National Universities.

The University of Michigan offers a Bachelor of Science in Architecture through its Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The pre-professional degree program includes 125 credit hours of architectural and liberal arts education. This education is delivered through interactive studios, lectures, and seminars. Course offerings include Architecture in Film, Architecture and Psychology, Design Activism and Social Justice, and Suburbia. Students have access to a state-of-the-art digital fabrication laboratory and a vast design studio. Students are also offered several opportunities to travel abroad.

Founded in 1817 in Detroit, U of M is the oldest university in Michigan and the state's flagship institution. It is now a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A sea- and space-grant institution, U of M is a founding member of the Association of American Universities. The university's campus is divided into four areas. Its North Campus has more modern architecture, while Central Campus features classical and gothic structures. U.S. News & World Report ranks U of M at No. 27 in National Universities, No. 12 in Most Innovative Schools, and No. 4 in Top Public Schools.

Syracuse University offers a Bachelor of Architecture through its School of Architecture. The professional degree program includes courses in architectural design, history, technology, theory, and professional practice. The 162-credit curriculum includes elective offerings such as Dwelling and the Modern Home; Sixteenth Century Italian Architecture; and Utopia: Design and Cultural Imagination. Students must also complete an architectural design thesis and professional practice. Students are also eligible to study in studio-based programs in New York City, Florence, and London. The degree program is designed to be completed in five years. Graduates of the program are prepared to participate in the Intern Development Program required for architect licensure.

Syracuse began as the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, which was founded in 1831 by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The university was officially established in 1870. Though it maintains its relationship with the United Methodist Church, Syracuse is now nonsectarian. Today, it is a private research university. The campus is located in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, and features diverse architectural styles including contemporary and Romanesque Revival structures. U.S. News & World Report ranks Syracuse at No. 53 in National Universities and No. 51 in Best Value Schools.

Carnegie Mellon University offers a Bachelor of Architecture through its School of Architecture. The professional degree program prioritizes excellence in practice as well as specific study options. All students begin with three years of foundational courses and studios. Course offerings include Architecture & the Arts, Case Studies in Architecture & Cities, Generative Modeling, and Modern Architecture. Students then move on to individual paths in alignment with their interests and goals, which involve elective courses an Advanced Synthesis Option Studios. The program is designed to be completed in five years.

Carnegie Mellon was founded in 1990 by Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Formerly a technical school, it is now a private research university. Its main campus is located three miles from Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The main campus was built in the Beaux-Arts architectural style of Henry Hornbostel, who won a 1904 design competition and later founded the university's School of Architecture. An international university, CMU operates several international degree-granting locations, including additional campuses in Qatar and Silicon Valley. U.S. News & World Report ranks CMU at No. 34 in Best Value Schools, No. 25 in National Universities, No. 15 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and No. 7 in Most Innovative Schools.

Illinois Institute of Technology offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Architecture. The degree program features a studio-based curriculum that emphasizes detail, the craft of building models, and the connection between the art of building and the art of construction. Students can choose between five concentrations: Architectural History/Theory, Design/Build, Digital Design, Landscape Architecture, and Planning. Students typically choose a minor in Business, Engineering, Entrepreneurship or Urban Affairs. Students also have the option to pursue a dual degree program leading to an additional Master of Business Administration or Master of Civil Engineering degree.

IIT was established in 1890 with the purpose of helping students "learn by doing." Five local institutions merged into the school to make it what it is today: a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. In the mid-20th century, the school's architecture program was directed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who became known as the father of modern architecture. The campus was designed by van der Rohe in the modernist style. U.S. News & World Report ranks IIT at No. 96 in National Universities and No. 30 in Best Value Schools.

Northeastern University offers a Bachelor of Science in Architecture through its College of Arts, Media, and Design. The degree program combines liberal arts studies with professional training and creative problem-solving skills. The curriculum includes studio courses and courses in history and technology in the field of architecture. Courses include Architecture, Modernity, and the City; Design Tactics and Operations; and Structural Systems. It also includes six-month co-ops, which allow students to gain real-world architecture experience. Students also spend a semester studying abroad in Segovia, Spain. Graduates of the program may choose to pursue an accelerated Master of Architecture degree, which can be earned in one year.

Northeastern began in 1898 as the Evening Institute for Younger Men in Boston's Huntington Avenue YMCA. Today, it is a private research university with a main campus that spreads through several neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts. The main campus features extensive green space and is considered a model for urban campus design. The university also operates satellite campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina; San Jose, California; Seattle, Washington; and Toronto, Canada. It is a Carnegie-classified top-tier research institution. The university is noted for its cooperative education program, which combines classroom study and practical professional experience. U.S. News & World Report ranks NEU at No. 72 in Best Value Schools, No. 44 in National Universities, and No. 8 in Most Innovative Schools.

Rice University offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Architecture degree. The major curriculum consists of 62 credit hours, including courses in Architectural Problems; Professionalism and Management in Architectural Practices; a design studio course, and two semesters of preceptorship. The preceptorship program is a full-time, supervised internship spanning nine to twelve months. Preceptorship opportunities are available in cities such as London, New York, and San Francisco. Students in the fifth year of the program may apply to complete one semester of study in Paris.

Rice University was established in 1912 and funded by the estate of businessman William Marsh Rice. It is now a private research university with a focus on undergraduate studies. It has small class sizes and a very high level of research activity. The university has been noted for its applied science and materials science programs. It is a member of the Association of American Universities. The campus is located near the Houston Museum District in Houston, Texas. It is built almost entirely in a uniform Byzantine architectural style and features archways, columns, and pink and sand-colored bricks throughout. U.S. News & World Report ranks Rice at No. 16 in National Universities, No. 14 in Best Value Schools, and No. 8 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Tulane University offers a Bachelor of Architecture through its School of Architecture. The degree program combines advanced study in architecture with liberal arts and professional studies. It follows a design studio-based model for architectural education. Courses include Building, Climate and Comfort; Materials and Methods; Physics for Architects; and Structural Systems. The program is designed to be completed in five years.

Tulane was founded as a public medical college in 1847. Today, it is a private research university. Its law and medical schools are counted among the oldest in the United States. The university is also among the oldest member institutions of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The university's main campus is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It features large oak trees, limestone and brick, and historic and eclectic architecture. U.S. News & World Report ranks Tulane at No. 63 in Best Value Schools and No. 44 in National Universities.

The Rhode Island School of Design offers a Bachelor of Architecture. The professional degree program highlights the architecture process as well as the complexities and responsibilities of architecture practice. The curriculum includes courses in Drawing, Structural Analysis, and Urban Ecologies. It also includes courses in Concrete Structures, Steel Structures, and Wood Structures. The plan of study culminates in a thesis seminar, research, and project. The degree program is designed to be completed in five years.

RISD was founded in 1877 by a group of pioneering women who highlighted creative achievement and women's right to economic self-sufficiency. It is a private college with immersive, studio-based education in liberal arts, visual art, and design. The campus is located near Brown University on College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island. The campus also includes the RISD Museum, which showcases works from various time periods, cultures, and regions across the globe.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers a Bachelor of Architecture. The degree program is rooted in the liberal arts as they relate to design and the environment. It integrates cultural, environmental, and ethical perspectives in its study of architecture. Courses include Architectonics, Construction Management, History of Architecture, and The Making of Modern Society. The program consists of 160 credits and is designed to be completed in five years.

The Cooper Union was founded in 1859 by prolific industrialist and inventor Peter Cooper. Originally a school of technology, it is now a private college with schools of art, architecture, and engineering. Located in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City, it has historically been considered as one of the most selective colleges in the nation. Its Italianate brownstone Foundation Building was designed by Fred Petersen, a founder of the American Institute of Architects. U.S. News & World Report places Cooper Union first in Regional Colleges North, Best Value Schools, and Most Innovative Schools.