Apr 07, 2025  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Architecture BS

Architects do far more than design buildings. As makers of space and place, they shape our lives in countless ways, and their work has far-reaching impacts on everything from climate change and housing affordability to health equity and social justice. As an architecture major, you’ll learn by doing-and making-emerging as a “citizen architect” ready to address complex questions. Can we design buildings to harvest energy instead of waste it? How are race and architecture connected? Can a robot make construction safer? Come find out for yourself.

Visit the Architecture academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Architecture department page  for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria

  • Minimum overall GPA of 2.700 required
  • Minimum GPA of 2.500 in architecture and architecture-related courses

Current UB students who are interested in applying to the Architecture BS in the School of Architecture and Planning should contact ap-advising@buffalo.edu.

Architecture is a fall-only admission program, with applicants admitted on a space-available basis.

Transfer applicants must indicate their interest in the Architecture BS program through their UB Admissions application and follow the additional requirements outlined on the School of Architecture and Planning website.

Course Requirements

Architecture Core (90 credits)

Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective Credits (3 credits)

Students are required to complete 90 liberal arts and sciences credits. There are 87 credits built into the Architecture BS core and the UB Curriculum that fulfill this requirement.

Notes

*Students must complete calculus (MTH 121  or MTH 131 ) and physics (PHY 101 /AED 101 ) prior to the start of their second-year fall to remain on track with program completion.

Total Credits Required for Major: 93

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 122 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 122

Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements

A minimum of 122 semester credit hours and minimum GPA of 2.500 in all major courses is required to graduate with the pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Grades lower than C- in any design studio and media course will not count toward University at Buffalo Architecture degree requirements.

Students are reviewed on their progress within the pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture by University at Buffalo Architecture on a semesterly basis. This review determines the student’s eligibility to continue onto the next level in the undergraduate preprofessional program. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500 in all required architecture curricular courses and a minimum cumulative UB GPA of 2.000 is required for satisfactory academic progress and progression through the undergraduate program. Grades lower than C- in any design studio and media course will not count toward the preprofessional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree requirements, and a grade of F in any design studio may result in dismissal from University at Buffalo Architecture. 

Transfer Credit Policy

A minimum of 42 ARC-prefixed credit hours must be completed at the University at Buffalo to satisfy the University at Buffalo Architecture’s academic residency requirement.

Program Distinction

A student in this major is eligible for Program Distinction upon degree conferral if the criteria are met. Criteria are found under Academic Honors in the Policy and Procedure section of this Catalog. Program Distinction is noted on the official transcript.

Curricular Plan

A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

First Year Fall

Total Credits: 15

First Year Spring

Total Credits: 16

Second Year Fall

Total Credits: 16

Second Year Spring

Total Credits: 15

Third Year Fall

Total Credits: 15

Third Year Spring

Total Credits: 17

Fourth Year Fall

Total Credits: 16

Fourth Year Spring

Total Credits: 12

Total Credits Required: 122

Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

  • Students will be able to use 2D and 3D architectural visualization software.
  • Students will understand major epochs and precedents in architectural history.
  • Students will be able to identify, graphically represent, and diagram environmental systems in a typical building.
  • Students will be able to draw topographical plan.
  • Students will test and apply architectural structures principles.

 

(HEGIS: 02.02 ARCHITECTURE, CIP: 04.0201 Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD))