What Are the Different Types of Architecture Degree Requirements?

Architecture degree requirements often vary depending on whether someone is working on an undergraduate or graduate degree in addition to specific aspects of a school’s curriculum. Undergraduate requirements often include general courses that cover subjects like language, basic mathematics, and social sciences. Students typically need to also complete a number of classes that focus more specifically on subjects within architecture, including courses in art, architecture, and the use of computer-aided design software. Architecture degree requirements in a graduate program often involve a more dedicated focus on architectural concepts, and usually allow a student to prioritize a particular aspect of design or construction as a primary discipline.

For someone enrolled in an undergraduate program, architecture degree requirements often include a broad approach to education. This frequently includes what is commonly called a “core curriculum,” which refers to classes that students take to acquire a wide range of knowledge. These courses can include basic subjects such as language, mathematics, and both physical and social sciences. This is intended to provide a student with a solid foundational education upon which to build greater knowledge.

Undergraduate architecture degree requirements can also include a number of courses that are designed to help someone learn more specifically about design. This curriculum includes classes about art and architecture, as well as courses that teach a student to use computer-aided design and drafting software to create virtual blueprints and models. Completing these courses with satisfactory grades are common architecture degree requirements, as are passing higher level classes in mathematics and design.

There are also a number of architecture degree requirements for someone interested in completing a graduate program, such as one that culminates in a master’s degree. Such programs often extend beyond the time required to complete a bachelor’s degree, though some schools may offer a joint curriculum that allows someone to work on both simultaneously. Classes for this type of degree often have a greater focus on architecture and provide someone with greater knowledge of specific types of designs and construction.

Someone may, for example, choose to focus on civil engineering and urban design to create buildings that are likely to be found in a major city or “downtown” area. Architecture degree requirements for this type of program usually include the completion of advanced courses in design, architecture, and a greater understanding of physical sciences required to build such structures. Some programs may also have additional requirements that must be met outside of a traditional classroom. This can include a “study abroad” program in which students must attend classes in a different country to have a stronger foundation in historical and worldwide views of architecture.