• Overview
• High School Summer Programs
• Undergraduate (B.S.)
  • Pre-Architecture
  • UG
• Graduate (M.Arch.)
• Doctoral Studies (M.Sc./Ph.D.)
• Academic Advising
• Courses
• Travel
• Building Design Workshops
• Academic Policies
• Accreditation

Undergraduate / Pre-Architecture

Undergraduate Pre-Arch

The pre-arch program is for freshman and sophomore students; the program prepares these students for the UG program in architecture in the junior and senior years.

Students take two years of pre-architecture (pre-arch) coursework before transferring into the architecture (UG) program for their junior and senior years. This coursework in the first two years may be taken either at the University of Michigan or at any other accredited university or community/junior college offering the required courses.

Before beginning the UG program their junior year, applicants must complete the required prerequisite courses, as many recommended courses as possible and a minimum of 60 credit hours.

Required

• 1 English composition course (3-4 credits)
• 1 calculus course (4 credits)
• 2 physics courses (lecture and lab) (8 credits)
• 2 pre-architecture studio drawing courses (6 credits)

Recommended

• 2 architectural history courses (6 credits)
• 1 digital media arts course (3 credits)
• 1 natural science course* (3 credits)
• 2 humanities courses (6 credits)
• 2 social science courses (6 credits)
• *Chemistry must be selected for natural science if a student has not completed high school chemistry.

The objectives of the pre-arch (freshman and sophomore) years:

1. To increase the student's ability to understand, evaluate, and communicate ideas.
2. To prepare the student to make informed decisions regarding their academic and career goals.
3. To provide a broad academic foundation of principles in subject areas considered essential to subsequent study in architecture.

Transferring into the UG Architecture Program

Once the required prerequisites courses have been completed, students will apply to transfer into the Architecture Program during the winter term of the sophomore year.

Students transferring from another university or college should review the transfer credit equivalency guide to determine which courses will transfer to Michigan. View transfer guide. Contact architecture admissions with questions about transferable credit. New transfer students are admitted for the summer half term only. All new transfer students will enroll in Arch 302 - Architectural Design UG0. UG0 is an intensive skill-building workshop and an opportunity for transfer students to begin their first semester strongly.  Detailed information is sent to new transfer students as part of their admission letter. Three credits will be granted for the completion of UG0, and tuition associated with a three-credit class will be charged.

Prerequisite Courses Worksheet (PDF 48KB)