B.S. in Architecture
Degree Information
Curriculum
Taubman College has an innovative curriculum for incoming Bachelor of Science in Architecture students. There are several areas of study which provide our students with an education that seeks to couple current learning styles with an inventive faculty who bring broad design interests. The modular curriculum ties into our long-standing liberal arts tradition (years 1 and 2) and more focused architectural curriculum (years 3 and 4).
Modular Curriculum
The pre-architecture sequence has a set of nine project-based modules. Each module is taught over seven weeks (half semester). Students are required to take any six modules in any sequence during the first two years. Widely spanning in content from the digital to analog, and from 2D to 3D, each module delivers an introductory exercise. Capacities will be built through aggregation, not sequential accumulation. Modules will assemble students with varying levels of experience, encouraging peer-to-peer learning, dialogue, and mentorship.
Fourth Year Dual Path
In the fourth year, acknowledging a growing diversity in the student body, students can choose two paths to the B.S. degree – one emphasizing a professional direction which will likely abbreviate the duration of one’s Master of Architecture education and one emphasizing research or interdisciplinary thinking. These two tracks are not mutually exclusive, as students may opt to take some combination of the two.
Sample Schedule
Taubman College launched a new curriculum for incoming Bachelor of Science in Architecture students. The key changes center on several areas of study and will provide our students with an education that seeks to couple current learning styles with an inventive faculty who bring broad design interests. The changes will tie into our long-standing liberal arts tradition (years 1 and 2) and more focused architectural curriculum (years 3 and 4).
Sample First Year
| Fall Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 208 | Design Foundations | 3 |
| ARCH 251-259 | Foundational Studio Modules (6 of 9 required over Year 1 and 2) |
2-4 |
| First Year Writing Requirement | 4 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3-4 | |
| Total | 12-15 | |
| Winter Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 251-259 | Foundational Studio Modules (6 of 9 required over Year 1 and 2) |
2-4 |
| MATH 115 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Humanities Elective | 3-4 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3-4 | |
| Total | 12-16 | |
Sample Second Year
| Fall Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 251-259 | Foundational Studio Modules (6 of 9 required over Year 1 and 2) |
2-4 |
| ARCH 313 | History of Architecture I | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective | 3-4 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3-4 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 14-18 | |
| Winter Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 251-259 | Foundational Studio Modules (6 of 9 required over Year 1 and 2) |
2-4 |
| ARCH 323 | History of Architecture II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 121 | Physics for Architects | 5 |
| Open Elective | 6 | |
| Total | 16-18 | |
**Electives must include courses in architectural history (ARCH 313 and ARCH 323), humanities, natural science, and social sciences if these courses were not completed in the first and sophomore years. The number of electives required will vary based on the number of credits from Years 1 and 2.
Sample Third Year
| Fall Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 312 | UG1 Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 316 | Design Fundamentals I | 3 |
| ARCH 317 | Construction I | 3 |
| **Open Elective | 3-4 | |
| Total | 15-16 | |
| Winter Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 322 | Architectural Design | 6 |
| ARCH 326 | Design Fundamentals II | 3 |
| ARCH 425 | Environmental Systems | 3 |
| **Open Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | |
**Electives must include courses in architectural history (ARCH 313 and ARCH 323), humanities, natural science, and social sciences if these courses were not completed in the first and sophomore years. The number of electives required will vary based on the number of credits from Years 1 and 2.
Sample Fourth Year
| Fall Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 432 | UG3 Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 314 | Structures I | 3 |
| ARCH Elective (300/400 level) | 3 | |
| **Open Elective | 3-6 | |
| Total | 15-18 | |
| Winter Term | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 442 | UG4 Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 324 | Structures II | 3 |
| **Open Elective (2) | 6 | |
| Total | 15 | |
**Electives must include courses in architectural history (ARCH 313 and ARCH 323), humanities, natural science, and social sciences if these courses were not completed in the first and sophomore years. The number of electives required will vary based on the number of credits from Years 1 and 2.
First-Year Students
Important Dates
Early Action Deadline (For Dual Degree Applicants): November 1
Regular Decision Application Deadline: February 1
Portfolio Deadline: February 1
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application Deadline: December – April 30
Enrollment Deposit Deadline: May 1
High school seniors are able to apply to the Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning via multiple pathways: dual degree admission, first-year admission (regular decision) or preferred admission.
Dual Degree Application
Because Freshman Admission to Taubman College is highly competitive, we encourage all high school seniors to apply Dual Degree to Taubman College and one of the following schools:
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA)
- College of Engineering
- Stamps School of Art & Design
Dual degree applicants can apply by the Early Action deadline (November 1) or the Regular Decision deadline. This option gives students two opportunities to be admitted to the University of Michigan, as well as the chance to be offered Preferred Admission Status should they not be offered First-Year Admission.
First-Year Admission
High school seniors have multiple options when they are ready to apply to Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. To learn more about First-Year Admission and to apply, please visit our First-Year apply page.
Preferred Admission
Students admitted to the Taubman College Preferred Admission program are guaranteed a place in the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program as a junior once they have completed the necessary requirements in another University of Michigan school/college: the College of LS&A, the Stamps School of Art & Design, or the College of Engineering.
To learn more about Preferred Admission and to apply, please visit our Preferred Admission apply page.
Cross-Campus Transfers
Important Dates
Application Deadline: February 1
Portfolio Deadline: February 1
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application Deadline: December – April 30
Enrollment Deposit Deadline: May 1
Cross-campus transfer students do not pay an enrollment deposit.
Students applying to transfer from a different U-M Ann Arbor school/college should complete a minimum of 55 credit hours and a maximum of 70 credit hours during their first two years on campus.
If accepted to the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program, students will begin their Taubman coursework in the fall semester of their junior year.
Prerequisite Appointments
Prospective cross-campus transfers are highly encouraged to meet with a Taubman College Admissions team member as they prepare to transfer. Students may schedule an appointment at Taubman College by emailing TaubmanCollegeAdmissions@umich.edu.
Application and Prerequisite Course Requirements
To learn more about specific cross-campus prerequisite courses and to apply, please visit our Cross-Campus Admission apply page.
External Transfers
Important Dates
Application Deadline: February 1
Portfolio Deadline: February 1
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application Deadline*: April 30
Enrollment Deposit Deadline: May 1
Required Summer Intensive Transfer Studio begins (Arch 302): Late June. The summer term start is the only permitted start term for new transfer students.
* Transfer students who seek financial aid (grants, loans, work-study) during the summer term are required to fill out the previous year’s FAFSA since that term is the end of that aid year. Then, for their first fall/winter semesters, the current FAFSA is required so transfer students need to complete two FAFSAs.
Students applying to transfer from an accredited community college, college, or university other than U-M are required to complete a minimum of 49 transferable credit hours, up to a maximum of 70 transferable credit hours of prerequisite courses at their college/university.
If accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program, external transfer students will begin their curriculum at Taubman College during the summer term with a 6-credit intensive studio (ARCH 302) to help them acclimate to the studio at Taubman College.
View Sample Schedule for External Transfer Students
Prerequisite Appointments
Prospective external transfers are highly encouraged to meet with a Taubman College Admissions team member as they prepare to transfer. Students may schedule an appointment at Taubman College by emailing TaubmanCollegeAdmissions@umich.edu.
Application and Prerequisite Course Requirements
To learn more about specific cross-campus prerequisite courses and to apply, please visit our External Transfer Admission apply page.
Academic Minors
Students in the architecture program have the option of electing one or more academic minors offered by departments across campus. Taubman College offers one minor: Real Estate.
Minors are intended to recognize the completion of a coherent sequence of courses in a particular academic area. They also serve as recognition, via the transcript notation, of the completion of a more in-depth course sequence.
Students are also welcome to complete any other student-initiated major or minor with other departments or schools on campus. The student must work directly with both departments to satisfy all requirements for both programs, allowing them to earn a minor or second area of concentration (major).
To initiate a minor, a student must meet with an advisor in the minor discipline and together with that advisor determine the necessary minor courses. The certification that the appropriate courses have been completed will be communicated from the department offering the minor to the Taubman College registrar. The student will be responsible for making sure this paperwork arrives at the appropriate offices.
Link copied