Architectural Studies
Bennion
Center
Hinckley
Institute
229
Declared
Majors
26
Average
Class Size
Courses
Getting Started
- Take the DF core courses: CMP 2010: Design Ecologies, DES 2630: Design Contexts, ARCH 2630: DF Workshop
- Take a math class
- Familiarize yourself with Canvas
Making Progress
- Complete all of the prerequisites for Architectural Studies
- Generate a Degree Audit & use the 'Plan' tab to project for the next few years
- Apply for admission to the Architecture Major
- Advance into architecture-specific courses
- Generate a Degree Audit to track your graduation progress
- Check that you will meet the 122 credit unit graduation requirement
Finishing Up
- Cap off your degree with advanced architecture courses
- Apply for spring graduation by November 1st
- Integrate ideas from a university elective into your final studio project
Community
Getting Started
- Join the DF-themed community at Sage Point
- Meet with a DF Peer Mentor
- Use your Arts Pass to attend an arts event
- Sign up for a class through Campus Rec
Making Progress
- Join the College's Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram feeds
- Participate in an alternative spring/fall break
- Join the AIAS
- Visit our studio space in the AIA office downtown
- Identify experiences you have yet to connect with - fill in gaps with volunteering, clubs, or internships
- Learn about Design Build Bluff & Design Build Salt Lake
- Attend a WIA event
Finishing Up
- Participate in a Jane's Walk tour of your neighborhood
- Participate in ASUU
- Go to a concert at Gardner Hall
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Meet with a CA+P Student Success Advisor
- Complete a personality profile
- Take DF-related gen ed courses
- Download & try out the Adobe Suite
Making Progress
- Meet with a CA+P Student Success Advisor
- Attend a School of Architecture Lecture Series event
- Develop your portfolio & get feedback
- Develop your communication skills
- Participate in the UROP
- Work on a Global Change & Sustainability Center project
- Volunteer at ASSIST or elsewhere in your community
Finishing Up
- Publish an article or paper in Dialectic, the School of Architecture journal
- Present a project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Take a course in another discipline like business or public speaking to enhance your people skills as a future architect
Transformation
Getting Started
- Visit the Utah Museum of Fine Arts
- Conduct an informational interview with a professor
- Explore minors
Making Progress
- Explore your identity, values, & life goals by meeting with a Student Success Coach
- Study abroad in Volterra, Italy
- Explore diversity experiences at the U
- Become a Bennion Center Scholar
- Engage with community partners
- Participate in a service project
Finishing Up
- Join a team in the Real Estate Challenge
- Enjoy graduation & graduation activities
Impact
Getting Started
- Volunteer with the Bennion Center
- Mentor students from your old high school
- Develop an academic plan
Making Progress
- Consider serving as a Senator for our college
- Participate in College Council
- Apply for an internship through the Hinckley Institute
- Become a MUSE scholar
- Apply to be a CA+P Peer Mentor
- Join a School of Architecture committee
- Go on an alternative spring/fall break
Finishing Up
- Complete a community service project
- Start a new business venture
- Go on a Career Trek trip
Careers
Getting Started
- Meet with a Career & Professional Development Coach
- Activate & customize your Handshake account
- Apply for a DF externship
- Go to a CA+P lecture or event
Making Progress
- Familiarize yourself with NCARB & how to become an architect
- Prepare for a career by networking with graduate students & alumni
- Attend the annual College Career Fair
- Participate in an externship with an architect
- Apply for an international internship through the Hinckley Institute
- Find a mentor or community who can help you build your network & confidence
- Refine your resume & cover letter
- Attend CPDC events
Finishing Up
- Apply for jobs
- Meet with a Career Coach for practice interviews
- Complete an internship with an architecture firm
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
Architectural studies involves the art and technique of designing and building structures and spaces. If you are interested in and passionate about thoughtfully designed environments that have the physical and emotional well-being of individuals and communities in mind, then a degree in Architectural Studies at the U is a great fit for you! In this major, you will receive a well-rounded academic foundation that may lead to entry-level employment in the building industry, a graduate career in a professionally accredited Master of Architecture program, or further study in related environmental design programs. This program brings together a community of students, faculty, and staff to share their broad range of interests and expertise. As a member of this community, you can engage with building and computer technology, issues of social and ecological responsibility, and the scholarly study of the history and theory of the built environment. At the core of these interests lies a common concern for the well-being of individuals, communities, and natural systems as well as constructing and maintaining the highest quality in our built and natural environments.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine and apply the fundamental role of the architect in society and their ethical responsibility to sustain and preserve the environment; gain a respect for diversity and the relationship between human behavior and the physical environment.
- Cultivate the values of architectural and urban design, its standards of measurement, and how to communicate those values in verbal, written, and graphic form.
- Learn the historic evolution of architectural design and the environmental and contextual influences that shape its development.
- Develop skills in composition, theoretical perception, critical thinking, and the qualitative assessment of design.
- Understand the technical aspects of building design, including structural assemblies, environmental systems, sustainability strategies, strength and appropriateness of materials, and constructibility.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.