Bachelor of Design in Architecture (BDes)

The Bachelor of Design in Architecture was created to meet the local need in Central Florida for an architecture program. The Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) degree program is a partnership with Valencia College and the University of Florida, as part of a 2+2+2 program to enable students to complete an NAAB accredited architectural program in Central Florida. Note: Architecture (B.Des.) majors must have continual access to a computer. Contact the Architecture advising office (407-582-5500) for the minimum hardware and software specifications.

Admission Requirements

• Completion of an Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Architecture (or similar program) that meets the common course prerequisites of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture program.
• Submission of a completed UCF application packet.
• Participation in a competitive review prior to acceptance.
• Completion of the General Education Program (GEP) at UCF or equivalent.
• UCF admission files from other transfer students will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine if prerequisites and General Education Program requirements are met.
• Successful completion of PHY 2053C, or its equivalent, with a "C" (2.0) or better is required.

Degree Requirements

• Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the current catalog.
• Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 36 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design.
• Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0.
• Co-op credit cannot be used in this major.
• Students should consult with an architecture advisor before selecting the major, and at least annually thereafter.
• Completion of at least 120 semester hours of course work, including all required courses.
• No more than 12 hours of overlap allowed in majors or minors completed in the School of Visual Arts and Design.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Ready to get started?

Career Opportunities

UCF prepares you for life beyond the classroom. Here, you’ll experience a wide range of opportunity, like learning diverse skills from world-renowned faculty to networking with top employers across Central Florida to gaining first-hand experience in internships nearby. Achieve your degree and more as a Knight.

• Architect
• Architectural Drafter
• Building Inspector
• Civil Engineer
• Contractor
• Furniture Designer
• Industrial Engineer
• Interior Designer
• Real Estate Appraiser
• Set Designer

University of Central Florida Colleges

This program is offered by UCF at the Valencia West Campus.

The Bachelor of Design in Architecture was created to meet the local need in Central Florida for an architecture program. The Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) degree program is a partnership with Valencia College and the University of Florida, as part of a 2+2+2 program to enable students to complete an NAAB accredited architectural program in Central Florida. Note: Architecture (B.Des.) majors must have continual access to a computer. Contact the Architecture advising office (407-582-5500) for the minimum hardware and software specifications.

Admission Requirements

• Completion of an Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Architecture (or similar program) that meets the common course prerequisites of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture program.
• Submission of a completed UCF application packet.
• Participation in a competitive review prior to acceptance.
• Completion of the General Education Program (GEP) at UCF or equivalent.
• UCF admission files from other transfer students will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine if prerequisites and General Education Program requirements are met.
• Successful completion of PHY 2053C, or its equivalent, with a "C" (2.0) or better is required.

Degree Requirements

• Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the current catalog.
• Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 36 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design.
• Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0.
• Co-op credit cannot be used in this major.
• Students should consult with an architecture advisor before selecting the major, and at least annually thereafter.
• Completion of at least 120 semester hours of course work, including all required courses.
• No more than 12 hours of overlap allowed in majors or minors completed in the School of Visual Arts and Design.

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements: Basic Level

• Complete all of the following
  • - Completed in the A.A. in Architecture from Valencia College with two exceptions.
  • - While ARC 2461, Materials and Methods of Construction, and ARC 2180, Introduction to Digital Architecture, are electives in Valencia College's architecture program, they're required for the B.Des. at UCF. See courses below.
  • ARC 1201 - Theory of Architecture Credit Hours: 2 (CPP)
  • ARC 1301 - Architectural Design I Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
  • ARC 1302 - Architectural Design II Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
  • ARC 1701 - History of Architecture I or equivalent Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
  • ARC 2180 - Introduction to Digital Architecture Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
  • ARC 2303 - Architectural Design III Credit Hours: 5 (CPP)
  • ARC 2304 - Architectural Design IV Credit Hours: 5 (CPP)
  • ARC 2461 - Materials and Methods of Construction Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
  • ARC 2702 - History of Architecture II or equivalent Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
  • PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)

  Core Requirements: Advanced Level

  • Complete all of the following
    • Completed as part of the Bachelor of Design program at UCF.
    • Earn at least 42 credits from the following:
      • ARC3181 - Advanced Topics in Digital Architecture (3)
      • ARC3320L - Architectural Design 5 (6)
      • ARC3321L - Architectural Design 6 (6)
      • ARC3463C - Materials and Methods of Construction 2 (3)
      • ARC3503 - Architectural Structures (3)
      • ARC3610 - Environmental Technology 1 (3)
      • ARC4220 - Architectural Theory 2 (3)
      • ARC4322L - Architectural Design 7 (6)
      • ARC4323L - Architectural Design 8 (6)
      • ARC4620 - Environmental Technology 2 (3)
      • ARC3743 - Architectural History 3 (3)

      Grand Total Credits: 42

      Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120

      Restricted Electives

      Capstone Requirements

      Electives

      • Select primarily from upper-level courses after meeting with the program.

      Foreign Language Requirements

      • Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.

      Additional Requirements

      • Signature Experience requirement is met by successful completion of the following course(s): ARC 4323L - Architectural Design 8 Credit Hours: 6.

      Required Minors or Area of Concentration

      Departmental Exit Requirements

      • Achieve at least a "C" or better in all courses used to satisfy major requirements.

      University Minimum Exit Requirements

      • A 2.0 UCF GPA.
      • 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed.
      • 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded.
      • 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
      • A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
      • Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.

      Additional Information

      Honors In Major

      • Students interested in completing Honors in the Major should contact their program. More information about Honors in the Major can be found at https://honors.ucf.edu/university-honors-advising/requirements/.
      • Public and Professional Writing Certificate
      • Art - Studio Minor
      • Art History Minor
      • Cognitive Sciences Minor
      • Digital Media Minor
      • English, Technical Communication Minor
      • Film, Cinema Studies Minor
      • Humanities and Cultural Studies Minor
      • Philosophy Minor
      • Urban and Regional Planning Minor
      • Writing and Rhetoric Minor

      Advising Notes

      • Grades less than a "C" (2.0) are not accepted.
      • Students transferring from any Florida public institution with an A.A. degree or with general education program (GEP) requirements of that institution met have thereby satisfied UCF GEP requirements.
      • Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
      • Transfer courses must be evaluated for equivalency credit and/or for use in the area by the department. The student must provide all supporting information.

      Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses

      • Acceptable substitutes for General Education and Common Program Prerequisites will be determined by the School of Visual Arts and Design and the University.

      Equipment Fees

      • Part-Time Student: $45 per term
      • Full-Time Student: $90 per term

      Plan of Study

      Freshman Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 1301 - Architectural Design I (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 4
      • ARC 1701 Architectural History I (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 3
      • ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3
      • MAC 1114C or MAC 1140C Credit Hours: 3

      Freshman Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 1302 Architectural Design II (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 4
      • ARC 1201 Theory of Architecture (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 2
      • ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3

      Freshman Year - Summer (7 Credit Hours)

      • PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3

      Sophomore Year - Fall (18 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 2303 Architectural Design III (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 5
      • ARC 2702 Architectural History II (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 3
      • ARC 2461 Materials and Methods of Construction (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 4
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3

      Sophomore Year - Spring (14 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 2180 Introduction to Digital Architecture (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 3
      • ARC 2304 Architectural Design IV (Valencia College) Credit Hours: 5
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3
      • GEP Credit Hours: 3
      • Participate in Competitive Pin Up Review

      Junior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 3320L - Architectural Design 5 Credit Hours: 6
      • ARC 3181 - Advanced Topics in Digital Architecture Credit Hours: 3
      • ARC 3610 - Environmental Technology 1 Credit Hours: 3

      Junior Year - Spring (14 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 3321L - Architectural Design 6 Credit Hours: 6
      • ARC 3463C - Materials and Methods of Construction 2 Credit Hours: 3
      • ARC 3743 - Architectural History 3 Credit Hours: 3
      • Elective Credit Hours: 2

      Senior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 3503 - Architectural Structures Credit Hours: 3
      • ARC 4322L - Architectural Design 7 Credit Hours: 6
      • ARC 4220 - Architectural Theory 2 Credit Hours: 3

      Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)

      • ARC 4323L - Architectural Design 8 Credit Hours: 6
      • ARC 4620 - Environmental Technology 2 Credit Hours: 3
      • Upper-Level Elective Credit Hours: 3