Department Chair:  Marc Swackhamer
Telephone:  612-669-2603
Email: marc.swackhamer@ucdenver.edu

Introduction

Please click here to see Architecture department information.

The Department of Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver offers a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree program on the downtown Denver campus. The program’s design studio-based curriculum combines critical thinking with active making in pursuit of creative solutions to contemporary design problems.  

In their first three years of study, students learn the fundamentals of design, how to apply them to the design of buildings, neighborhoods and cities, and how to graphically communicate a design solution. 

Before their final two semesters of the program, students have the option to choose to continue on the Architectural Studies Track or move to the Architectural Design Track.  Both tracks will allow students to complete a 4 studio-track professional Master of Architecture degree (MAarch) at CU Denver and pursue a professional career in architecture. In addition to offering a strong foundation in architecture, both the Architectural Design and the Architectural Studies tracks prepare students to pursue graduate studies and future careers in allied design disciplines, including Digital Design (games and animation), Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Real Estate Development, among others.  

The Architectural Studies Track offers students a less prescribed path, with greater freedom to shape the direction of their studies in the final two semesters. Based on individual interests and projected career paths, students who choose this track will have the opportunity to focus on one or more areas of study in architecture and/or allied disciplines. These include architectural history/theory, technology, and visualization/design among other options. 

The Architectural Design Track is for students who desire additional Design Studios to hone their design skills.  This track also prescribes additional history and technical course work to support design thinking and application.

Both tracks prepare students for admission to a two-year (minimum) accredited graduate architecture degree program in the United States, Canada, or compatible degree programs internationally.  Advance standing in a Master of Architecture program can be maximized in either track by selecting elective courses in technical studies and professional practice typically recognized by accredited graduate architecture degree programs. 

Program Delivery

• This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Major

• Click here to go to information about declaring a major.

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

• CU Denver General Graduation Requirements  
• CU Denver Core Curriculum  
• College of Architecture and Planning Graduation Requirements  
• Click here for information about Academic Policies

Program Requirements

All BS Architecture students will take common required foundational courses (57-60 credit hours) to learn the fundamentals of design, how to apply them to the design of buildings, neighborhoods and cities, and how to graphically communicate a design solution. Before their final two semesters of the program, students in the BS Architecture program will choose one of two tracks with different course requirements. All students are enrolled in the Architectural Studies Track when declaring the BS Architecture major. Before the final two semesters in the program, students must choose to either stay in the Architectural Studies Track or opt-into the Architectural Design Track. Each track has 24 credits of specified course work to complete the degree. Students should meet with their CAP academic advisor for guidance on determining which track is best suited for their academic and professional goals

Below is the required course list for BS Architecture, which shows both the common curriculum for all BS Architecture majors, as well as the requirements for the individual tracks. Students will not take the requirements for both the Architectural Studies Track and the Architectural Design Track. Students will choose just one of the 24-hour track to follow:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Representation Studies		6
ARCH 1711	Architectural Visualization I
ARCH 1721	Architectural Visualization II
Design Studies		24
ARCH 2111	Design Studio I - Foundational
ARCH 2121	Design Studio II - Foundational
ARCH 3111	Design Studio III - Elemental
ARCH 3121	Design Studio IV - Elemental
Cultural Studies		12
ARCH 1110	Introduction to Architecture
ARCH 2230	Architectural History I
ARCH 3230	Architectural History II
ARCH 4230	Architecture History III
Technical Studies		6
ARCH 3130	Construction Practices: Material and Structural Systems
ARCH 3430	Construction Practices: Building Envelope
Math Courses/Sets 1		4-7
Select one of the following sequences:
Sequence A
MATH 1110 & MATH 1120	College Algebra and College Trigonometry
Sequence B
Select one of the following:
MATH 1130	Precalculus Mathematics
MATH 1401	Calculus I
MATH 2411	Calculus II
MATH 2421	Calculus III
Sequence C
MATH 1108 & MATH 1109 & MATH 1120	Stretch College Algebra-Part 1 and Stretch College Algebra-Part 2 and College Trigonometry
Physics 2		5
PHYS 2010	College Physics I
PHYS 2321	Intro Experimental Phys Lab I
Select ONE of the Required Tracks:		24
Architectural Studies
12 hours of Architecture Electives (ARCH prefix)
12 hours of CAP electives (Any prefix in the College of Architecture and Planning, except LDAR 1015)
Architectural Design
ARCH 4111	Design Studio V - Analytical
ARCH 4121	Design Studio VI - Analytical
ARCH 3330	Building Systems I
ARCH 3340	Theory of Structures I
6 hours of CAP electives (Any prefix in the College of Architecture and Planning, except LDAR 1015)
Total Hours		81-84

¹

Also applies to the Core Math requirement

²

Also applies to the Core Biological and Physical Sciences requirement

Additional General elective hours may be needed to reach the required 120 hours for the BS Architecture degree. A maximum of 72 CAP credit hours (courses within the ARCH, LDAR, HIPR, INTD, and URPL prefixes) may be applied toward the 120 credit hours required for the BS Architecture degree. LDAR 1015 will not be counted toward this 72 credit hour maximum.

Required math and physics courses may apply toward General electives if not already applied toward Core Math and Biological and Physical Sciences requirements.

The following International Baccalaureate (IB) exams (Standard or Higher Level) with a four or higher exam score will fulfill the “Architecture Major: Mathematics” requirement, even without a direct course equivalency to the stated required math course(s):

• Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation
• Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

BS Architecture Tracks: 

Before their final two semesters of the program, students will choose to continue on the Architectural Studies Track or move to the Architectural Design Track. Both tracks will allow students to complete a 4 studio-track professional Master of Architecture degree (MArch) at CU Denver and pursue a professional career in architecture. In addition to offering a strong foundation in architecture, both the Architectural Design and the Architectural Studies tracks prepare students to pursue graduate studies and future careers in allied design disciplines, including Digital Design (games and animation), Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Real Estate Development, among others.  

Architectural Studies Track Requirements:

The Architectural Studies Track offers students a less prescribed path, with greater freedom to shape the direction of their studies in the final two semesters. Based on individual interests and projected career paths, students who choose this track will have the opportunity to focus on one or more areas of study in architecture and/or allied disciplines. These include architectural history/theory, technology, and/or visualization, among other options. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
12 hours of Architecture Electives (ARCH Prefix)		12
12 hours of CAP Electives (Any prefix used in the College of Architecture and Planning, except LDAR 1015)		12
Total Hours		24

NOTE:  Any of the specific courses listed in the Architectural Design sub-plan may be taken and will count as ARCH electives.

Architectural Design Track Requirements:

The Architectural Design Track is for students who desire additional Design Studios to hone their design skills. This track also prescribes additional history and technical course work to support design thinking and application.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ARCH 4111	Design Studio V - Analytical	6
ARCH 4121	Design Studio VI - Analytical	6
ARCH 3330	Building Systems I	3
ARCH 3340	Theory of Structures I	3
6 hours of CAP electives (Any prefix used in the College of Architecture & Planning, except LDAR 1015)		6
Total Hours		24

To review the Degree Map for this program, please visit our website.