Architecture (B.F.A.)

Program Coordinator/Contact

Sean Ervin, Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator
School of Design
Chicoine Architecture, Mathematics and Engineering Hall 378, Box 2225
605-688-4103

Program Information

The Architecture program has three academic components:

1. The first year School of Design cross-disciplinary experience.
2. The three semester pre-professional building arts and public works design experience.
3. The seven semester professional program experience.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture degree (BFA-Arch) is recommended for those who want a studio-based liberal arts education in architecture as their first post-secondary experience.  Students in this program typically come from high school, community colleges / technical institutes, and transfer from other majors.  The B.F.A. in Architecture is 120 credit hours in eight semesters that can be completed in four regular (Fall & Spring only) academic years.  Students completing the B.F.A. can apply to the two year Master of Architecture program to cap the education as NAAB accredited professional training in architecture.  One must hold an NAAB accredited degree to become an architect.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the architecture major, students will be able to:

• Move ideas from abstract to concrete through graphical methods.
• Measure and understand the impact of ideas on theoretical, social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental contexts.
• Use a diverse range of mediated practices to think about and convey architectural ideas, including writing, investigating, speaking, drawing, and modeling.
• Comprehend the technical aspects of both construction and mediating technologies and be able to apply that comprehension to architectural solutions.
• Capacity to synthesize a wide range of variables into an integrated design solution.
• Understand business principles for the practice of architecture, including management, advocacy, and the need to act legally, ethically, and critically for the good of the client, society, and the public.

Academic Requirements

Architecture students must maintain at least a major GPA of 2.6 and an overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the duration of the program.  A grade of a “C” or better is required in all ART, ARTE, ARTH, GDES, DSGN, LA, ARCH, CM and ID courses. 

Course Delivery Format

The curriculum is interactive, haptic and performance based, offering problem solving experiences in all major areas of professional practice.