Architecture
To become a licensed architect in the US, you must complete a professional degree program in architecture, complete a three-year supervised internship and pass the Architect Registration Exam. There are four ways to meet the professional degree requirement:
1. Earn a 5-year professional Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree
2. Earn a “pre-professional” bachelor’s degree in a related field (architecture or environmental
design) and complete a 2 year professional Master’s of Architecture (M.Arch.) program
3. Earn a non-architecture bachelor’s degree in any field and complete a 3+ year professional
M.Arch. degree
4. Earn a professional Doctorate of Architecture (D.Arch.) in 7 years (coming in directly from
high school) or 3-4 years (after first earning a bachelor’s degree in a pre-professional or
non-architecture field)
Most UCSD students will follow option 3 since UCSD does not offer professional or pre-professional degrees in architecture.
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) (http://www.acsa-arch.org/) has links to all architecture programs in the U.S. Most states require architects to earn their architecture degree in a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (http://www.naab.org/architecture_programs/), so search their website for accredited programs by state or degree type. For more help:
- Get information about architecture education, licensure and careers at www.ARCHcareers.org
- Find professionals in the field through the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Identify scholarship opportunities on AIA’s Education page
- Learn how to prepare and apply for architecture programs in the ACSA Guide to Education
- Read the Guide to Architecture Schools book in our library or at www.ARCHschools.org
Consider Grad School
