Architecture major

Architecture: courses, careers, and where to study

Architecture combines design, structural reasoning, and building systems to plan habitable spaces, suiting students who pair creative drawing with technical problem-solving.

An Architecture major centers on the design studio, where students develop projects from concept through drawings and physical or digital models, alongside coursework in architectural history and theory, building structures, environmental and mechanical systems, construction materials and methods, site planning, and building codes. Programs lean heavily on CAD and BIM software, hand drawing, and model-making, and most require studio sequences each term that build toward a comprehensive design project.

Degrees come in a few forms: a five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), a four-year pre-professional bachelor's followed by a Master of Architecture (M.Arch), or a direct M.Arch for students entering from another field. The professional B.Arch or M.Arch is the path most students take toward licensure.

Graduates work in architecture and engineering firms, often beginning as architectural designers before completing the experience and examination requirements to become licensed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2024 median annual wage for architects was $96,690, and employment of architects is projected to change 3.9% from 2024 to 2034. Related paths include urban and regional planning, interior architecture, and construction-focused roles.

What you'll study

  • Design studio: developing projects from concept through schematic and design-development drawings
  • Architectural drawing, drafting, and physical and digital model-making
  • CAD and BIM tools (such as Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, and SketchUp)
  • Building structures, statics, and how loads move through a building
  • Environmental, mechanical, lighting, and acoustic systems for buildings
  • Construction materials, methods, detailing, and building assemblies
  • Architectural history and theory across periods and movements
  • Site analysis, zoning, building codes, and accessibility (ADA) requirements

Typical careers

  • Architects
  • Architectural Designer
  • Urban and Regional Planner
  • Interior Designer
  • Construction Manager
  • Landscape Architect

Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 architects median $96,690Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Before you commit to a Architecture major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Architecture program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Architecture department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Architecture programs are accredited by the NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board), and becoming a licensed architect generally requires a NAAB-accredited degree, the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), and passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Confirm a program is NAAB-accredited and check your state board’s licensure requirements.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Architecturecareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Architecture program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Architecture programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.