A Bachelor of Architecture takes five years. The core of our curriculum is the studio, where you learn to explore and generate design ideas. In the first year, we begin with a focus on design fundamentals, moving through conceptual, abstract, and experimental exercises to strip away preconceived ideas.
The curriculum for the Bachelor of Architecture degree includes a combination of required and elective courses offering the student both a solid professional program of study and a sound general education. While the majority of courses are designated as required, students may use the available architecture and general electives to broaden their education and to expand their knowledge in areas of personal interest.
All students studying for a Bachelor of Architecture degree will complete the following requirements in their course of study. For any additional specialized requirements, the student should refer to the Student Handbook of the School of Architecture and the student’s faculty advisor.
uTrack Requirements
Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students who first entered Fall 2013 or later. uTrack does not apply to transfer students who enter prior to Fall 2015.
Seven-Year Architecture/Landscape Architecture Path
Qualified students in the architecture program may consider entering the Master of Landscape Architecture degree path in their fifth year. Completing this path allows Bachelor of Architecture graduates to gain advanced standing in the landscape architecture program, satisfying degree requirements in two years rather than three. This path only applies to the Master of Landscape Architecture, Track 1 – First Professional Degree option offered at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For more information, see the Graduate Catalog.
Requirements for architecture students pursuing this degree path:
The student must meet with advisors from both the architecture and landscape architecture programs.
The student must complete the following requirements during or before the fifth year. Prerequisites to the landscape architecture program (#) may be completed using non-architecture and unrestricted electives.
Approved life science with lab course#
ESS 210 - Introduction to Soil Science#
PLSC 220 - Landscape Plants I# or PLSC 221 - Landscape Plants II#
PLSC 350 - Basic Landscape Construction#
PLSC 421 - Native Plants in the Landscape#
ARCH 424 - Special Topics in Landscape Architecture History and Theories I (professional elective)
ARCH 424 - Special Topics in Landscape Architecture History and Theories II (professional elective)
ARCH 474 - Advanced Architectural Design: Landscape Architecture I (fifth-year design studio option)
ARCH 475 - Advanced Architectural Design: Landscape Architecture II (fifth-year design studio option)
Qualifications for achieving advanced standing in the landscape architecture program:
The student must have an earned minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and meet all other admission requirements for the landscape architecture program.
Conditional admission may be granted after application in the spring semester of the fourth year. The student must also follow the normal procedure and deadline for admission to the Graduate School.
Full admission of a student into this program must be approved by the College of Architecture and Design and the Graduate School.
A student will not be eligible for a graduate assistantship until the student is enrolled as a graduate-level student in the Graduate School, has satisfied all of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree, or the student is in the final semester of the bachelor’s degree and has completed all undergraduate coursework.
