Architecture

Undergraduate Architecture at Columbia University

Our department is the home of undergraduate studies in architecture at Columbia University and is jointly shared by multiple colleges. Students enrolled at any of the undergraduate colleges, including Columbia College, Barnard College, and The School of General Studies, can declare a major or minor in architecture through our department, while those at Columbia Engineering can pursue a minor. When applying to study architecture at Columbia University, prospective students can apply to whichever undergraduate college they prefer. Upon admission, they can begin taking courses in our department and pursue a major or minor in architecture. 

Our department only supports undergraduate students who are earning their Bachelor's degrees, so all inquiries regarding graduate studies in architecture (e.g. Master's or PhDs programs) should instead be directed to the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University.
 

Our Mission 

The Architecture major establishes an intellectual context for students to interpret the relation of form, space, program, materials and media to human life and thought. Through the Architecture curriculum, students participate in the ongoing shaping of knowledge about the built environment and learn to see architecture as one among many forms of cultural production. At the same time, the major stresses the necessity of learning disciplinary-specific tools, methods, terms and critiques. Thus, work in the studio, lecture or seminar asks that students treat architecture as a form of research and speculation which complement the liberal arts mission of expansive thinking.
 

A Liberal Arts Foundation in Architecture

Studying Architecture at Barnard and Columbia Colleges leads to a liberal arts degree (Bachelor of Arts with a major in Architecture).  Students interested in obtaining a professional degree in Architecture will continue on to graduate programs after their undergraduate degree, and students from this program have enjoyed enormous success in their admissions to the most competitive graduate programs in the country.  Students who study Architecture as undergraduates have also pursued graduate degrees in disciplines ranging from Urban Planning to Media and Communications to Law School among others.  Barnard College is the administrative location for all undergraduate architecture studies at Columbia University and its partner institutions.  A liberal arts education in architecture holds a unique position in academia and in relation to the discipline.  If the goal of a professional education in architecture is to be able to prepare students to participate in the world as an architect - a liberal arts education begins to introduce the scope and range by which that is possible, the vast and continuously evolving landscape of architectural practices and related disciplines. The purpose of an undergraduate liberal arts education is to educate students to think about and through architecture.

The Architecture major addresses the unique goals of an undergraduate liberal arts education within a University setting that provides expanded access to superb libraries, research centers, graduate programs, and abundant intellectual resources. The faculty teaching in the undergraduate program are dedicated teachers and are also active in practice and research.  Alumni of the Department are leaders in architecture and design fields around the world. The undergraduate architecture major engages with New York City as a site for many design and research projects and frames the City as one of the key social and architectural markers of Modernity. Students are exposed to the complexity of social, political, and environmental aspects of architectural design and urbanism.  The Architecture curriculum introduces design at all scales and balances the traditions of handcrafted representation with evolving digital technologies of architectural design and communication.  Architecture students study with peers from countries around the world in one of the most diverse cities in the world. A large majority of the Architecture students will expand their education by interning in Architecture or a related field during their undergraduate studies.
 

Understanding Degree Types in Architecture 

Barnard College, Columbia College, and the School of General Studies are all liberal arts colleges that confer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree upon graduation. Columbia Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and a combined plan for students to earn both a BA and a BS. Students from these colleges who are interested in studying architecture do so within our department, where they can pursue a major or minor in architecture.

When applying to schools, we recommend that prospective students research the various types of undergraduate degrees in architecture to help determine the path that best aligns with their goals. The three main undergraduate degrees in architecture include: 

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (BA) – Our program’s degree type, which is typically completed in four years, combines architectural studies with a broad liberal arts curriculum. This approach emphasizes critical thinking about architecture’s societal role and equips students with a strong intellectual foundation to explore the evolving field of architectural practice. The Bachelor of Arts in Architecture must be followed by a professional degree to pursue licensure and is an excellent platform for future graduate studies in architecture and related fields. 

Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) – Typically a five-year program, this degree type provides comprehensive architectural training and is the most direct path to becoming a licensed architect without requiring a graduate degree. The degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board and contains the required academic coursework to pursue internship, and eventually, licensure.

Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSc) – This pre-professional degree is typically a four-year program with an emphasis on the technical aspects of architecture. Since this degree type is not NAAB-accredited, it must be followed by a professional degree to pursue licensure.

Studying Architecture in New York City 

Our program engages deeply with New York City, using it as a living laboratory for design and research projects. Students are introduced to the social, political, and environmental complexities of architectural design and urbanism, with New York City serving as a key reference point.

Additionally, many of our students further expand their education by interning at architecture firms or related organizations and institutions during their undergraduate years.