Barnard + Columbia Architecture
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 undergraduate educational mission of expansive thinking and relational learning. The purpose of an undergraduate liberal arts education is to educate students to think about and through architecture.
Fall 2026 Information for Current Students
Going forward, the Canvas will be the primary place for schedule updates and announcements, so we recommend bookmarking it and checking in regularly.
Barnard + Columbia Architecture Major and Minor
Columbia College students can major or minor in Architecture through our department. Columbia students who wish to pursue the History and Theory of Architecture major can do so through the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia.
The School of General Studies students can major or minor in Architecture through our department. General Studies students who wish to pursue the History and Theory of Architecture major can do so through the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia.
Columbia Engineering students may complete a minor in Architecture.
Major
Minor
Student Learning Outcomes
Our Curriculum
There are a few distinctions between the opportunities for students at Barnard College, Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), and the School of General Studies to study architecture at an undergraduate level.
Barnard College students can major in Architecture (also referred to as the studio major), major in the History and Theory of Architecture, or minor in Architecture through our department.
Columbia College students can major or minor in Architecture through our department. Columbia students who wish to pursue the History and Theory of Architecture major can do so through The Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia.
The School of General Studies students can major or minor in Architecture through our department. General Studies students who wish to pursue the History and Theory of Architecture major can do so through The Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia.
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) students may complete a minor in Architecture.
Resources for Prospective Students
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.
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.
The Keating Visiting Architect Program
The Keating Visiting Architect Program, established in 2024 through the generous support of the Keating family, is designed to foster new connections between architecture students and leading professionals. Through this program, students will have the opportunity to engage with a visiting architect in various settings, both inside and outside the classroom. This initiative aims to enhance students’ academic experience at Barnard College and provide valuable insights into the contemporary practice of architecture.
Our Faculty
Kadambari Baxi
Karen Fairbanks
Adjunct Architecture Faculty
R. Todd Rouhe
Lindsay Harkema
Nick Roseboro
Angela Keele
Joeb Moore
Marina Correia
Clara Kraft
Inés Yupanqui
Suzanne Stephens
Fred Tang
Michael Schissel
Irina Verona
Marlon Davis
Madeline Schwartzman
Architecture in the News
Break This Down: Unpacking the Hidden Politics of Interior Design
Architect Norma Merrick Sklarek ’50
Barnard Talks Climate Across Scales
Contact Us
If you are a prospective student with an interest in architecture who plans to apply to Barnard College, Columbia College, or The School of General Studies, please direct your application-related questions to the admissions office for whichever school(s) you are applying to. If you have questions about architecture courses or our programs of study in architecture, please review our Prospective Students page.
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