Undergraduate Program

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (B.A.A.)

The B.A.A. is a pre-professional degree that prepares students for admittance to a two-year graduate program in architecture. The overall intent of the B.A.A. degree program is to provide a firm grounding in the essential ideas, principles, theories and technologies that underlie the built environment. The design studio sequence, the core of the program, is where all the elements of the design process come together in exercises that build increasing skill and sophistication in the student designer.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate

Admission to the undergraduate pre-professional portion of the program in architecture is competitive and limited.

There are two paths to undergraduate admission. The standard path requires that upon completion of a minimum set of required college-level credit acceptable to the School, students apply for transfer and acceptance into the School of Architecture and Planning. Applications to the B.A.A. degree program are accepted from University of New Mexico students, as well as students from any other accredited universities approved by the Office of Admissions.

The second path is the “Early Admissions” program available to New Mexico residents who are deemed high achieving entering freshman. Eligibility is limited to students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school classes, score in the top 10% of the ACT or SAT, or receive UNM’s National Scholars Scholarship. For further information contact the Undergraduate Advisor in the School of Architecture and Planning.

In addition to UNM core curriculum courses taken in the first year, UNM student applicants will have successfully completed Architectural Graphics, Design Fundamentals. and, Introduction to Architecture. In order to be considered for application, UNM students must earn a B or better in ARCH 111.

Application Requirements:

1. Letter of intent. Explain why you are interested in architecture and discuss related experience, background or course work as well as particular educational and professional goals. The letter should not exceed two pages; include two copies: one in portfolio.
2. Portfolio of Drawing and Design Work. Submit work from drawing and art studio courses and personal art work in an 81/2” x 11” bound portfolio. Do not send slides, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, or other digital materials, as they will not be accepted. Portfolio guidelines are available from the Academic Advisor in the School of Architecture and Planning.
3. Application Sheet. This form is available from the Academic Advisor.
4. Transcripts. University of New Mexico students should provide unofficial transcripts obtained from Records and Registration Office in Mesa Vista Hall North One-Stop. Transfer students can provide an unofficial transcript from all colleges previously attended and must send official transcripts to the Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 4895, Albuquerque, NM 87196-4895.
5. Required Entry Courses. The following courses, or their equivalents, must be successfully completed prior to application and must be taken for a grade:

ARCH 109	Design Fundamentals	3
ARCH 111	Introduction to Architectural Graphics	3
ARCH 121	Introduction to Architecture	3
MATH 123	Trigonometry	3
	-or-
	passing grade on Trigonometry Compass Exam and 3 hr elective
MATH 180	Elements of Calculus I	3/4
	-or-
MATH 162L	Calculus I
ENGL 101	Composition I: Exposition	3
ENGL 102	Composition II: Analysis and Argument	3
PHYC 102, 102L	Introduction to Physics/Lab	4
	-or-
PHYC 151, 151L	General Physics/Lab
	Total	25/26
	Other UNM core curriculum courses	6
	Total credits required	32

6. Application Deadline. All of the above information and forms must be received by May 15th by 4 p.m. (should this date fall on a weekend, submit on the next Monday). Any material missing may disqualify your application for consideration. Late applications may be accepted on a space available basis. Address all inquiries and submit all materials, by mail or by person, to: Undergraduate Admissions, c/o Academic Advisor, School of Architecture and Planning, MSC04 2530, 2401 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001.

Note: Students at UNM branch campuses must apply to the UNM Albuquerque campus at the same time.

Undergraduate Degree: Graduation Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (B.A.A.)

Students may be admitted to the undergraduate degree in their sophomore year after completing at least 26 credit hours of selected courses. In addition to UNM core course work in the first year, applicants will have taken two studio courses–one in graphics, one in design, and a lecture course, Introduction to Architecture.

Portfolio Reviews:
Students may be required to submit portfolios for review by a faculty committee at the end of the 200- or 300- level sequence and/or immediately prior to graduation.

Minimum Grade Point Average
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 is required for graduation.

Advising: Advising for undergraduate students is available from the Undergraduate Advisor. Individual faculty members are also available for counseling on matters relating to professional education, architectural internship, and the architectural registration examination process.

Design Studio Academic Standard: Students must earn a minimum grade of C+ in a studio in order to continue in the design studio sequence. (A grade of C or lower requires permission of the Director to re-enroll or enroll in a subsequent studio.)

Required Courses and Electives–Typical Sequence

First Year	All first year classes must be taken for a letter grade.
ARCH 111	Introduction to Architectural Graphics	Fa	3
ARCH 121*	Introduction to Architecture	Fa	3
ARCH 109	Design Fundamentals	Sp	3
MATH 123	Trigonometry		3
	-or-
	Passing Trigonometry Compass Exam and 3 cr. elective
MATH 180*	Elements of Calculus I		3
	-or-
MATH 162	Calculus I
ENGL 101*	Composition I: Exposition		3
ENGL 102*	Composition II: Analysis and Argument		3
PHYC 102/102L	Introduction to Physics/Physics Lab*		4
	-or-
PHYC 151/151L	General Physics/Lab
	Required Entry Courses		25-26
	Other UNM Core Curriculum Credits		6
	Minimum Total Credits		31-32
Second Year
ARCH 201	Architectural Design I	Fa	4
ARCH 211	Architectural Communications I	Fa	2
ARCH 241	Sustainability I	Fa	3
ARCH 202	Architectural Design II	Sp	4
ARCH 211	Architectural Communications I	Sp	2
ARCH 221	Architecture and Context	Sp	3
	Required Architecture credits:		18
	UNM Core Curriculum courses:		12
	Total Credits		30
Third Year
ARCH 301	Design Studio III	Fa	4
ARCH 311	Design Studio IV	Fa	2
ARCH 321	World Architecture	Fa	3
ARCH 331	Construction I	Fa	3
ARCH 302	Architectural Design IV	Sp	4
ARCH 322	World Architecture II	Sp	3
ARCH 311	Architectural Communications II	Sp	2
ARCH 332	Structures I	Sp	3
ARCH 342	Human Factors and Programming	Sp	3
	Elective		3
	Required Architecture Credits:		30
	UNM Core Curriculum courses:		3
	Total credits		33
Fourth Year
ARCH 401	Design Studio V	Fa	6
ARCH 431	Structures II	Fa	3
ARCH 441	Sustainability II	Fa	3
ARCH 451	Research and Design	Fa	3
ARCH 402	Design Studio VI	Sp	6
ARCH 432	Building Systems	Sp	3
ARCH 442	Politics, Culture and Architecture	Sp	3
ARCH 452	Practice and Theory	Sp	3
	Elective		3
	Total Credits		33
	GRAND TOTAL		127-128*

*The University of New Mexico requires 128 credits for graduation.

University of New Mexico Core Curriculum Requirements
These are in addition to specific entry and other requirements. Several areas are more restrictive than University of New Mexico Core.

Must earn a “C” or better in University of New Mexico Core Curriculum requirements. Must earn a "B" or better in ARCH 111.

Writing and Speaking:	3
One course from either ENGL 219, 220; CJ 130; PHIL 156
Physical and Natural Science:	3-4
(More restrictive than University of New Mexico Core Curriculum.)
One course from ANTH 121, 150, 160; ASTR 101; BIOL 110, 123; CHEM 111, 121 and 23L, 122 and 124L, 131L, 132L; EPS 101; GEOG 101 and GEOG 105L
Social and Behavioral Sciences:	6
(More restrictive than University of New Mexico Core Curriculum.)
Either ECON 105 or 106
-and-
Either PSY 105 or SOC 101
Humanities:	6
Two courses from AMST 186; CLST 107, 204, 205; COMP 222, 224; ENGL 150, 292, 293; HIST 101, 102, 161, 162; MLNG 101; PHIL 101, 201, 202; RELG 107, 263, 264, Honors Legacy Seminar at 100-200 level
Foreign Languages:	3
One lower-division non-English course
Total	21

NOTES:
Electives
At least 3 credits of electives must be School of Architecture and Planning courses OTHER than architecture, i.e. from Community and Regional Planning or Landscape Architecture.

Service Learning
Students must complete 3 credits in a service learning course, approved by the faculty, in which students work directly with a not-for-profit, community group, or public agency on architectural research, design, and/or application of design skills. This may be fulfilled by ARCH 402: Community studio section, or other course, including independent study, APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PRIOR TO ENROLLING.

Credit Hour Summary for Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
Entry courses (1st year)	31-32
Additional University of New Mexico Core Courses	15
Additional required Architecture courses	81
Total B.A. Architecture	127-128*