Bachelor of Design in Architecture (BDA)
The School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota exposes students to the socio-cultural, environmental, formal, and historical factors that shape the built environment. Students develop visual literacy by thinking through the design process in studios and workshops, by researching historical precedents, and by analyzing theoretical texts and the physical environment.
Our undergraduate programs foster a sense of stewardship for the local and global built environment by providing opportunities for students to engage with College of Design faculty and research centers, enroll in service learning courses, and study abroad.
The School of Architecture offers three undergraduate architecture degrees - BA, BDA and BS - and the professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch), which is required to become a licensed architect in the state of Minnesota, and throughout the U.S.
Program Info
The BDA is a flexible degree in design thinking through architecture. It explores the breadth of the design field, including many of the cross-disciplinary collaborations that are an emerging feature of contemporary practice. Students are eligible to apply to this program in the College of Design after completing the required pre-Architecture program. In addition to the first- and second-year core Architecture courses, students in the BDA program take 12 credits of design workshops and 30 credits of upper-level architecture electives, in addition to required upper-level courses in architecture. Graduates of the BDA program are well prepared to apply to the School of Architecture's 3-year Master of Architecture program, as well as programs at other schools, per their admissions requirements.
BDA Program & Workshops Web Site
Degree Requirements and Sample 4-year Program
Admissions
Applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing freshman composition, Arch 1281, and Arch 1701, and a total of 30 college credits (end of freshman Pre-Architecture year for most students). A GPA of 2.8 or above is preferred for admissions to the BDA program. Note: Students moving from the Pre-Architecture to BDA major must follow the College of Design transfer admission process. Transfer Admissions deadlines and application materials