School of Architecture: Academic Rules, Regulations, and Information

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Academic Rules

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For general information about the School of Architecture and undergraduate admissions:https://www.arch.virginia.edu/apply/undergraduate-admissions

Academic Good Standing

Undergraduate students in the School of Architecture must meet the following criteria to remain in academic good standing

• Complete at least 12 credits of coursework.
• Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. 

Academic Warning 

An undergraduate student will be placed on academic warning if they fail to maintain academic good standing in any semester (see the “Academic Good Standing” section of the Record).

Academic Suspension

Any student will be suspended if they fail to maintain academic good standing for two consecutive semesters. The term of the first suspension will be a minimum of one complete fall or spring semester. The term of a suspension may be longer if the Dean’s Office decides it is appropriate for the circumstances. A second suspension is final, and the student is not allowed to return to the University.

Academic Good Standing – Addendum for “minimum passing grade”
​Departments reserve the right to amend the definition of Academic Good Standing with “minimum passing grade” requirements for select courses.

Procedures for Returning to the University from suspension are described below under Returning to the University. Academic credits taken elsewhere while on academic suspension are not accepted for transfer towards a UVa degree.

Attendance 

Students are expected to attend all class sessions in person, including lectures and other prescribed activities of the courses for which they are registered. Although the course instructor sets course attendance requirements, any student who is absent from more than 50 percent of the class sessions may automatically receive a grade of F in that course.

Consistent with the UVA Undergraduate Record, unless otherwise notified by the instructor, students enrolled in all School of Architecture undergraduate courses are required to attend every scheduled class session in person and to arrive on time prepared for the class. If you are unable to attend a class session for any reason, you must notify your instructor in advance of the class. In courses where class participation represents a portion of the course grade, the instructor has complete discretion to assign the class participation grade that s/he decides is appropriate.

Class Standing

Students are categorized by class according to the number of credits they have earned as follows: first year: 0-29 credits; second year: 30-59 credits; third year: 60-89 credits; fourth year: 90 or more credits. AP and transfer credits are included in the computation of class standing; credits not completed or completed unsuccessfully are not included. Students in the Department of Architecture are classified according to their studio level.

Satisfactory Progress Toward a Degree

In order to enroll for a fifth semester, students must have earned at least 54 semester hours (includes approved summer, transfer, AP, IB and dual enrollment credits).

To enroll for a seventh semester, students must have earned at least 84 semester hours (includes approved summer, transfer, AP, IB and dual enrollment credits).

Students may not enroll in a ninth semester except under very special circumstances.

Barring unusual circumstances, and with the written approval of the Dean’s office, students who have completed eight semesters must complete any remaining degree requirements as a part-time student. Students are permitted to take a total of 16 credits on a part-time basis toward the degree. No more than 6 credits/two courses may be taken in a given semester.

Grade Appeals

Students who wish to appeal a grade must first attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor of the course. If there is not a satisfactory outcome, the student must consult with the Director of Advising + Academic Support in conjunction with the graduate program director of the department. If this path proves unsuccessful in the resolution of the matter, the student may appeal to the Associate Dean of Academics. Appeals must be made within 7 days after the end of that semester’s examination period.

Once a grade appeal has been approved and activated, the Associate Dean of Academics will convene a panel of independent reviewers to consider a student’s grade appeal based on the information provided by both the student and their instructor. The grade review panel will make recommendations for consideration to the Associate Dean of Academics who will then render a final decision based on those recommendations. Possible outcomes of a grade appeal review process are as follows:

1. The grade may remain as is
2. The grade may be raised
3. The grade may be lowered

Complaints and Grievances Procedures

Due process is guaranteed to all students. See  University Regulations section or consult the Associate Dean of Academics.

Dean’s List

To be eligible for the Dean’s List of Distinguished Students at the end of each semester, students must earn at least 15 credits of graded work, with a GPA of 3.7 or above for that semester.  Courses taken on a CR/NC basis may not be counted toward the 15-credit minimum.

Commencement Honors

Students who have demonstrated high academic achievement in pursuit of the bachelor’s degree are eligible for commencement honors.

Diplomas inscribed “with honors” are awarded to graduates who have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.600.

Diplomas inscribed “with high honors” are awarded to graduates who have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.750.

Diplomas inscribed “with highest honors” are awarded to graduates who have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.900.

General Education Requirements in the School of Architecture Undergraduate Curriculum

The undergraduate curriculum of the School of Architecture reflects our mission: to teach students how to study buildings, landscapes, and cities as forms and systems, and to imagine the design of more sustainable, functional, and socially equitable places. Students pursue this mission through three different majors: architectural history, architecture, and urban and environmental planning. The School’s general education requirements establish a strong foundation in the traditional liberal arts categories of humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural sciences/mathematics. The general education curriculum is intended to equip students with the necessary tools of analytical, synthetic, and critical thinking, while also highlighting the role of the built environment in the complex conditions that profoundly shape the present and the future.

The School of Architecture requires that each undergraduate complete 30 credits in General Education, 18 of which are to be taken in these categories:

Humanities/Fine Arts: 6 credits
Math/Natural Sciences: 6 credits
Social/Behavioral Sciences: 6 credits

The remaining 12 credits may be fulfilled with classes from within any of these three above-listed categories unless proscribed more specifically by the student’s major curriculum.

Course Expectatons

In each of the degree programs, students should expect that courses may require the purchase of textbooks, software, materials, or equipment, or students may incur costs in the form of field trips upon occasion.  Students are also expected to complete online course evaluations at the end of each semester.

Course Load

Registering for fewer than 12 credits or more than 18 credits in a semester requires special permission. Students who have declared their major must obtain written permission from the Director of their undergraduate program; students who are undeclared must obtain written permission from the Director of Advising+Academic Support. Students who are on warning or in the semester immediately following suspension must obtain additional permission from the Associate Dean of Academics.

Electives

For students in the School of Architecture the following limits apply to elective courses:

• Kinesiology (KINE, KLPA) courses cannot be used for degree credit.
• A maximum of 12-degree credits will be granted for (ROTC) courses.
• A maximum of 8-degree credits will be granted for Ensemble Music or Dance.
• CR/NC grading option - no more than 1 course per semester, must be counted as an open elective.

Part-Time Enrollment

Students are ordinarily expected to be enrolled as full-time students.  However, students may choose to enroll for a semester or two on a part-time basis.  Part-time students are limited to two courses per semester or a maximum of six credits.  Students may not count more than 16 credits taken on a part-time basis toward the degree.

Temporary part-time status requires the Associate Dean of Academics and the Director of Advising + Academic Support approval. Students registered full-time at the University have until the drop deadline at the beginning of the semester to request conversion of their registration to part-time status.

Repeated Courses

In accordance with the University policy , when a student earns D+, D, D-, F in a course and opts to take it the second time, both courses and their respective grades will appear on the transcript. Only the highest of the two grades will be used in calculation of the GPA. This GPA adjustment applies only to the first 9 credits of courses that are repeated. This GPA adjustment applies only to cases where both the original and the repeat course are completed at UVA and taken for a letter grade. The repeated course must be attempted no earlier than the Fall 2024 semester.

If a student earns C- or higher and chooses to retake the course a second time for credit, both grades will be included in the computation of the grade point average and appear on the student’s transcript.

A student may repeat a course only once.

Student Owned Computers

Undergraduate students are required to own a personal computer equipped with specified software when they enter the program.
A list of specifications is at http://www.arch.virginia.edu/IT_Resources/Computer_Requirements. 

The School of Architecture offers three undergraduate programs of instruction under Architectural History, Architecture, and Urban and Environmental Planning. Supporting course work is offered through the cooperation of departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. First-year students take a common core curriculum and declare their major near the end of the second semester.

Evaluations of courses and curricula modification are continuing processes in the school. Therefore, the specific degree requirements are subject to change. In each of the degree programs, students should expect that courses may require the purchase of textbooks, software, materials, or equipment. Students may incur costs for field trips.

To obtain an undergraduate degree in the School of Architecture, a student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on all graded undergraduate course work taken while an undergraduate student.

Accreditation

The Undergraduate Program in Urban and Environmental Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, sponsored jointly by the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

Bachelor of Architectural History 

This four-year program is one of the few of its kind in the country. Students are offered a liberal arts education with an emphasis on the study of architectural history. This degree program provides an opportunity to study historic preservation, while offering ample opportunity for interaction with the other disciplines in the school

Bachelor of Science (Architecture)

The undergraduate degree in Architecture introduces students to methodologies to critically understand and creatively transform the built environment. Design innovation requires creativity, technical knowledge, cultural awareness, risk-taking, and meaningful questioning. Our curriculum uses design as a mode of critical inquiry to explore questions and pose new visions for a range of scales, all of which constitute the disciplinary realm of architecture: from cities, territories, infrastructure, and buildings to rooms, installations, furniture, and clothing.  

There are two types of degrees that are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB): the Bachelor of Architecture, which requires a minimum of five years of study; and the Master of Architecture. The four-year Bachelor of Science Architecture  degree is not accredited by NAAB.

Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning 

The Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning is a professional degree recognized by the Planning Accreditation Board. During the final two years of study, the student has a wide range of professional seminars and application courses to choose from in the areas of environmental planning, land use planning, and growth management, and urban development and housing policy. This course of study is designed to develop an integrative knowledge of environmental and community processes, professional skills, and leadership.

Audit (AU) Grade Option

You may audit courses with the permission of the instructor. Courses successfully taken on an audit basis have the symbol AU (audit) recorded in the grade column of the academic record.

As no credits or grade points are earned in audited courses, these courses are not applicable toward a degree. Instructors have the option of deciding whether students may or may not take their courses on an audit basis.

A grade of W is recorded for any student who discontinues the audit after the drop deadline or who fails to meet the instructor’s standards.

Credit/No Credit (Grades)

Students have the option of receiving the grades CR (credit) or NC (no credit) in place of A-F grades for some classes as designated in SIS. This option is selected when a student registers for the class. Instructors have the right to deny students permission to take classes on a CR/NC basis. If this occurs, students may either change back to the regular grading option or drop the class entirely The CR/NC option may be used only for open electives.

Undergraduate Grading System

The following letter grade symbols are used for grading undergraduate students in the School of Architecture. 

Note: The University has created a Default Grading Basis Thresholds in UVA Canvas. For consistency purposes, the School of Architecture has adopted this University-wide numeric breakdown for courses that use a point system for assessing grades:

A+          100

A              95

A-             90

B+            87

B              83

B-             80

C+            77

C              73

C-             70

D+            67

D              63

D-             60

F               0

Grade Changes

No grade may be changed after it has been submitted to UREG (Office of the University Registrar) without the approval of the Associate Dean of Academics. The Associate Dean of Academics may authorize a grade change only in accordance with the school’s grade appeal policy or when an instructor certifies that, because of an error in calculation or transcription, an incorrect grade has been submitted. The Associate Dean of Academics is also authorized to change incomplete grades to an F or Withdrawal. Instructors must submit grade changes via the Student Information System (SIS). Except as noted below, grades cannot be changed after a degree is conferred, or more than one semester following the end of the course, whichever comes first. 

If evidence is discovered that a student has violated the integrity of the course, a grade can be changed at the time of the conclusion of this assessment.

Incomplete Grade (IN)

A grade of “Incomplete” (IN) is to be given only in cases due to medical emergencies and extenuating family circumstances that necessitate additional time to complete course work.  Prior to the end of the class, students must initiate the request for an IN and secure the instructor’s approval in accordance with the policies and procedures of the school offering the course. A request for an ‘IN’ is then submitted to the School of Architecture Registrar prior to the last day of exams using the “Incomplete Grade” form approved by the Associate Dean of Academics.  An ‘IN’ is not considered an acceptable default final grade and will convert to a grade of ‘F’ five days after the end of the examination period unless an “Incomplete Grade” form is submitted by the course professor with the approval of the Associate Dean of Academics.  Documentation supporting the medical excuse is to be provided by a doctor or healthcare provider with the “Incomplete Grade” form. Additionally, a work plan outlining the scope and extended deadline for completion of coursework is due to the Associate Dean of Academics at the time of the form submittal.  An approved grade of ‘IN’ will convert automatically to a grade of ‘F’ thirty (30) calendar days  after the grading deadline  unless the professor submits a final grade based on the work completed during the additional time or a work plan identifying a specific date for completion of course work.  Instructors are not authorized to extend the time for completion of course work without the approval of the Associate Dean of Academics. Up to two incompletes is a reasonable request per semester; requesting more than two incompletes indicates a need to withdraw from the semester.

An Incomplete Grade (IN) is an Appropriate Option only when the following criteria are met:

• Student has a consistent and dependable attendance record.

• Student has completed approximately 75% or more of the work for the class.

• Student is not failing the class.

If a circumstance arises that does not meet these criteria, the student and professor are required to appeal to The  Associate Dean of Academics and  Director of Advising + Academic Support to discuss other potential academic options.

Withdrawals Grading System

If a student decides to discontinue a course after the drop deadline, they must withdraw from the class (see note below). Students have eight weeks from the start of the semester to leave a class using this option. This will result in a ‘W’ on the student’s transcript. If, after the withdrawal deadline has passed, a student is enrolled in a class, but has never attended, the student will need to contact the Director of Advising+Academic Support. Failure to do so will result in a failing grade.

If a student is failing a course after the withdrawal date and at the end of the semester due to lack of attendance and/or due to not meeting the academic standards of performance set by the professor/SIA of the course, the student will receive an ‘F’ as their final grade.

A student is allowed to withdraw from classes in SIS until 11:59 PM on the day of the class withdrawal deadline date, see https://www2.virginia.edu/registrar/calendar.html.

To get started, go to the drop tab in the SIS Student Center. Use the DROP transaction for the desired class. When the message is received about withdrawing, click on the “Request Class Withdrawal” link and follow the directions.

School of Architecture students wishing to transfer to another School within the University must consult  the specific school to review deadlines and admission requirements.

Students wishing to transfer into the School of Architecture from another School within the University must first meet with the School of Architecture’s Director of Advising and Academic Support to discuss transfer options and course selection.

Course Disenrollment 

Students are expected to contribute to a positive culture at UVA by conducting themselves in accordance with a high standard. In instances when a student’s behavior impairs an Instructor’s ability to conduct a class or otherwise interferes with other students’ engagement in the learning process, the Instructor must reasonably attempt to resolve disruptions directly with the individual responsible. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, repeatedly disrupting class or failing to properly engage in group activities. In rare cases, when the student’s behavior does not improve in response to the Instructor’s attempts, a dean’s office may disenroll the student from the course with a grade of W. For more information see “Course Disenrollment” under the University Academic Regulations. For more information see “Course Disenrollment” under the University Academic Regulations.

Leave of Absence

A student who wishes to suspend their full-time or part-time status for a temporary period of time must request approval from the director of undergraduate studies and the Associate Dean of Academics.  As a result, this leave will postpone their expected date of graduation. 

A student who wishes to take a leave of absence must apply by completing the “Leaving the University” E-Form in their SIS Student Center no later than one week prior to the beginning of the semester in which the students plan to be on leave. Leaves are approved for a full semester or one academic year, with a student eligible for up to two years of leave cumulatively.  

How to Apply for Leaving The University

1. Email the Associate Dean of Academics, Director of Advising + Academic Support, and the Director of the Program in which you are enrolled, about your intentions on taking a Leave of Absence.
2. Meet with Care and Support Services staff (Optional)
3. If students want to ensure their eligibility for financial aid, they should contact Student Financial Services (sfs@virginia.edu) prior to that semester.
4. Contact the International Studies Office (if applicable) at issp@virginia.edu.
5. Fill out the “Leaving the University” e-form in your SIS student center. It is located on the bottom left side of the home page.
6. This process will need to be no later than one week prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to be on leave.
7. Until your leaving form is approved, you will remain enrolled in all coursework and will be expected to satisfy all financial obligations to the University.
8. Once the e-form has been approved, you will receive an email from the University Registrar’s Office (UREG) that the process has been completed and an option to meet with staff within Care and Support Services to discuss additional support and resources.
9. This process for the “Returning to the University” eform in their SIS Student Center can be started by March 1st for the fall + summer semesters, and October 1st for the spring semester. (Please see “Returning to the University” section)

Students must complete the “Returning to the University” form in their SIS Student Center starting March 1st for fall + summer semesters, and October 1st for the Spring semester, (Please see “Returning to the University” section). 

Voluntary Student Withdrawal  

Students who wish to leave all of their classes during a fall or spring semester at any time after the first day of classes and through the last day of exams must request permission to withdraw from the University by completing the “Leaving the University” form in their SIS Student Center, communicating with the Associate Dean of Academics,  Director of Advising & Academic Support and Director of the Program .  If the student’s academic dean or designee approves the student’s request to withdraw, Office of the Care and Services will discuss the proposed withdrawal with the student and, if appropriate, grant final approval. UREG will notify the student once the withdrawal becomes official. Students requesting to withdraw from the University must be aware of the following rules:

• Students under the age of 18 must give notice to their parents or legal guardians of their intention to withdraw. Evidence of this notice must be provided before a withdrawal request will be approved.
• Applications for withdrawal must be approved by the student’s academic dean or designee.
• Undergraduate students may withdraw from the University before the conclusion of a semester, specifically up to the last day of the final examination period.
• Students may specify on the “Leaving the University” form whether their request to withdraw is for medical reasons. Students approved for withdrawal for medical reasons will need a medical review from the Department of Student Health before they will be approved for readmission to the University; this medical review may take up to three weeks in addition to any deadline set by their school, so students should apply as early as possible when they wish to return to the University.
• Students who voluntarily withdraw from the University will have the notation “Withdrew: DATE” recorded on their permanent academic record and their official transcript. Undergraduate students will receive a grade of W in all classes. A grade of W cannot be changed.
• In extreme medical circumstances, documented by a medical professional, a School of Architecture student has one semester in which to petition to the Dean’s Office for a retroactive medical withdrawal. If approved, all grades convert to W’s.

Students wishing to withdraw from classes during Summer Session or J-Term should contact the Office of Summer & Special Academic Programs, 434-924-3371; summer@virginia.edu or januaryterm@virginia.edu.

Returning to the University

Students who wish to return to the University after an absence must be formally readmitted to their last school of enrollment. Readmission requires review and approval by the Associate Dean of Academics, the Department of Student Health (if applicable), the International Studies Office (if applicable), the Office of Student Financial Services (if applicable) and the Office of the Care and Support Services. Students who withdrew for medical reasons will need a medical review from the Department of Student Health before they will be approved for readmission to the University; this medical review may take up to three weeks in addition to any deadline set by their school, so students should apply as early as possible when they wish to return to the University.

This process can be started by March 1st for the fall + summer semesters, and October 1st for the spring semester.

If students want to ensure their eligibility for financial aid, they should contact Student Financial Services prior to that semester. Students completing the application must include a statement that (1) addresses the student’s readiness to return to the University in light of any serious difficulties, academic suspension, or extenuating circumstances related to his/her absence (e.g. financial, medical, or personal hardship), and (2) outlines the student’s academic plan for his/her remaining semesters.

How to Apply for Readmission

1. Email the Associate Dean of Academics and the Director of the Program in which you are enrolled, about your intentions on coming back to the A-School.
2. Email the Director of Advising + Academic Support about your curriculum.
3. Contact the International Studies Office (if applicable) at issp@virginia.edu.
4. If students want to ensure their eligibility for financial aid, they should contact Student Financial Services (sfs@virginia.edu) prior to that semester
5. Fill out the “returning to the university” e-form in your SIS student center. It is located on the bottom left side of the home page. 
6. This process can be started by March 1st for the fall + summer semesters, and October 1st for the spring semester.
7. Once the e-form has been approved, you will receive an email from the University Registrar’s Office (UREG) that the process has been completed.

Returning to the University is not guaranteed.

Declaring the Major

The first year of study in the School of Architecture includes courses in all three undergraduate programs, as well as breadth requirements. During the second semester of the first year, students declare a major in one of the three programs.

In the event a particular major or concentration is oversubscribed, admission may be limited. Admission to such programs is based on space availability, academic performance, and additional materials as specified by particular departments.

Second Majors

According to University policy, students may receive a degree from only one undergraduate school. Undergraduate students who complete the requirements for more than one undergraduate degree program will be awarded a Second  major. This notation is placed on the transcript but not on the diploma.

Students enrolled in the School of Architecture and pursuing a Second  major must comply with the requirements and policies for both majors. Students not enrolled in the School of Architecture may pursue a second major in the School, provided such a second major is consistent with the policies of their school of enrollment, and the student fulfills all the academic requirements of the major in the School of Architecture.

Minors

Students enrolled in the School of Architecture and pursuing a minor must comply with the requirements and policies of the school. Students not enrolled in the School of Architecture may pursue a minor in the School of Architecture, provided such a minor is consistent with the policies of their school of enrollment, and the student fulfills all the academic requirements of the minor in the School of Architecture.

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure 

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).

Upon completion graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).

Ownership of Student Work

The School of Architecture follows University Regulations concerning Student Intellectual Property. As a condition of enrollment in the School of Architecture, each Architecture student is deemed to have granted the University a perpetual, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, or publicly display the student’s coursework, with appropriate credit and attribution, for educational or research purposes only. Any use beyond this limited license requires express written consent of the student.

Transfer Credit

Residence Requirements and Transfer Credits

All three programs normally require four years for completion and a minimum of two years as a full-time student in the School of Architecture. In some cases, summer session study at the University is required of transfer undergraduate applicants accepted by the School of Architecture.

Summer Session; ARCH 1031 is a prerequisite for undergraduate transfer students accepted in the department of Architecture entering their second year.

The School of Architecture grants transfer credit based on an analysis of the content, level, and comparability of the courses taken, the applicability of the courses to the student’s intended major and degree program, the quality of the student’s performance in the courses, and the accreditation of the institution at which the work was completed. The Dean’s Office of the School of Architecture governs the awarding of transfer credit.

Students must submit a request for transfer of credit form prior to enrolling in courses for transfer. Transfer credit is allowed only for those courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned. Grades do not transfer and do not affect the student’s cumulative grade point average at the University of Virginia.

In no case are transfer credits in excess of 60 granted toward an undergraduate degree in the School of Architecture. The school does not accept pass/fail or credit/no credit courses for transfer credit.

In exceptional circumstances, the School of Architecture may waive an admission or performance requirement when, such action best serves the intent of the program.