School of Architecture

History

Instruction in architecture was an essential aspect of Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the University of Virginia from the very beginning — it was built into the fabric of the Academical Village and the Lawn. In 1919, the McIntire School of Art and Architecture was created with a class of eleven students. Since then, the School has grown to over 600 students, across undergraduate and graduate programs, in four disciplinary areas: architectural history, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and environmental planning. Today, the School offers 3 undergraduate degrees (in architectural history, architecture, and urban and environmental planning), and 8 undergraduate minors.

The School Today

Consistent with the revolutionary legacy of the University of Virginia, the School of Architecture educates the next generation of innovative leaders, thinkers, designers and makers who are driven by a shared sense of service as a public university to make the world a better place. The School is an established leader in addressing some of the most pressing global issues, from climate change and the transformation of information technologies to affordable housing and urban sustainability. Through interdisciplinary research and design excellence focused on the built environment, the School of Architecture seeks to create more just, resilient, healthy and empowering futures for all.

The undergraduate program in Architecture History focuses on the historic development of buildings, landscapes, and urban form through critical analysis of social and cultural contexts. After attaining this degree, many graduates pursue work with museums, non-profits, and other cultural organizations, as well as in the areas of preservation and cultural heritage. Others seek advanced degrees in architectural history, art history, architecture, landscape architecture, or planning.

The undergraduate curriculum 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 studio-based 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. The pre-professional undergraduate program prepares students for work in a variety of professions. Many work in a registered architect’s office as an employee or intern before continuing to graduate school to pursue a Master of Architecture or Master of Landscape Architecture degree. Other career pathways that student pursue are in graphic design, website design, 3-D visualization and animation, industrial design and construction fields.

The undergraduate professional program in Urban and Environmental Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. Students in this major explore the impact that global urbanization has on the built environment and develop strategies of design, policy, and community engagement to ensure healthy cities for the future. With the Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning degree, many graduates go directly into the profession with governmental agencies or private planning and development firms. Others go on to advanced degrees in planning, architecture, community development, law, public administration, and business.

For all students, the first year includes shared foundation courses. Advanced courses are structured to promote a well-rounded liberal arts education and a rigorous studio or research-based curriculum that synthesizes inquiry and application. Each of the three majors has a corresponding minor. Multidisciplinary minors in historic preservation, public humanities, design, landscape architecture and global sustainability also are offered, and students have many opportunities to participate in international study abroad programs.

Study Abroad 

The School of Architecture encourages study abroad by offering January-term, summer and semester-long programs. The school offers longstanding full semester programs in Barcelona, Spain and Venice, Italy; Summer programs in Vicenza, Italy and China; and January-term programs in Rome, India, Italy, and Madrid, Spain.

To study abroad, students must be in good academic standing. Further, to earn degree credit students must have a cumulative UVA GPA of no less than 2.50 at either the point of application or at the end of the term prior to the commencement of study abroad. These standards apply both to UVA study programs and study abroad programs hosted by another institution or organization.

For additional information on a School of Architecture education abroad programs go to this website, or contact the Director of Advising + Academic Support.