University of Washington
Department of Architecture
Welcome to the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington's College of Built Environments (CBE). We are guided by CBE's three core pillars: collaboration and impact, bold thought leadership, and equitable and just practices. As the nation's only college that brings together the departments of Architecture, Construction Management, Landscape Architecture, Real Estate, and Urban Design and Planning under one roof, we offer unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
http://arch.be.washington.edu/
Setting
Since our founding in 1861, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Driven by a mission to serve the greater good, our students, faculty and staff tackle today’s most pressing challenges with courage and creativity, making a difference across Washington state — and around the world.
The UW comprises campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma, as well as a world-class medical center serving the state and the region. Each year, the UW inspires more than 60,000 students to learn from renowned experts in their fields. As a “best buy” public university, our goal is to make higher education accessible for all.
The University of Washington has been recognized as the #1 most innovative public university in the world and is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world. The UW receives more federal research dollars than any other U.S. public university and has been home to 8 Nobel Prize winners; 17 MacArthur Fellows; 189 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and 193 fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The UW in Seattle features a campus renowned for its beauty in the midst of a vibrant, multicultural city. Find your community among more than 33,000 undergraduate students, learn from award-winning faculty and discover your path with more than 180 majors to choose from.
School Philosophy
Our department's internationally recognized faculty integrate teaching and research in community engaged design, high-performance building, embodied carbon, circular cities and living systems, mass timber, materials and fabrication, as well as history and theory. Through these efforts, we strive to build a more just and beautiful world in partnership with Seattle's professional community, which is among the most innovative and highly recognized in the country.
Programs
The Department of Architecture is the largest of four departments in the College of Built EnvironmentsÑalong with Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Construction ManagementÑwith approximately 200 students, and more than 30 permanent faculty. The department offers a B.A. in Architecture, a B.A. in Architectural Design, an accredited M.Arch. for 2+ and 3+ year students, a 1+ year post-professional M.Arch. in High Performance Building, an M.S. in Architecture, certificates in Design Computing and Lighting Design, undergraduate dual degree program with Construction Management, and a graduate concurrent degree program with Landscape Architecture. The department also contributes to interdisciplinary certificate programs in Historic Preservation and Urban Design as well as a college-wide Ph.D. in the Built Environment. The B.A. in Architecture is an undergraduate degree program in architecture that can prepare students for graduate study in architecture and related fields such as construction management, landscape architecture, real estate, and urban planning, as well as careers in other fields. The goal for students in the Architecture major is to develop a liberal arts foundation in the discipline of architecture, which covers spatial reasoning, aesthetics, political and economic structures, socio-cultural influences, urbanism, landscape, and ecology and gives students the opportunity to concentrate their studies through history and theory, materials and making or sustainable technologies. The B.A. in Architectural Design is a pre-professional program that prepares students for graduate work in architecture and a wide variety of opportunities in other fields. It is comprised of two, two-year sequences. In the first two years students take preparatory architectural coursework and courses devoted to satisfying general education requirements. There is a competitive admissions process for the second two-year sequence. At this level, coursework focuses on architectural design, theory, the technology of human comfort, building systems, assemblies and materials and structures. Of particular importance are the sequential architectural design studios, where architectural problems are emphasized and other courses are strongly integrated. The accredited M.Arch. degree program educates students already grounded in the liberal arts and sciences to become registered, licensed architects who assume enlightened, responsible, and imaginative roles in society. Design studio projects in the M.Arch. program are often set within urban environments in the Puget Sound region and respond to and foster its distinctive sense of place. In addition, many studios focus on issues surrounding the making of architecture--tectonics, design/build, wood and metal craft--this reflects a strong craft heritage in the region. Studios frequently include a significant community service component, reflecting the department's commitment to the people of the city and the region. The requirements of the M.Arch. vary depending upon the candidate's academic and professional background. The M.S. in Architecture offers an advanced degree with research concentrations in Design Computing or History and Theory. Students in Design Computing work in the Design Machine Group (DMG), a collaborative research studio environment aimed at developing ideas that will shape the future of design and information technology. Students in History and Theory develop a research concentration in the architectural, cultural, and political forces that have shaped architecture.
of Focus
1. Digital Fabrication & Technology
2. Materials and Construction
3. Community Design
4/ History | Theory | Criticism
5. Cross-Cultural Contexts | Human Experiences
6. Urbanism
7. Design/Build
8. Sustainability & High-Performance Built Environments
Opportunities
Cross-disciplinary experience
Teaching / Research assistantships
Study Abroad
Facilities
Large-format Printer
Laser Cutter
Woodshop
3D Printing
Metalshop
CNC Milling
Fabrication Lab
Policies
Transfer Policies
Transfer students are an important part of the University of Washington Seattle community. Whether you are a prospective applicant, in the process of applying to the UW, or a current transfer student, this portal site will connect you to the resources and information you need to be successful: https://transfer.uw.edu
