B.A. IN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES
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The Architectural Studies B.A. is a transfer only major. This major is not open for new first year applicants. For more information about how to navigate interest in architecture at UCLA if you are applying straight out of high school, please click here.
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The B.A. in Architectural Studies is a four year, unaccredited degree designed to provide critical access to students who come to their interest in architecture via the liberal arts. We admit approximately half of our class from outside of UCLA as transfer students (the majority coming from California Community Colleges), and the other half are current UCLA students who started their education under a different major (typically Undeclared).
Whether transferring in from outside of UCLA or changing their major from within UCLA, students will complete their lower division general education requirements in the first two years, apply to the major in their sophomore year, and then enter a sequential curriculum of upper division coursework that lasts for two years.
The majority of our students go on to pursue accredited M.Arch degrees in order to obtain licensure, and other students typically pursue other advanced work in and around architectural design, or take their background and expertise in architectural thinking and planning into different realms (tech, systems organization, etc.)
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Please note that our portfolio is open-ended. We do not require architectural work at all. The department operates from the understanding that most people don't have access to quality instruction in architecture, so they do not expect to see experience in architecture prior to applying. The portfolio is a presentation of a wide variety of visual arts and design investment and sensibility, so we do see (and admit) a range of histories and backgrounds that show potential with design and built environments. Other design work, fine arts materials, sculpture, painting, photography, textiles, origami, and cake decorating ( yes, very serious about the last two!) are a few of the ways you can share your visual aesthetic.
With the department statements, you can discuss your interest in and direction with architecture more specifically. Between the portfolio and department statements the faculty can really get to know you.
For further reading, here is a link to a document where the Architectural Studies faculty share their thoughts about the portfolio and admission process.
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Yes. Cover pages, indexes, resource lists, etc., all count towards the 6-page maximum. If the PDF exceeds the 6-page maximum, the faculty will only look at the first 6 pages and disregard the rest.
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Find course descriptions for Architectural Studies classes on the UCLA Registrar’s website
Find the study program outline for junior and senior year on the UCLA Architecture and Urban Design website
Find summer programs information on the UCLA Architecture and Urban Design website