Auburn Bulletin 2024-2025

Architecture/Interior Architecture (Foundation Unit) (ARIA)

The curriculum in Architecture was established at Auburn University in 1907, making Auburn one of the first universities in the nation, and the first in the South, to offer Architecture as a major. Since then, the Architecture Program has enjoyed a strong reputation for the abilities of our graduates and the quality of our faculty. It is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Admission to the Architecture Program is limited. Admission criteria can be found below the curriculum model.

Freshman
FallHoursSpringHours
ARCH 1010 Introduction to Architecture Design6ARCH 1020 Introduction to Architecture Design II6
ARCH 1000 Careers in Design and Construction1ARCH 1420 Introduction to Digital Media3
ARCH 1060 Visual Communication2PHYS 1500 General Physics I4
ENGL 1100 English Composition I3ENGL 1120 English Composition II3
MATH 1120/1130 or MATH 1150 or MATH 16104 
 16 16
Sophomore
FallHoursSpringHours
ARCH 2010 Studio I26ARCH 2020 Studio II 26
ARCH 2110 History of World Architecture I3ARCH 3110 History of World Architecture II3
ARCH 2210 Environmental Controls I3ARCH 4320 Materials and Methods of Construction II 3
ARCH 3320 Materials and Methods of Construction I3BSCI 2400 Structure of Buildings I3
 To proceed to the beginning sequence of a design studio at third, fourth and fifth year levels, students must have completed all courses prior to that level or have the approval of the Academic Review Committee. [refer to the CADC Auburn University Bulletin entry] 
 Core Social Science3
 15 18
Junior
FallHoursSpringHours
ARIA 3020 Studio 4A Interior Architecture26ARCH 3020 Studio IV26
Core Literature (Humanities)3ARCH Seminar (See advisor for approved ARCH seminars)3
BSCI 3440 Structure of Buildings II3ARCH 3410 Dessein Electives3
ARIA 2150 Elements of Interior Arch I3PHYS 1510 General Physics II4
Abroad or Rural Studio - Optional by Application Abroad or Rural Studio - Optional by Application 
 15 16
Senior
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
ARCH 4010 Studio V26ARIA 4020 Studio 6A Interior Architecture26ARIA 4030 Interior Architecture Thesis26
Core Fine Arts (Humanities)13ARCH 4500 Professional Practice3ARIA 4080 Interior Architecture Thesis Research2
ARCH 2220 Environmental Controls II3ARIA 2160 Elements of Interior Architecture II3ARIA 4450 Interior Architecture Professional Practice2
ARCH 4110 History of Urban Architecture3Core Humanities3ARIA 4680 History and Theory of Interior Architecture3
ARCH 3700 Seminar in History and Theory3ARCH Seminar (See advisor for approved ARCH seminars)3 
 18 18 13
Fifth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ARCH 5010 Studio VII26ARCH 5020 Thesis Studio26
ARCH 5990 Thesis Research3HIST 1020 World History II (Core Social Science)3
Core Humanities (Philosophy) 3Core Social Science3
HIST 1010 World History I (Core Social Science)3UNIV 4AA0 Achieve the Creed0
Urban Studio & Rural Studio, 1:1 Exchange Program-Optional by application Urban Studio & Rural Studio-1:1 Exchange Program Optional by Application - Optional by Application 
 15 12
Total Hours: 172
1

Architecture students may not count ARCH 2600 for Core Fine Arts.

2

Professional Fee Charged

Process of enrolling as a Pre-Architecture Student

Incoming freshmen interested in pursuing the NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree should apply for admission as Pre-Architecture (PARC) majors. If accepted by the university admissions office, students are eligible to enroll as Pre-Architecture students.

In order to matriculate from the Pre-Architecture Program (PARC) to the Professional Architecture Program (ARCH), students compete for seats through a placement pathway. There are two placement pathways an incoming freshmen student can participate in to compete for their spot in our Professional Architecture Program: the Summer Design Program or the Foundation Unit Program. Summer Design shifts the design studios to the summer between the freshman and sophomore years. The Foundation Unit begins the design studios in the first semester of freshmen year.

Enrollment in Foundation Unit or Summer Design curriculums is based on available resources as well as the student’s preferred pathway as submitted per the timeline outlined below.

Approximately one week after the final round of regular decisions for freshman admissions are released by the university admissions office, all incoming freshmen accepted as Pre-Architecture majors will be mailed and emailed a letter detailing the two placement pathways: Summer Design and Foundation Unit. Included in this letter will be a link for students to submit their first and second preferences for placement pathways. Within the following 1-2 weeks, students will receive a response indicating their pathway placement. First preferences cannot be guaranteed, and placement is made on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited in Foundation Unit. Summer Design typically has space available for all eligible students. Students do not need to submit their enrollment deposit to provide preferences for either placement pathway.

Matriculation from Pre-Architecture to Professional Architecture Program

Enrollment in the second-year studios (as the start of the Professional Architecture Program/ARCH) is limited and eligibility for acceptance is based upon performance in courses in the first year of the curriculum as outlined below.

A student is eligible for Summer Design by completing ARCH 1000, MATH 1150 (or an equivalent course), and PHYS 1500 with passing grades and a total of 27 credit hours with a minimum 2.8 GPA prior to their Summer Design semester. Acceptance into the Professional Architecture Program (at the beginning of the second year of study) requires a grade of “SA” in ARCH 1010 and ARCH 1060 with a grade of C or better in ARCH 1020 and ARCH 1420. The Grade Adjustment Policy may not be used to progress to the Second Year Studio.

A student enrolled in the Foundation Unit must successfully pass ARCH 1000, ARCH 1010, and ARCH 1060 with a grade of “SA”. In addition, a Foundation Unit student must pass ARCH 1420 and ARCH 1020 with a C or higher while also completing MATH 1150 (or an equivalent course and PHYS 1500 with passing grades. Students that fail to successfully complete ARCH 1010 and ARCH 1060 in the fall semester, or students not accepted into the Second Year Studio sequence at the end of the spring semester, will not be readmitted to the Foundation Unit. These students may elect to participate in Summer Design as long as they meet the required eligibility requirements.

Transfer Students

Transfer students seeking admission into the Architecture Program must meet the transfer requirements set by Auburn University and should apply as a Pre-Architecture major. Summer Design is the pathway for transfer students to matriculate from the Pre-Architecture curriculum to the Professional Architecture curriculum. To be eligible for Summer Design, transfer students must meet the minimum criteria of eligibility for admission as previously defined. As Summer Design occurs over the summer term, students are advised to transfer to Auburn and be eligible to enroll in courses for the summer semester. To ensure eligibility and consideration for admission into Summer Design, it is recommended that students begin working with the College of Architecture, Design and Construction Student Services team in the August prior to (i.e. nine months before) attending the Summer Design Program.

Professional Program

In the event a grade of D or F is received in any required course in the major, a review is required for continuance in the program. Based on the outcome of this review, a student may be required to repeat the course or, in the case of design studios, the entire studio sequence for that respective year-level. Students receiving a second D when repeating a required course will be reviewed for continuance in the program. Similarly, a student receiving mostly grades of C or poorer may be reviewed for continuance in the program.

To proceed to the beginning sequence of design studio at third, fourth-, or fifth-year levels, the student must have completed all required prerequisite courses for that respective year-level, as indicated in the model curriculum.

Interior Architecture

Interior Architecture works across boundaries to integrate the design of objects, furniture, interiors, buildings and landscapes. The focus is understanding the built environment as a complex social landscape, particularly for the imaginative reuse of existing structures.

Students apply for admission to the Bachelor of Interior Architecture Program (ARIA) during their second year of the Professional Architecture Program. The school reserves the right to limit enrollment in Interior Design based on available resources.

Participation in the Interior Architecture (ARIA) Program is highly selective. Selection is based primarily on the ARIA faculty-comprised Admission Board’s assessment of submitted application. The application consists of a students’ statement of intent and three projects that demonstrate a high quality of design ability. Additionally, accepted students must:

  • Have completed their appropriate studio coursework.
  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for conditional acceptance into the ARIA concurrent degree program.
  • Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in their ARIA studio coursework to proceed into the ARIA Summer Thesis Semester between Fourth and Fifth Year.

ARIA students will initially participate in two ARIA-designated Third- and Fourth-Year Studios. At the end of five years with one summer of study, the ARIA student receives both the Bachelor of Interior Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture. Students are pursuing both degrees concurrently. It is not possible to earn the Bachelor of Interior Architecture alone at Auburn University

If a 3.0 studio GPA is not maintained, a review by the ARIA Admissions Board will be required to determine a student’s eligibility to continue in the program.