Bachelor of Science / Pre-Architecture

Undergraduate Pre-Arch

Applicants do not apply directly to the undergraduate Architecture Program from high school. Students must complete two years of college before enrolling in Taubman College. The coursework in the first two years focuses on liberal arts and pre-architecture before students join the undergraduate architecture program. The freshman and sophomore years may be completed at the University of Michigan (cross campus transfer applicant) or at any other accredited university or community/junior college (new transfer applicant) offering the required courses. Students applying to the University of Michigan as freshmen are advised to apply to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A), where they will be able to complete all of the prerequisite courses. Students may also enroll in other schools such as Art & Design (A&D), the College of Engineering (COE), School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (SMT&D) during their first two years but it is usually more difficult to complete the prerequisites when enrolled in these programs.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions handles application procedures for incoming students. Students are required to apply online. To find out more about applying to the University of Michigan as an incoming undergraduate please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Prospective Freshmen are encouraged to apply as early as possible to the University of Michigan because students are admitted on a rolling basis. The application deadline is February 1st annually.

Freshman applicants that meet the qualifications may also apply for architecture preferred admission status when applying to the College of LS&A or the School of Art & Design, which would guarantee them a spot in Taubman College for their junior year, if they maintain a certain level of academic excellence.

The objectives of the pre-arch (freshman and sophomore) years:

To increase the student's ability to understand, evaluate, and communicate ideas.
To prepare the student to make informed decisions regarding their academic and career goals.
To provide a broad academic foundation of principles in subject areas considered essential to subsequent study in architecture.

After completing two years of liberal arts coursework, students will apply to transfer into Taubman College (from either UM or another school) during the winter term of sophomore year and, if accepted, begin the two-year undergraduate Architecture Program junior year. Please note: for record keeping purposes, all preferred admission students are required to complete the application process as a cross campus transfer applicant. Preferred admits will be reviewed with other applicants only for merit-based scholarships. Admission is guaranteed, as long as the required GPA of 3.0 is maintained, but not automatic, so an application must be submitted.

The undergraduate program culminates in a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), nonprofessional degree. Many students choose to continue their graduate studies in architecture or a related field in design or construction. Others work for a year or two in preparation for future graduate study.

Cross-Campus Transfer Applicants

Cross-campus transfer applicants are current University of Michigan students enrolled in another college on campus. Students applying to the University of Michigan as freshmen are advised to apply to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A), where they will be able to complete all of the prerequisite courses. Students may also enroll in other schools such as Art & Design (A&D), the College of Engineering (COE), School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (SMT&D) during their first two years but it is usually more difficult to complete the prerequisites when enrolled in these programs. Before beginning the undergraduate program junior year, applicants must complete the required prerequisite courses, as many recommended courses as possible and a minimum of 60 credit hours and maximum of 70 credit hours.

The prerequisites include:

1 English composition course (3-4 credits): Eng 124, Eng 125, History 195, Great Books 191, Comp. Lit 122, RCore 100, ClCiv 101, or LHSP 125
1 calculus course (4 credits): Math 115
2 physics courses with labs (10 credits): Physics 135/136 and 235/236 or Physics 140/141 and 240/241
2 pre-architecture studio drawing courses or studio art courses (6 credits): Architecture 201, 202, 218

We highly recommend that students take as many of the courses possible before beginning the program:

2 courses in architectural history (6 credits): Arch 313 (fall), Arch 323 (winter). Must have sophomore standing to enroll.
1 digital media arts course (3 credits): Arch 211
2 Humanities courses (6 credits): any foreign language, Classical Studies, English (above 125), Art History, Musicology, Philosophy, Religion or any other LS&A designated Humanities course.
1 Natural Science course (3 credits): selected from: Astronomy, Biology, Biological Anthropology, Chemistry, Ecology, Geological Science, Math (above 115), Physiology, or any other LS&A designated Natural Science course. Students without high school credit for chemistry must elect chemistry.
2 Social Science courses (6 credits): courses selected from: Communications, Cultural Anthropology, Economics, History, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or any other LS&A designated Social Science course.

Please use the Prerequisite Courses Worksheet (PDF 48KB) to track the completion of pre-architecture coursework. A maximum of seven technical credits are transferable (e.g.,digital media, drafting, CAD, construction, HVAC, architecture technology, welding, technical writing, architectonics, building technology, codes, cost estimation, automotive repair, etc.. Required and highly recommended courses cannot be taken pass/fail.

We also accept transfer credit from any accredited community college, college, or university, if you wish to enroll in classes outside the University of Michigan. All recommended courses must be completed before graduation. Required and recommended classes taken at University of Michigan must be completed with a D or better. Please see Taubman College transfer guides and the University of Michigan transfer guide for equivalent requirements from other accredited institutions. Please note that Taubman College does not accept online courses even if the course is listed on the University of Michigan transfer guide. If you are considering a transfer to Taubman College, we highly encourage you to contact the Architecture Admissions office to have an estimate of transfer credit completed.

Undergraduate Architecture Admissions Contact:

TaubmanCollegeStudentServices@umich.edu or 734-615-0431

New Transfer Applicants

New transfer applicants are attending an accredited community college, college, or university, other than the University of Michigan. Before beginning the undergraduate program junior year, applicants must complete the required prerequisite courses, as many recommended courses as possible and a minimum of 60 credit hours/90 quarter hours and maximum of 70 credit hours. The prerequisites include:

1 English composition course (3-4 credits)
1 calculus course (4 credits)
2 physics courses (lecture and lab) (8 credits)

2 pre-architecture studio drawing courses or studio art courses (6 credits) We highly recommend that students take as many of the courses possible before beginning the program. If you are not able to complete all of the highly recommended courses or if your school does not offer them, you will have a few openings during junior and senior year to elect these courses:

2 architectural history courses* (6 credits)
1 digital media arts course (3 credits)
1 natural science course** (3 credits)
2 humanities courses (6 credits)
2 social science courses (6 credits)

*the majority of schools do not offer an equivalent architectural history course. Students are able to elect architectural history during junior or senior year.

**Chemistry must be selected for natural science if a student has not completed high school chemistry.

Please use the Prerequisite Courses Worksheet (PDF 48KB) to track the completion of pre-architecture coursework. Taubman College transfer guides have been created to assist new transfer students with choosing transferable courses. A maximum of seven technical credits are transferable (e.g.,digital media, drafting, CAD, construction, HVAC, architecture technology, welding, technical writing, architectonics, building technology, codes, cost estimation, automotive repair, etc.. Required and highly recommended courses cannot be taken pass/fail. All recommended courses must be completed before graduation. Required and recommended classes must be completed with a C or better.

Please note that Taubman College does not accept online courses, even if the course is listed on the transfer guide.

If the school that you are attending is not listed, please see the Equivalency Transfer Guide. If you are considering a transfer to Taubman College, we highly encourage you to contact the Architecture Admissions office to have an estimate of transfer credit completed.

Once the required prerequisites courses have been completed, students will apply to transfer into the Architecture Program during the winter term (February 1st) of sophomore year.

New transfer students are admitted for the summer half term (late June) only.

All new transfer students begin their academic careers at Taubman College by enrolling in Architectural Design 302, which begins in late June and ends in late August. Arch 302 is a six credit hour intensive skill-building workshop and an opportunity for transfer students to begin their first semester strongly. Tuition associated with a six-credit class will be charged.

Undergraduate Architecture Admissions Contact:

TaubmanCollegeStudentServices@umich.edu or 734-615-0431