Navigating the UCLA Architecture Major: Requirements and Curriculum
The UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to education, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration across various artistic fields. Within this dynamic environment, the Architectural Studies major stands out as a program focused on understanding the built environment through a cultural, creative, and technical lens. This article provides a detailed overview of the UCLA Architecture major, outlining the requirements, curriculum, and opportunities available to prospective students.
Majors Offered Within the School of the Arts and Architecture
The School of the Arts and Architecture at UCLA encompasses a wide array of disciplines, including:
- Architectural Studies
- Art
- Dance
- Design | Media Arts
- World Arts and Cultures
These departments offer diverse yet interconnected programs that encourage students to explore the relationships between different art forms and their cultural contexts.
Admission Requirements and General Information
GPA and Coursework
Applicants to the School of the Arts and Architecture must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application. Furthermore, all candidates must complete two transferable English courses and one transferable math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. While the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged for California Community College students.
Supplemental Application
In addition to the standard UC Application, a supplemental application is required, which varies depending on the major. For Architectural Studies and Art, this includes a portfolio of creative work. Additional fees may apply for the supplemental application.
Read also: UCLA vs. Illinois: Basketball History
Transfer Students
The School of Art and Architecture considers sophomore transfer applicants. Transfer students should be aware that while completing recommended preparatory courses may be beneficial, there’s no guarantee they will transfer as exact UCLA equivalents. The respective department will determine substitutions for lower-division requirements in the summer following admission, and syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Double-Majoring
It is possible to double major with a major in the College, but it can be difficult due to the high number of course requirements in most UCLA arts majors. Double major requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Architectural Studies Major: A Deep Dive
Focus and Curriculum
The Architectural Studies major centers on the built environment, viewing architecture as a cultural, creative, and technical practice with significant social impact. The curriculum offers a balanced mix of architecture and urban design courses, ranging from the history and theory of design to contemporary building technologies. This diverse foundation prepares students for graduate school and careers in various fields.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the Architectural Studies major is highly competitive, with the supplemental application and portfolio being the most critical admission criteria.
Recommended Preparatory Coursework
While not explicitly required for admission, the following courses are recommended to provide a solid foundation:
Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA
- Two courses in the history of architecture (Pre-history to Mannerism and 1600 to present).
- One introduction to architectural studies course.
However, it's important to note that it is common for transfer students to complete these courses at UCLA.
Portfolio and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the UC Application, applicants must submit a portfolio of creative work as part of their supplemental application. Additional fees may apply. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
Art Major: Cultivating Artistic Expression
Program Overview
The Department of Art provides professional art training within a research university context. Students gain broad exposure to the arts, exploring various media such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and new genres. The program encourages students to develop their unique body of work through coursework and independent study.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the art major is very competitive, with the portfolio of creative work being the most important admission criteria.
Recommended Preparatory Coursework
While not required for admission, the following courses are recommended:
Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors
- One course each in:
- Drawing
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Photography
- Ceramics
- New genres [performance art, video art, installation, and non-studio work]
- Four courses (total) in art history. Three of the four should cover the following art historical periods (one each):
- 1850s-1920s
- 1920s-1960s
- 1960s-present
- At least one of the four should include significant representation of non-European/North American art historical traditions.
It is common for transfers to complete these courses at UCLA.
Portfolio and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a portfolio of creative work. Additional fees may apply. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
Dance Major: Integrating Performance and Theory
Program Overview
The Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance offers a curriculum that integrates dance techniques, choreography, and critical inquiry into dance as a cultural practice. Students explore various techniques from around the world, engage in dance composition, and study scholarly discourse around the body and dance.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the dance major is highly competitive, with the audition being the most important admission criteria.
Recommended Preparatory Coursework
While not required for admission, the following courses are recommended:
- One course each in:
- Improvisation/choreography
- Dance history and theory
- At least eight courses (approximately 12 semester/20 quarter units) in various dance techniques, particularly:
- Modern/postmodern dance
- Hip-hop
- West African
- Ballet
- Coursework focusing on using dance as a medium to connect and engage community
Most transfer students complete these courses at UCLA.
Audition, Interview and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application (additional fees may apply). Dance applicants must audition, in addition to showing strong academic preparation and evidence of involvement in the arts and community that demonstrates interest in varied cultures.
All students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of the application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
Design | Media Arts Major: Exploring Visual and Technological Frontiers
Program Overview
The Department of Design | Media Arts (DMA) emphasizes visual, audio, analytical theoretical, and technology-mediated work in design and media arts. It is NOT a graphic design major, but an academic program that supports a diversity of interests around design, media, technology, and culture. The curriculum balances aesthetic sensibility with logical reasoning, formal theories with practical application, and contemporary thought with a historical perspective.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the School of Design | Media Arts major is very competitive. The supplemental application carries significant weight in the evaluation process.
Recommended Preparatory Coursework
While not required for admission, the following courses are recommended:
- One course each in:
- Drawing
- Color theory
- Two-dimensional and three-dimensional form
- Digital media/computer design
- Programming for media arts
- Letterforms and typography
- Design history
- Design culture
- Interactivity and media arts
Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Portfolio and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application that includes a portfolio of creative work. Additional fees may apply. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of application.
World Arts and Cultures Major: Examining Arts in Social Contexts
Program Overview
The B.A. in world arts and cultures (WAC) enables students to critically examine and constructively engage the social and cultural contexts that shape artists and their creativity. The interdisciplinary curriculum accentuates local histories and global influences that inform ethnographic, curatorial, creative and scholarly praxis, as well as activist politics and questions of social justice.
Preparation for the Major
All preparatory coursework should be completed at UCLA. Your individual interests related to the WAC major can be shown through your IGETC coursework selection. Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application (additional fees may apply). Successful applicants must have strong academic preparation and show evidence of involvement in the arts and community that demonstrates interests in varied cultures. All students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of the application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer.
Graduate Programs in Architecture and Urban Design
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design offers four distinct graduate degrees:
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.): A three-year, NAAB-accredited program preparing students for professional practice. A concurrent degree in Urban Planning (M.Arch. / M.U.R.P.) is also available.
- Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design (M.S.AUD): A one-year, post-professional degree combining theory and practical applications.
- Master of Arts (M.A.): A two-year program preparing students for research and teaching.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D): An advanced research degree organized around current scholarly debates.
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Curriculum
The MArch curriculum prepares students for the practice of architecture by providing a focused framing of today’s cultural, ecological, political, and technological questions with a view to what architects may bring to bear on such complex issues. At each stage of the curriculum, students become equipped to not only lead the professional field but also to construct new opportunities for it by positioning their design skills within a rapidly changing world. The first of these periods is a two-year foundation, known as “Core,” in which students complete six design studios that offer design exercises of increasing scale and complexity. Simultaneously, they take courses in the History and Theory of Architecture; Architectural Programming; Computation; Environmental Design; Representation and Visualization; Structures; as well as a range of complementary cultural and technical elective courses. The second period of study is the culminating third year, in which students choose from an array of one-year thematically-focused Research Studios, as well as two supplemental Advanced Topic Studios (to be completed in the first two quarters), and a number of elective courses. Research Studios are led by senior design faculty and are structured around specific contemporary concerns. The three-quarter Research Studio comprises a first quarter of research, a second quarter of hypothesis definition and development, and a final quarter of design resolution.
Admission to the M.Arch Program
The MArch program welcomes applications from students with a diverse range of academic, personal, and creative backgrounds. Applicants to the MArch program must hold a Bachelor’s degree, or the foreign equivalent. All new students must enter in the fall quarter of their respective matriculation year. Applying to the MArch program is an online process via the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission (AGA).
Required Application Materials for M.Arch. Program
- Statement of Purpose: A critical part of your application to the M.Arch. program. It is your opportunity to introduce yourself and tell us about your specific academic background, interests, achievements, and goals.
- Personal Statement: Your opportunity to provide additional information to help the selection committee evaluate your aptitude for study. It will also be used to consider candidates for UCLA Graduate Division fellowships related to diversity.
- Curriculum Vitae: (résumé of your academic and professional experience) is recommended but not required.
- Transcripts: Please provide official transcripts to demonstrate course completion.
- GRE Scores: As of the Fall 2023 cycle, the GRE is NOT required as part of your application to UCLA AUD. However, if you do take the GRE exam and wish to include it as part of your application
- TOEFL or IELTS: If you have received a Bachelor’s degree in a country where the official language of instruction and primary spoken language of daily life is not English, you must submit either a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
- Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. These letters should be from individuals who are familiar with your academic and professional experiences and can evaluate your capacity to successfully undertake graduate studies at UCLA. Letters of recommendation must be sent electronically directly to UCLA by the recommender.
- Digital Portfolio: Your digital portfolio of original creative work is a central part of your application. Your portfolio should be 8 1/2" x 11", and saved as a single PDF file no greater than 15 MB.
- Course Prerequisite Form: Please complete and submit this Course Prerequisite Form as part of your application. Newtonian Physics (minimum grade of “C”) - One basic college-level physics course covering light, heat, and sound.
- Department Supplement Form: Please complete and submit the Department Supplement Form to confirm your intention to apply to the MArch program.
Financial Support and Resources
UCLA offers various forms of financial support, including:
- Recruitment Fellowships: Offered to outstanding MArch applicants, covering one to three years of in-state tuition fees.
- Need-Based Awards: Available to continuing MArch students.
- Merit-Based Awards: Design work submitted by continuing students is reviewed anonymously for awards.
- Teaching Assistantships (TA) and Readerships: Pay in-state fees and a salary for the awarded quarter.
- Employment Opportunities: Various on-campus jobs are available, with priority given to Work-Study eligible students.
Undergraduate Architectural Studies B.A.
The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies (B.A.) is a two-year major that begins in the junior year of residence. We accept transfer students that are UC eligible (see details below). The program is not open to Freshman applicants. Undergraduate admissions inquiries are managed by the UCLA Arts Office of Enrollment Management. The Architectural Studies B.A. is for TRANSFERS ONLY. This major is not open to First Years. Students are admitted for Fall quarter only. We do not have any required major preparation coursework. Applicants must complete the following with a ‘B’ average across all three courses in order to be UC eligible. The Architectural Studies major will consider sophomore level transfers (applicants with fewer than 60/90 transferable units).
Application Process for Undergraduate Architectural Studies B.A.
- By November 30: Submit the UC Undergraduate Application to apply for admission to UCLA. Make sure you list Architectural Studies as your first choice major to UCLA.
- Submit your Architectural Studies Change of Major application on SlideRoom, which involves academic information, department statements, and portfolio.
- *There is a $75.00 non-refundable processing fee associated with the supplemental application for transfer applicants.
tags: #ucla #architecture #major #requirements #curriculum
