Bachelor of Design in Architecture
The successful completion of the undergraduate curriculum in architecture results in the Bachelor of Design (Architecture), a preprofessional degree and the first step toward professional registration as an architect. The professional program in architecture leads to the Master of Architecture. Students without a baccalaureate degree are required to take undergraduate and graduate courses for the professional architecture program.
Bachelor of Design graduates are employed in private practice, corporate offices and government agencies. Internship is required as a part of the licensure process.
In addition to the courses offered on the Gainesville campus, the school operates a year-round program in Vicenza, Italy, for fourth-year students who are selected to spend a fall or spring semester abroad. Supplemental fees are required for participation in this program. Summer institutes are conducted on Nantucket Island for the study of architectural preservation and in the Caribbean Basin for the study of Caribbean culture and its conservation. A study abroad program is also available during the summer semester in Hong Kong.
Access to this program is limited. At the end of semester 4, students will be selected according to a competitive ranking of all applicants by overall GPA, architectural GPA and faculty evaluation of design quality in the annual pin-up exhibits. The department requires 60 credit hours, including electives, taken at the 3000 level or above. Elective foreign language courses below the 3000 level need adviser approval.
Bachelor of Design in Interior Design
The four-year program in interior design is accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). The curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Design degree and is an essential first step toward professional licensure in Florida, other states and the Canadian provinces regulating the title or practice of interior design.
The design process is studied and applied creatively to resolve problems of interior environments. The curriculum equips students with knowledge of design techniques, materials, resources and an awareness of the interrelated professional responsibilities of design. Field trips are required in the junior and senior years. Students should plan to have adequate funds for field trips and design studio project materials. Internships are recommended in the summer between the junior and senior years.
Interior design career opportunities are numerous because businesses, corporations, community organizations and government agencies demand professional design services. Graduates of this program usually assume positions in interior design offices and architectural firms. Access to this program is limited because of space and faculty restrictions. Entering students must consult the college adviser. All students (postbaccalaureate, junior college transfers and UF students) must apply for admission to the professional program.
Interior design is a limited-access program. During the spring semester of the sophomore year, interior design faculty review each sophomore student's work and determine whether the student is prepared to continue as an interior design major. For more information about this process, please review the selective admissions guidelines.
