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Architecture Undergraduate Programs

The David R. Ravin School of Architecture (SoA) offers a nationally distinct Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree.

The B.A. in Architecture is a four-year degree consisting of a two-year core program plus coursework within one of three possible concentrations. The three concentrations accommodate students with a range of interests, from those who wish to pursue the fastest and most direct pathway to professional licensure and architectural practice, to those interested in applying their love of architecture to careers in other disciplines. The SoA also offers a Minor in Architectural History and Heritage.

Study Architecture at UNC Charlotte

student in head covering working on a project in the studio
B.A. in Architecture
​The B.A. in Architecture is a four-year, pre-professional degree that serves as a foundation for a professional accredited degree at the graduate level, with multiple pathways toward that goal. The liberal arts foundation of the program allows students to apply their interest in architecture not only to a career in architecture, but also to careers in urban design and planning, community engagement, historical and cultural research, sustainability research and practice, construction and building technologies, real estate development, new media and other fields.
Architecture, B.A.
student reading a text book at his work station in the studio
Minor in Architectural History and Heritage
The Minor in Architectural History and Criticism offers a foundational understanding of the history and interpretation of architecture as well as the cultural, economic, political, material, geographic and other factors that have shaped the built environment across time. The program requires a combination of broad survey courses, seminars on specialized topics and a course in methodologies. This Minor focuses on interpretive lenses, research methods and writing strategies for the historical analysis and criticism of architecture.
Architectural History and Heritage, Minor
A Unique Admissions Process

Undergraduate Admissions

The Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree is one of the most selective undergraduate majors at UNC Charlotte. Admission to the SoA involves a secondary application process, above and beyond what is required to be considered for admission into the University, and applicants are expected to demonstrate a high level of critical thinking, ambition and curiosity toward design and the built environment.

Our application process is designed to identify prospective students with strong academic credentials and an enthusiastic interest in one or more of the areas of specialization valued by the SoA: building design, urban design, community engagement, sustainable technologies, computational design, and historical research, theory,and critical heritage. Enthusiasm for the built environment means different things for different people, and the SoA is open to accommodating students with a range of interests. Passionate students will find many opportunities at the SoA to pursue their intellectual and career goals related to architecture. Our graduates become licensed architects, researchers, practitioners in other disciplines and all-around citizens of the global economy and culture.

Fall 2027 Admissions Information

The Fall 2027 Admission cycle opens on August 1, 2026. Applicants to UNC Charlotte interested in majoring in Architecture must first declare “Architecture” as their major in their general application. First-year students (or Freshmen) applicants may use either the Future 49er application or Common App. Transfer applicants from other colleges and universities must use the Future 49er application.

Current UNC Charlotte students interested in majoring in Architecture must apply for a change-of-major into the program, using their UNC Charlotte email account to complete a Google Form (link to be provided after August 1, 2026). The application materials required for this type of application are nearly identical to those required for external applications.

The SoA does not admit students in spring semesters. Students planning to enroll in UNC Charlotte in Spring 2027 should wait until they are admitted and enrolled in that semester, and then follow the instructions above for current UNC Charlotte students completing a change-of-major application.

Detailed instructions for the secondary application materials for all cohorts will be posted by August 1, 2026.

Visit the SoA!

The SoA’s monthly tours offer prospective students opportunities to meet current students as they tour our facilities. These tours occur while classes are in session, giving prospective students an inside look at their future as 49er architecture students! The Fall 2026 admission cycle is concluded, and there are no more tours or Q&As scheduled for this cycle. Over the summer, we will be announcing the schedule of tours and events for prospective applicants for the Fall 2027 cycle, which opens August 1, 2026! In the meantime, we invite you to watch this virtual tour.

SoA Virtual Tour

Prospective students visiting the SoA independently are welcome to tour the facilities on their own, using this self-guided tour pamphlet, which is designed to be printed on double-sided letter-size paper (printed copies are also available in the SoA’s main office, in Storrs 105).

Unfortunately, our admissions team does not have the capacity to schedule one-on-one meetings with prospective students or to accommodate walk-ins, but our virtual events may include breakout sessions for individual questions, and prospective students are also encouraged to email their questions to us at soa-admissions@charlotte.edu. Additionally, we have created an admissions FAQ page to help applicants with the process.