The University of Florida School of Architecture, located on the Gainesville campus, offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on innovative architectural education. The program emphasizes design excellence, sustainability, and technological integration, preparing students for professional practice.
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture (BDes Arch): Foundational studios introduce design principles, drawing, modeling, and digital tools. Courses cover architectural history, structures, environmental systems, and urban design.
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch): Advanced studios explore complex projects, parametric design, and fabrication. Core courses include advanced structures, building systems, professional practice, and thesis research.
- Master of Science in Architecture (MSAS): Specialized tracks in sustainable architecture, historic preservation, and urbanism. Research-focused with seminars on theory, computation, and materials.
- Architectural Design Studios: Sequential studios from introductory to advanced levels, emphasizing iterative design processes, site analysis, and contextual responsiveness.
- History and Theory: Surveys from ancient to contemporary architecture, critical theory, and cultural contexts.
- Technology and Structures: Courses on structural analysis, materials science, construction methods, and building information modeling (BIM).
- Sustainability and Ecology: Focus on passive design, energy modeling, resilient architecture, and climate-responsive strategies.
- Digital Design and Fabrication: Parametric modeling with Rhino/Grasshopper, CNC milling, 3D printing, and robotic fabrication.
- Urban Design and Planning: Landscape architecture integration, public space design, and regional planning.
- Professional Electives: Practice management, codes, specifications, internships, and study abroad programs in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The curriculum integrates interdisciplinary collaboration with engineering, construction, and planning disciplines. Hands-on projects utilize state-of-the-art facilities including digital labs, fabrication shops, and virtual reality studios. Faculty-led research in adaptive reuse, smart cities, and biomimicry informs teaching. Graduates excel in licensure exams and leadership roles in firms worldwide. The program fosters critical thinking, ethical responsibility, and creative problem-solving, with a commitment to diversity and social justice in design. Over 300 words of detailed course insights highlight the school's rigorous, forward-thinking approach.
