Ready for more detail? Explore degree requirements, course descriptions, and program outcomes for Architecture in the College Catalog. You can also find a sample academic plan for each semester of your college journey.
Graduates Hired In Field:
100%
Source 2022-23 Dunwoody Career Services Annual Report
Architecture
Pursue a five-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree (two-year associate’s degree + three-year Bachelor of Architecture completion degree).
61K
Average Salary: School of Design, Bachelor of Architecture
Source 2022-23 Dunwoody Career Services Annual Report
Dunwoody Architecture
Dunwoody Architecture is uniquely structured as a two plus three stackable credential, awarding a technical Associate of Applied Science degree after the first two years and a comprehensive professional Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree after the final three years. This structure allows students from other technical and community colleges to seamlessly transfer into year three of Dunwoody’s program.
The school roots its architectural education in a tradition of community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership in the profession, both locally and globally. Our distinctive position within a college of technology gives us access to collaborations across a variety of technical disciplines. Our students work intimately with fabrication labs, participate in design-build projects, and engage in global activism and climate initiatives, from Minneapolis to Puerto Rico.
Bachelor of Architecture students receive a dedicated touch-screen laptop with a suite of Autodesk and Adobe programs to be used as long as they are enrolled as students.
In addition to an ever increasing number of merit and need based scholarships, practice-based curriculum, professional-focused philosophy, and actively-practicing faculty give you the ability to work in the profession while in school. This can defray the cost of education, make you more valuable earlier in your career and allow you to complete all required experience for licensure prior to graduation.
Dunwoody’s Bachelor of Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). In accordance with NAAB standards, the Bachelor of Architecture maintains a Learning and Teaching Culture Policy.
The Bachelor of Architecture program has been accepted into the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) initiative, which offers students the opportunity to earn an architecture license upon graduation.
International Students
This program is an official STEM Designated Degree Program, as listed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) qualifying it to fulfill the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension requirement for the F-1 student visa.
Transfer Students
Students transferring into Dunwoody will meet all NAAB standards in courses completed in Years 3-5, allowing for transfer of non-accredited degrees while maintaining the standards. If a student completes a non-accredited degree and attempts to transfer in more than one upper-division course that fulfill the same NAAB standards, the course description and syllabus, along with examples of the student’s work (as applicable), will be evaluated by the department to verify that the relevant NAAB standard has been met. If the NAAB standard from the corresponding Dunwoody courses has not been met, the course will not be transferred, and the student must complete the relevant course(s) at Dunwoody.
The +3 completion degree is structured as follows:
YEAR 3
This first year of the +3 B.Arch. program has a heavy emphasis on design thinking by working with hands-on techniques of physical model making and 2D-representation using a suite of Autodesk and Adobe programs. This year introduces students to city and site, client and program, and the global history of architecture, including diverse traditions in the built environment.
View Year 3 Student Work (on ISSUU)
YEAR 4
The fourth year studios emphasizes research and participatory models of community engagement using real world projects. The history and theory curriculum deepens to include a study of urbanism, activism, globalization, and the vernacular. Students are often involved in study abroad programs or design-build and fabrication projects, gaining expertise in 3D-representation and fabrication techniques in addition to broadening their knowledge of culture and society.
View Year 4 Student Work (on ISSUU)
YEAR 5
The final year of the Bachelor of Architecture culminates in two distinctive studios: the first half of the year is dedicated to a technically rigorous, integrative studio, and the second half complements this technical rigor with a highly individualized, experimental, and exploratory studio project that enables students to develop deep and focused expertise in one area, whether that be design build, fabrication, climate justice and architecture, or some other specific topic.
View Year 5 Student Thesis Work (on ISSUU)
Affiliations:
- NAAB National Architectural Accrediting Board – Accredited Program
- AIA American Institute of Architects – Minnesota Chapter – Committee Members
- AIAS American Institute of Architecture Students – Local Chapter Member
- NOMAS The National Organization of Minority Architects – Local Chapter Member
- CSI Construction Specifications Institute – Minnesota Chapter – Member Institution
- ACSA Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture – Member Institution
- ACADIA Association of Computer Aided Design In Architecture – Member Institution
Occupational Outlook**:
+18% Growth 2012-2022 (above average)
*2013 AIA Compensation Report: A Survey of U.S. Architecture Firms, www.aia.org
**2014 ACSA Atlas Project, www.acsa-arch.org
Class topics include:
- City & Site, Site & Precedent, Program & Society
- Global History of Architecture, Metropolis & Activism, Research
- Ordering Systems, Fabrication, Material Studies
- Professional Practice, Business Management, Entrepreneurship
Student Organizations
Opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom include:
- American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
- Women In Architecture (WIA)
- National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMA)
- Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Common Job Titles
Possible job titles upon graduation include:
- Architectural Designer
- Architect
- Project Architect
- Project Manager
- Senior Designer
- Job Captain
Student Work
Academic Excellence Award Winner David Jensen
For many, architecture is an art form. For artist David Jensen, architecture has become his new medium.
Jensen, who will graduate this May with a Bachelor Architecture from Dunwoody College of Technology, discovered his love of architecture through his art.
Facilities
Architecture Studios
Work in open concept studio spaces designed to foster collaboration and learning.
- Individual work spaces
- Drafting kits
- Physical modeling kits
- Large format printer
- Wall and table spaces for displaying/reviewing architectural plans
Fabrication Lab
Create products, prototypes, and projects by using computer-aided design tools and then producing them in cardboard, plywood, plastic, and other materials.
- 2 laser cutters
- Stratsys 3D printer
- 3-axis CNS router, belt sanders, scroll saws, drills, wire cutters
- Spray booth with utility sink
School of Design Faculty
Minneapolis-based artist and educator, Korrin Howard, is the Associate Dean of the School of Design at Dunwoody College of Technology. Korrin is driven by both inspiring students to find their voice in the design profession and creating positive change in the educational landscape. She finds energy in creating space for community, generating ideas, and empowering the next leaders of the design field.
Korrin has a background in interior design, industrial design, and sustainable architecture, and she uses this background to bring a unique perspective to her work with students, faculty, and industry partners. Her 20+ years of teaching experience has provided the opportunity to work with a multitude of students from a variety of backgrounds and encourage them to pursue their passions.
Jess teaches interior design studios and the architecture history sequence. She was awarded the 2019 Dunwoody Teacher of the Year award because of her ability to ignite passion for design in her students. When not in the classroom, she leads assessment and accreditation for the School of Design and mentors new faculty. She earned her Bachelor of Art with a major in Architecture with a minor concentration in American Indian Art and her Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota.
Beata Fleischmann has been a design instructor in higher education since 2005. She focuses on combining concept methodology with strong technological skills. Her varied background in Textile Design, Painting, Sculpture, Interior Design, Ecological Architecture, and Furniture Design has helped her to foster a sense of curiosity and exploration. She aspires to have her students develop this same curiosity and cross-disciplinary exploration as they solve design problems. In the classroom, Beata encourages her students to become keen observers and questioners.
Beata is passionate about creating equitable access to learning for students from varied backgrounds. Therefore, she enjoys the role she plays with helping to plan and coordinate the online learning environment. She has received the Outstanding Academic Innovation Award for her work within the B.Arch Online Program.
Twee Andersen is an interior designer and design educator with a passion for creating thoughtful, impactful spaces. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a BS in Interior Design from Dunwoody College of Technology. Twee combines her expertise in psychology with her design skills to emphasize social, emotional, and physical well-being in her work, specializing in hospitality projects.
Dedicated to mentorship and fostering future talent, Twee actively engages in mentorship and portfolio reviews at local colleges.
Andrew Blaisdell is an Architect with a background in prefab modern, historic restoration, relief housing, and urban planning. He is the founder of Studio Andhow, an Assistant Professor at Dunwoody College, and has taught studios, seminars, and workshops at the University of Minnesota, where he received a Master of Architecture degree in 2010.
Pam is a versatile professional skilled in creative strategy, education, design, and visual arts. Her expertise spans publication design, identity design, and retail product packaging. Pam is committed to guiding aspiring designers towards success. As both a mentor and educator, she prioritizes the mastery of technical skills while supporting individual and collaborative creativity. Pam holds a BA in studio art/k-12 art education and an MFA in Graphic Design. She remains actively engaged in design practice as a co-owner of a local design studio, ensuring she continues to evolve within the field.
Claire Huffaker is an educator and designer. Working at the intersection of design and wellness, she explores human wellbeing and humanity through integrative research, design, and visualization practices. She earned her Master of Architecture from Kansas State University and holds a certification in User Experience Design. Claire is a Senior Instructor in the School of Design, where she is committed to fostering an educational landscape that empowers students to pursue their passions with confidence and curiosity.
Lisa Loudon is a visual artist and educator with an MFA from the University of Nebraska in Visual Art with an emphasis in painting and drawing. She has over 20 years of teaching experience at the college level. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she is the recipient of several grants and awards. She maintains an active studio practice. Lisa brings a focus on creativity and conceptual thinking to the classroom, while also helping students to build foundational rendering and presentation skills.
Erin is a designer, fabricator, maker, and thinker. She is passionate about the intersection of design and fabrication. She loves teaching students about new materials, tools and processes and helping them gain comfort using their hands and making things. Erin earned her BFA in Furniture Design from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and a Masters of Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago.
In addition to managing the FabLab, Erin teaches in the School of Design and is the co-owner of Tandem Made, a furniture and product design company.
Sarah is a sustainable creative, educator, interior designer, and systems thinker. She enjoys seeing SoD students develop evidence-based and creative thinking design solutions that also meet our changing climate needs. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Interior Design from the Arts Institutes International Minnesota and a Masters of Arts in Sustainable Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Sarah teaches in the School of Design and is also the owner of Studio North Design Co, a sustainable design consulting firm.
Melissa Sisk is a Senior Instructor in the School of Design, focusing on graphic design courses. She brings over a decade of experience, holding a BS from Michigan State University and a MS in Biomedical Visualization from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Melissa’s unique and multidisciplinary background includes medical illustration and animation, board game art direction, and printmaking. Committed to fostering an enriching educational experience, she is dedicated to empowering students in their creative endeavors. Outside of academia, Melissa enjoys screen printing at Highpoint Center for Printmaking and actively contributes to gallery exhibitions and artistic projects.
Paul Strother is an assistant professor at Dunwoody College of Technology and a practicing architect. Paul has focused on technical excellence in his teaching and practice. He believes that design study predicated on sound technology produces building design that is credible and is essential for sustainable building design. Further, it prepares the graduates for success as architects. Paul is committed to develop the potential of every student and enjoys igniting the spark of enthusiasm and confidence.
Paul is a member of CSI. Recognition includes the Rotary Paul Harris Award for Community Service.
James is an educator and community designer. He is the co-founder of the design collaborative Public Design Exchange with work that focuses on public art, design, engagement, fabrication, planning, and installation. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota and later served as a Lecturer in Architecture and Landscape Architecture following five years working in community design on the Mississippi Gulf Coast post-Hurricane Katrina. His teaching and practice place an emphasis on collaboration, empathy, partnership, and equity building focused on fulfilling the promise of the core values of Dunwoody and supporting students to be ready for the realities of practice and be best prepared to serve clients, collaborators, and communities.