Architecture
Architects do far more than design buildings. As makers of space and place, they shape our lives in countless ways, and their work has far-reaching impacts on everything from climate change and housing affordability to health equity and social justice. As an architecture major, you’ll learn by doing—and making—emerging as a "citizen architect" ready to address complex questions. Can we design buildings to harvest energy instead of waste it? How are race and architecture connected? Can a robot make construction safer? Come find out for yourself.
What will I learn?
The architecture program combines hands-on professional preparation with a liberal arts education. You’ll explore the foundations of architecture through courses in design, history and construction, as well as the arts, sciences and humanities. You’ll attend classes in our historic landmark building, learn how to assemble wood and steel in our fabrication workshop, and explore climate action in UB's zero-energy GRoW Home right on campus. But perhaps your most memorable time will be in the studio, where you’ll learn to "think through making" as you design, refine and start building full-scale solutions by the end of your first year.
What can I do with an architecture degree?
UB architecture graduates are highly sought after for their skills in fabrication and inclinations toward experimental, community-minded design. You can find our alumni advancing practice innovation from Buffalo to Bangalore, in environments as diverse as traditional firms, emergent design practices and community organizations.
This program is designed for the "4+2" track in architectural education, combining a four-year undergraduate degree with a two-year accredited master’s degree, a requirement for professional licensure.
While the majority of our students go on to become licensed architects, a degree in architecture can also lead to careers in fields such as city planning, historic preservation, community development, engineering, and allied areas of design, from multimedia to exhibition design.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $113,360.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $144,570.00 | $69.50 | Rapid Growth |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $65,040.00 | $31.27 |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.