Career - what can you do with an architecture degree?
The field of architecture offers robust opportunities for graduates. Demand for architects is expected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than most) with a median annual wage that’s about 40% higher than the national average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Graduates with an architecture degree find themselves recruited by:
- Architecture firms (from boutique studios to international firms)
- Engineering companies
- Construction management firms
- Government agencies
- Real estate development companies
- Sustainability consulting firms
Most Bachelor of Science in architecture and environmental design graduates go on to earn their master’s degree so they can eventually become licensed architects. They often work as architectural designers and transform concepts into buildable designs.
Architects in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Architects Board. The four-year, pre-professional architecture bachelor’s degree program at BGSU is ideal preparation for the Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program, which is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Those who want to go straight into the field after graduating with a bachelor’s degree may work as junior architects. They assist licensed architects in developing projects from concept through construction.
Career paths
- Architect
- Building information modeling specialist
- Construction manager
- Design visualization specialist
- Historic preservation
- Interior designer
- Landscape architect
- Sustainable design specialist
- Urban planner
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The BGSU architecture curriculum goes beyond the blueprint. We understand that you need to learn more than technical knowledge and skills to become an architect of impact. Our students learn to solve problems creatively, communicate effectively, collaborate broadly and adapt. They share a passion for innovation and attention to detail.
The program includes:
- Architecture foundation courses
- Concentrated study in design and technical aspects
- Specialized electives
- Design studios that progressively increase in complexity
- Comprehensive courses in architectural history
- Technical training in computer-aided design and building systems
- At least two cooperative education experiences to ensure an understanding of real-world architectural practice
The curriculum is enhanced by courses in related fields, such as economics, mathematics and physics. You can personalize your coursework through electives in art, design and technology. Business electives provide foundational knowledge for professional practice.
Sample courses
- Architectural Building Systems
- Architectural Design Studios
- Architectural History and Theory
- Computer Modeling for Architecture
- Cooperative Education
- Elective Opportunities in Art, Sustainability and Construction Management
Accelerated bachelor’s to master's in architecture
How long does it take to become an architect? With an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degree in architecture from BGSU, you can earn your bachelor’s and master’s degree in six years. From there, you must apply for and pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) to become licensed to practice in Ohio.
The NAAB accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree at BGSU is 49 credit hours revolving around the technical exploration of materials, structure and sustainability within the context of design and around the historical, urban and preservation paradigms of buildings and cities.
Undergraduate architecture students must have at least 75 credit hours and an overall 3.2 GPA OR at least 90 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA to be admitted to the accelerated program.
#1 university in Ohio – big or small, public or private – students would choose again
The Wall Street Journal
The architecture and environmental design bachelor’s program is part of the School of the Built Environment in the BGSU College of Engineering and Innovation.
Updated: 07/30/2025 05:41PM