The Architectural Design BFA at JMU is a pre-professional degree that positions our graduates to work as interns in architectural design, interior architecture, graphics, furniture design, or landscape architecture studios, among other creative applied fields. Many of our graduates continue on to graduate school for a Masters in Architecture professional degree, and they frequently win admission to the most competitive and high-ranking schools in the nation. Our teaching balances a critical understanding of the world as it is today (ecologically, culturally, materially, technologically), while simultaneously challenging conventions and the status quo, in order to imagine bold new futures. The scope of our work is broad -- from the small scale of objects and furniture, to the middle scale of buildings (including both interior and exterior space), to the largest questions of urbanism and landscape.

The JMU Architectural Design (ARCD) BFA major requires 3 years of sequenced JMU coursework: there are no transfer equivalents for core JMU ARCD major 'Studios I-VI' in this 200/300/400-level sequence. The major cannot be condensed into a shorter time period. Plan on a three-year commitment in transferring to JMU for the ARCD major. To best prepare to begin 200-level ARCD major courses, complete the equivalent of JMU Foundations courses (ART 102, 104, 106 & 108) and assemble a portfolio of work from these classes for consideration for 'artistic admission' (by portfolio review) to the JMU School of Art, Design and Art History (SADAH), which includes acceptance to your chosen major of ARCD. Consult transferology.com to review possible transfer courses, but realize that ARCD grants little to no transfer credit for Design classes at other institutions that would advance degree progress within the JMU ARCD major.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year via College Connect

To study real-world architecture, our students travel to visit projects and firms in the mid-Atlantic region, along the east coast, and globally. At JMU you will be encouraged to enter design competitions, to publish research papers, to draw beautiful drawings, to apply for design grants, and to build and construct installations, spaces, and objects. We believe in life-long learning, personal exploration and growth, and inclusive excellence.

All architectural design majors complete internships in the field, working with architecture firms, building theatre sets, designing store installations, and more. Recent graduates have continued their studies in the graduate programs at Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Parsons New School of Design and the Southern California Institute of Architecture. About 90% of graduates seeking work are employed in the field by the end of the summer after graduation.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: James Madison University