School of Architecture and Design

Undergraduate Degree Requirements 

School of Architecture and Design Undergraduate Degree Requirements

1. A grade of “C” or better is required in all courses. Courses with a grade below “C” must be repeated.

2. All freshman-year courses must be completed before enrolling in junior-year courses.

3. All sophomore-year courses must be completed before enrolling in senior-year courses.

4. A minimum 2.4 overall grade point average (GPA) is required to be accepted to junior-year studio-courses and must be maintained from that time on to enroll in the next level studio courses.

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6. Students are required to submit a comprehensive portfolio of work for review as a requirement of their second semester in their sophomore-year studio.

A Review Committee will evaluate each student’s portfolio of work for evidence of proficient abilities necessary for academic success in the next level studio course.

The portfolio of work is a significant grade in the final grading and evaluation of the studio course. Any student who does not demonstrate competency will receive a failing grade for the portfolio of work and will not be allowed to enroll in the next level studio course.

Students who fail any studio course at UL Lafayette, must retake and pass that course at UL Lafayette in order to advance to the next level studio course in the sequence.

Students may appeal their studio grade in accordance with the School’s Review Standards and Procedures for Failing Grades Appealed in Design Studio.

Students may not attempt any design studio more than twice. If unsuccessful in the second attempt, a student may appeal their grade in accordance with the School’s Review Standards and Procedures for Failing Grades Appealed in Design Studio and request a waiver to take the course for a third time. The Design Review Committee will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

Students may choose a minor within any college, regardless of their major. Minors are not required to graduate. Students must follow all UL Lafayette Minor Policies as stated in the Catalog.

Students are required to have a laptop that meets the minimum computer specification requirements to enroll in sophomore-year studio courses and DSGN 235 - Design and the Computer. Minimum computer specification requirements can be found on the School of Architecture and Design’s website.

Accrediting boards require selective documentation of original student-produced coursework. All materials submitted for credit may be retained by the faculty and become property of the School of Architecture and Design for future use in demonstrating student accomplishments. According to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of the Arts Exhibition Policy, student and alumni work may be exhibited from time to time as selected by the faculty.

1. “C” Requirement: The School of Architecture and Design requires students to earn a “C” or better in all courses required in the curricula for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies. The Bachelor of Interior Design and Industrial Design degrees require students to make a “C” or better in all courses with the exception of MATH 103  or MATH 105 . Students must earn a “D” or better in MATH 103  or MATH 105 .
2. Third-year and fourth-year admission requirements: the School requires its students to complete all first-year courses in its curriculum before they can enroll in its third-year courses; their second-year courses before they enroll in their fourth-year courses.
   
   Once a student is accepted into the sophomore year of their specific design studio sequence they are required to maintain a minimum cumulative 2.4 (minimum 2.6 for Architecture) UL Lafayette grade point average (GPA). Any student who does not meet the minimum academic qualification will not be allowed to enroll in these courses. Students taking and failing any studio course at UL Lafayette must retake and pass that course at UL Lafayette in order to receive credit and to advance to the next higher course in the design sequence. Students must complete any co-requisites for studio courses prior to enrolling in next studio course. Only courses taken at UL Lafayette or other approved institutions will raise or lower the UL Lafayette average.
   
   Third-year admission requirements: the purpose of the Portfolio review is to ensure that students have the necessary skills and knowledge after conclusion of the foundation design sequence to complete the program and enter the competitive fields of architecture, industrial design and interior design. The Review committee will evaluate each student’s portfolio to determine if the candidate has demonstrated an adequate grasp of the material covered within the first two-year design sequence. Additional consideration will be given to overall academic and studio performance. In either case, the number of desks available in that program will limit the number of students entering any design program.
3. A student may not attempt any design studio more than twice. Any student who takes and does not pass a studio two times may appeal to a committee of faculty for a wavier to take a course for the third time. The committee will assess these requests on a case by case basis.
4. School of Architecture and Design majors may pursue minors within or outside of the School of Architecture and Design. These minors may require additional courses and may cause delay in anticipated graduation date. Consult with the department of your chosen minor for specific courses needed to complete the minor. In order for the minor to appear on the student’s transcript, student must get approval for minor and complete and submit appropriate paperwork along with the degree plan during the semester before expected graduation.
5. Computer requirement: Admission to the specific second year major courses is restricted to students that have the required computer hardware and software.
6. Retaining coursework: The different accreditation boards require selective documentation of original student-produced course work. The University may retain all materials submitted for credit for accreditation purposes. This material becomes the property of the University for future use in demonstrating student accomplishments in meeting accreditation criteria.

Transfer Requirements

The following pertain to all students transferring into the School of Architecture and Design:

1. Evaluation of design studio courses: The School of Architecture and Design requires all students requesting acceptance of transfer credit to submit an official course description of all courses for review before approval of credit and to submit a portfolio for review to the Review Committee. Students are required to submit a portfolio of all design work with samples from each of the years for which credit is requested. The Review Committee is responsible for determining which design courses remain to be taken and which design courses will receive transfer credit. These portfolios, as a minimum, must be at least ten 8-1/2” x 11” pages containing work from design studio, graphic communication, and drawing courses. Students completing the requirements for review must receive “accepted” by the Review Committee before entering the approved year level studio courses.
2. Evaluation of Core Courses: Courses from other schools, other than architecture, industrial design, interior design or art courses such as those to fulfill the University Core requirements are evaluated by the staff members of the Dean’s Office in the College of the Arts and the University’s Registrar’s Office. The Dean’s Assistant will complete a transcript evaluation or analysis. A copy is then sent to the department.
3. The School of Architecture and Design recognizes two categories of transfer students: In the first category (a.) are students transferring into the specific degree program from a discipline-specific accredited program. The second category, (b.), are students transferring from all other majors or programs. In either case, the number of desks available in that program will limit the number of students entering any design program.
   1. Design studio placement for students transferring from Council for Interior Design Accreditation, NAAB, or NASAD accredited programs will be determined as follows:
      1. A maximum of two (2) years of design studio credits shall be acceptable for transfer into the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, or the Bachelor of Industrial Design, or the Bachelor of Interior Design.
   2. Students transferring into the School of Architecture and Design from other majors may not be able to graduate necessarily within the traditional four year period.

Programs

• Architectural Studies, B.S.
• Industrial Design, B.O.I.D
• Interior Design, B.I.D.

• Architecture Minor
• Industrial Design Minor
• Interior Design Minor

• Architecture, M. Arch.