Bachelor of Architecture

Program Code: Bachelor of Architecture-BARCH

This program has been accepted as eligible for candidacy for accreditation through the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) as of December 16, 2022.

Note: This degree/certificate leads to professional licensure. Licensing requirements vary by state/territory and relocating could impact whether you will meet eligibility requirements for licensure. Please visit our Professional Licensure Programs page for full details on State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.

Program Description

The proposed Bachelor of Architecture Professional degree is designed to highlight the climatic conditions found in Northern Nevada, where most of the precipitation comes in the form of snow.  Focus areas of curricular study include, but are not limited to: passive heating and cooling concepts, urban development/wildland fire interfaces, sediment transport, carbon neutrality, and stewardship towards scenic resources.

Architecture Career Map

Recommended Course Schedule

Plan of Study Grid
1st semesterUnits
ENG 101
Composition I
or Composition Enhanced
or Composition I for International and Multilingual Students
3
AAD 101 Design with Nature 3
AAD 180 Design Foundation I 3
AAD 181 Design Foundation I Discussion 3
MATH 126 Pre-Calculus I 3
 Semester Total15
2nd semester
AAD 125 Construction Drawings and Detailing 3
AAD 223 Graphic Software for Arch, Const, Dsgnr, Planners 3
AAE 280 Design Foundations II 6
US & Nevada Constitutions 3
 Semester Total15
3rd semester
AAD 201 History of the Built Environment 3
AAE 282 Design Foundations III 6
ENG 102
Composition II
or Composition II For International and Multilingual Students
3
PHYS 100 Introductory Physics 3
 Semester Total15
4th semester
AAD 230 Design with Climate 3
AAD 261 Introduction to Topo Form and Design Technology 3
Fine Arts 3
AAD 256 Introduction to Land Use Planning 3
GEOL 100 Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Natural Disasters 3
 Semester Total15
5th semester
AAD 350 Design Studio I 6
ABS 321 Construction Technologies I 3
ABS 331 Environmental Control Systems I 3
ABS 341 Structures for Architects I 3
 Semester Total15
6th semester
AAD 351 Design Studio II 6
ABS 332 Environmental Control Systems II 3
ABS 440 Structures for Architects II 3
Electives: Choose electives that apply toward your bachelor's degree. 3
 Semester Total15
7th semester
AAD 452 Integrated Design Studio I 6
AAD 461 Urban Theory and Design I 3
AAD 410 Professional Practice for B. Arch. I 3
Electives: Choose electives that apply toward your bachelor's degree. 3
 Semester Total15
8th semester
AAD 453 Integrated Design Studio II 6
AAD 413 Professional Practice For B. Arch. II 3
AAD 462 Urban Theory and Design II 3
Electives: Choose electives that apply toward your bachelor's degree. 3
 Semester Total15
Fifth Year
1st semester
AAD 416 Professional Practice for B. Arch. III 3
AAD 455 Integrated Design Studio III 6
AAD 480 Thesis (Research) 3
Electives: Choose electives that apply toward your bachelor's degree. 3
 Semester Total15
2nd semester
AAD 475 Portfolio Design 6
AAD 485 Thesis Design Studio 9
 Semester Total15
 Total Units150

Important Statement from the National Architectural Accrediting Board

 

In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The NAAB grants candidacy status to new programs that have developed viable plans for achieving initial accreditation. Candidacy status indicates that a program expects to achieve initial accreditation within six years of achieving candidacy, if its plan is properly implemented. In order to meet the education requirement, set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, an applicant for an NCARB Certificate must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the NAAB; the degree must have been awarded not more than two years prior to initial accreditation. However, meeting the education requirement for the NCARB Certificate may not be equivalent to meeting the education requirement for registration in a specific jurisdiction. Please contact NCARB for more information.

Truckee Meadows Community College was granted eligibility for candidacy status for the following professional degree program in architecture:
Bachelor of Architecture, 150 total credits

PROJECTED ACCREDITATION TIMELINE:

Year candidacy awarded: 2024
Next visit: Continuation of Candidacy in 2026
Projected year to achieve initial accreditation: 2028
Earliest graduation date projected to meet NCARB education requirement: 2026

Important Statement from Louis Ling, Legal Counsel of the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design 


At the Board's meeting on August 17, 2022, concern was raised that students enrolled and planning to become enrolled in the new TMCC architecture program would not be able to obtain registration because when they graduate TMCC will not yet be a NAAB-accredited program. It was explained that NAAB-accreditation is not awarded to an architecture program until it has graduated one or more classes of students. The Board asked that I research how the Board might address the concerns of the students.

Fortunately, the answer for the students is positive and already exists in statute, namely NRS 623.190(2). NRS 623.190 is the statute that sets out the general requirements for registration as an architect, and subsection (2) provides:

2. Each year of study, up to and including 5 years of study, satisfactorily completed in an architectural program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, any program of architecture in the State of Nevada or any architectural program approved by the State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design is considered equivalent to 1 year of experience in architectural work for the purpose of registration as an architect. [Emphasis supplied.]

As can be seen in the emphasized language in NRS 623.190(2), the Legislature has created three educational pathways for architectural applicants: (1) a NAAB-accredited program; (2) a program of architecture in the State of Nevada; or (3) an architectural program approved by the Board. Obviously, the TMCC program would qualify for the second of these pathways even before it attains NAAB accreditation, and, of course, the Board could also undertake a review of the TMCC program itself and approve it, which would satisfy the third pathway.

Therefore, the Board could notify the TMCC students and the TMCC program that its graduates will qualify for registration with the Board regardless of the NAAB-accreditation status at the time of their graduations.

Program Requirements

To earn the Bachelor of Architecture Degree students must:

  1. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (see requirements for graduation.)
  2. Satisfy General Education requirements for Bachelor's degrees.
  3. Complete 150 units in total. 
    • 30 Units of upper-division units must be completed at TMCC.
  4. Have no financial or library obligation to the college.
General Education Requirements 2
English3-6
Including ENG 102 or ENG 114 1
Fine Arts3
Humanities3
Required:
History of the Built Environment
Mathematics3
Required:
Pre-Calculus I (Or higher)
Science 6
Required:
Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Natural Disasters
Introductory Physics
General Physics I
Social Science3
Recommended: Select a course that satisfies both Social Science and U.S. and NV Constitutions requirement.
Additional College Requirements
Diversity 3(3)
U.S. and Nevada Constitutions 3(3)
Degree Requirements
AAD 101Design with Nature3
AAD 125Construction Drawings and Detailing3
AAD 180Design Foundation I3
AAD 181Design Foundation I Discussion3
AAD 223Graphic Software for Arch, Const, Dsgnr, Planners3
AAD 230Design with Climate3
AAD 261Introduction to Topo Form and Design Technology3
AAD 256Introduction to Land Use Planning3
AAE 280Design Foundations II6
AAE 282Design Foundations III6
ABS 321Construction Technologies I3
ABS 331Environmental Control Systems I3
ABS 332Environmental Control Systems II3
ABS 341Structures for Architects I3
AAD 350Design Studio I6
AAD 351Design Studio II6
ABS 440Structures for Architects II3
AAD 410Professional Practice for B. Arch. I3
AAD 413Professional Practice For B. Arch. II3
AAD 416Professional Practice for B. Arch. III3
AAD 452Integrated Design Studio I6
AAD 453Integrated Design Studio II6
AAD 461Urban Theory and Design I3
AAD 455Integrated Design Studio III6
AAD 462Urban Theory and Design II3
AAD 475Portfolio Design6
AAD 480Thesis (Research)3
AAD 485Thesis Design Studio9
Electives 412
Total Units150
1

If you place into ENG 102 or ENG 114, the additional 3 required units will become elective credit.

2

See the approved General Education page for a complete of courses. 

3

May also be used to satisfy another General Education, Degree/Emphasis, or Elective requirement.

4

Any approved university transfer course will fulfill the elective units. Check TMCC course descriptions for transfer status to a baccalaureate degree of arts within the universities in the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).

Note: If you know your major, print the NSHE Transfer Agreements online. Major requirements will satisfy elective units.

Program Outcomes

Students completing this degree will:

PSLO1: Describe and develop design solutions as it pertains to environmental, social equity and cultural topics. 

PSLO2: Develop, recognize and apply technical skills as it pertains to building practices.

PSLO3: Describe and develop integrative architectural design solutions.

PSLO4: Discuss, differentiate and evaluate the professional practice of architecture.