The program has an emphasis on building design and professional practice and offers students the opportunity of selecting elective courses in specialized areas such as building technology, building preservation, architectural history and theory, urban studies, and design.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to international cultures.
• Understand different cultural perspectives, values, customs, and traditions.
• Understand the following professional practices: real estate and development, contract and planning law, leadership and ethics, and office and finance management.
• Understand western traditions.
• Understand the principles of building programming, including assessment of user needs, review of precedents, an inventory of space requirements, site analysis, and review of the relevant laws and standards.
• Increase the level of intellectual discourse about architecture.
• Understand design principles and theories of urban design.
• Develop an ability to compare and contrast the perspectives, values, customs, and traditions of students' own culture from those held by other cultures.
• Develop and enhance students' research skills.
• Develop and enhance students' writing skills.
• Develop management and leadership skills; verbal and graphic communication skills; collaborative learning, research, and work experiences.
• Understand design and systems integration through a thesis or capstone experience through an array of professional practice and “field” related coursework.
• Develop and enhance problem-solving and reasoning skills; an ability to critically analyze information and fundamental design skills. Understand the complexities of environmental design including both technical and theoretical components.
• Understand site.
• Understand the responsibility of the architect to elicit, understand and resolve the needs of the client.
• Demonstrate the ability to think critically and to gather, record, and apply relevant information.
• Develop an awareness of diverse cultures, ideals, and beliefs.
• Demonstrate enhanced verbal, graphic, and writing skills.