Architecture & Interior Design (Undergraduate)

Faculty

Jeannie C. Krumdieck, Chair, Professor
Charles L. Ford, Professor
Aaron P. Brakke, Assistant Professor
Ryan L. Misner, Assistant Professor

Accreditation

The Samford University interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The new architecture program is currently seeking accreditation by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Architecture Major (B.S.A.)
Interior Design Major (B.F.A.)

Older Program*
Pre-Architecture Concentration (Non-Degree) *

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program
Fast-Track Master of Architecture (B.S.A./M.Arch.) with a B.S.A. in Architecture
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The Department of Architecture and Interior Design offers a major in interior design leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree (B.F.A.) and a major in architecture leading to a bachelor of science in architecture degree (B.S.A.). Both programs share a common curriculum for the first years of study. These foundational courses introduce applicable theory and skills, preparing the students for a more specific design direction: interior design or architecture.

The bachelor of science in architecture leads to the forthcoming one-year master of architecture degree (M.Arch.), slated to begin Spring 2024. Students pursuing this program pathway can complete both programs in a five-year time frame, for a total of 168 hours. See the Samford University Graduate Catalog for details on the master of architecture program.
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*This program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

Architecture

The architecture program at Samford combines a four-year bachelor of science in architecture with a one-year master of architecture (slated to begin Spring 2024), providing a more accelerated degree in preparation for a rewarding career in design, including architectural licensure (upon NAAB accreditation.)* This program of study will encourage students to see the world differently and to use their talents to enhance the community around them.

Housed together with interior design, these students take certain design courses and studios jointly, work collaboratively on projects, and share in each program’s design education and resources. This unique integrated approach to design heightens students’ awareness of comprehensive design goals and solutions.
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*NAAB Candidacy: 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, 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 standard.

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.

In order to meet the education requirement, set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), an applicant for an NCARB Certificate must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the NAAB and 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.

Samford University, Department of Architecture and Interior Design, was granted candidacy status for the following professional degree program(s) in architecture: Master of Architecture (130 undergraduate credit hours + 38 graduate credit hours). Year candidacy awarded: February 2022. Next visit: Initial Candidacy Fall 2022. Projected year to achieve initial accreditation: Spring 2027. Earliest graduation date projected to meet NCARB education requirement: Fall 2026.

Interior Design

Those choosing to complete their bachelor of fine arts in interior design at Samford University will engage in a curriculum sequence whose content adheres to CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) standards. The program prepares design students to combine aesthetic values with practical needs and realities. Program graduates weigh design decisions with social, cultural, and ecological context in mind. Based on a foundation in fine art, the students utilize a holistic approach that integrates interior design with architecture; stresses the three-dimensional use of space; considers the user’s awareness and experience of space; and incorporates the necessary understanding of codes and life-safety issues.

Pre-Architecture*

The pre-architecture concentration is a two-year, non-degree plan that shares a common curriculum sequence with the interior design major. Students choosing pre-architecture, and meeting admission requirements, may choose to change majors within the department to pursue the new bachelor of science in architecture (B.S.A.), which culminates in the accelerated master of architecture degree at Samford University (M.Arch., slated to begin Spring 2024) or, transfer seamlessly into the bachelor of arts (B.A.) in architectural studies at Judson University, Elgin, Illinois, and continue into that school’s master of architecture (M.A.), an NAAB-accredited architectural program. This is the result of collaboration between Samford and Judson, with an articulation agreement outlining such.

Pre-architecture students who choose to remain at Samford University and who complete the aforementioned continuation requirements are on track to complete Samford’s bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) in interior design. These students can then pursue the master of architecture degree program at Judson University or at other universities that offer similar programs of study.

*This program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

Architecture Curriculum

Architecture students working toward the accelerated five-year master of architecture (M.Arch.) first receive a bachelor of science in architecture (B.S.A.). Requirements for the five-year program are a total of 130 credit hours, for the B.S.A. degree, including 22 core hours, 19 general education hours, and 89 major hours. Following completion of 130 credits, students will progress to the fifth-year M.Arch. that consists of 38 graduate credits.

Freshmen begin their studies with core curriculum and foundational art courses shared with the interior design major, as well as graphic design and studio art majors within the School of the Arts. These students are also introduced (in ARCH 101 ) to a survey of the professions (interior design, interior architecture, and architecture). Housed together with interior design, these students complete the sophomore year in sequence with only one studio that begins to separate the two.

These shared courses in year two include design and architectural theory that build upon the fine art foundation and extend those concepts and theories into the built environment. In addition, digital communication, presentation techniques, building systems information, concepts of sustainability, life safety, and architectural history are also addressed.

The junior and senior years introduce structural systems, materials and methods, along with a focused application of the concepts and skills the students have acquired. The projects are developed in studio settings and examine such topics as site selection, urban context, solar orientation, building envelope systems, and building performance. Specific design courses and studios are cross-listed with interior design where students work collaboratively on projects and share in each program’s design education and resources. This unique integrated approach to design heightens students’ awareness of comprehensive design goals. In addition, the School of the Arts Catalyst program is an integral part of the curriculum culminating during year four in a senior project.

The fifth-year graduate curriculum begins with a required internship and an introduction to faith and world view of architecture. Studies in urban design, professional practice and research, and advanced electives culminate in a terminal thesis design project.

Birmingham’s professional design community is actively engaged through field experiences to firms and built projects, and by providing lectures, project critiques, and final project juries and internship opportunities.

Admission Requirements for the Architecture Program

The bachelor of science in architecture program follows Samford University’s undergraduate policies for admission, including the following:

Completion of online application form.
Academic letter of recommendation.
Official test scores.
Essay (250 words).

Once accepted, bachelor of science in architecture students must maintain an overall minimum GPA of 2.00 and a minimum GPA of 2.50 in the major to remain in the program. Additionally, students must pass a successful portfolio review following year two in order to progress to upper level courses.

Students who have successfully completed the bachelor of science in architecture from Samford with the above noted minimum GPA requirements will be eligible to progress to the fifth-year of the architecture program: the master of architecture.

Interior Design Curriculum

Interior design students work toward a bachelor of fine arts degree. Course requirements include 45 general education credits (including 22 in the University Core Curriculum), 10 credits in the School of the Arts core, 51 interior architecture (IARC) credits, 15 credits in art, plus 6 credits in art electives, for a total of 128 credits required for graduation.

Freshmen begin their studies with core curriculum and foundational art courses shared with the architecture major, as well as graphic design and studio art majors within the School of the Arts. These students are also introduced (in IARC 101 ) to a survey of the professions (interior design, interior architecture, and architecture). Housed together with architecture, these students complete the sophomore year in sequence with only one studio that begins to separate the two.

These shared courses in year two include art and architectural theory that build upon the fine art foundation and extend those concepts and theories into the built environment. In addition, digital communication, presentation techniques, and building systems information are addressed. At the end of the sophomore year, students submit portfolios of their work for eligibility to continue in the program.

The junior and senior years are focused on application of the concepts and skills they have acquired. The projects are developed in studio settings and focus on small to large scale commercial and residential projects. Certain design courses and studios are cross-listed with architecture where students work collaboratively on projects and share in each program’s design education and resources. This unique integrated approach to design heightens students’ awareness of comprehensive design goals. In addition, the School of the Arts Catalyst program is an integral part of the curriculum culminating during year four in a senior project.

Admission Requirements for the Interior Design Program

Because the bachelor of fine arts in interior design (IARC) presupposes a certain level of professional competence, each interior design major is required to fulfill application requirements for this major during the spring of the sophomore curriculum sequence.

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in the major after completion of the preliminary ART and IARC courses.
Successful completion of Portfolio Review, including work from those courses listed above (in item 1) along with work in progress from selected IARC courses.
Successful completion of an interview with the interior architecture faculty members following completion of the aforementioned courses (in item 1) to continue in the program.
Completion of application form including permission to retain student work for use in marketing and accreditation purpose.

Note: Entering freshmen and transfer students in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design are required to attend a seminar early in the fall semester. This will include explanation of the portfolio review and outline specifications for personal computers and software that will be required for the sophomore through senior courses of study.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Programs

Major

Courses

Architecture

Interior Architecture