In Cascadia College’s Arts pathway, you will be preparing for a degree in architecture, which requires both artistic and technical skills. You can be an individual designer in private practice, or a member of a corporate group. You can also serve as a city planner, environmental systems designer, or member of an organization that develops commercial, institutional, or residential projects.
Modalities
Coursework may be completed through a combination of in-person (web enhanced), hybrid and online modes, though not every course is offered in the same modality each quarter. Specific courses may be offered at certain times of the year. Consult the current Class Schedule.
Placement
Many courses at Cascadia College have placement prerequisites for reading, writing and math ability. The courses that you will place into determine how you progress through your pathway and how long your degree will take. There are a variety of ways to find your English and Math placement level.
You will need to consult with an academic advisor after placement to be sure to enroll in a course that is consistent with your planned course of study.
Architecture: You will need to complete math through Calculus. This can be achieved through either MATH& 148 Business Calculus or MATH& 151 Calculus.
If you have any questions about this pathway, contact: advising@cascadia.edu
Planning Your Courses:
The information below assumes the following:
- You will be attending full-time each quarter (3 classes)
- You will start in the fall quarter
- You are ready to take 100 and 200-level classes in your first quarter
- You are NOT taking courses during summer quarters
If any of these points do not apply to you, you can still complete the pathway! You will just need to make some adjustments to your course schedule. Talk with an Academic Advisor to create a long-term academic plan that meets your needs.
The Annual Course Planning Guide shows Cascadia’s tentative plan for classes and the quarters in which they are offered. It is intended for planning purposes only and should not be considered a guarantee of class offerings. Actual quarterly sections may be changed, added, or removed. Students should use the Searchable Quarterly Class Schedule to see up to date class offerings.
Quarter One (Fall)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Quarter Two (Winter)
- Compare the different Architecture majors offered at the universities you're interested in.
- Look for local opportunities to participate in architecture-related activities.
Quarter Three (Spring)
- Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
- Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major/university. Are you on track?
Quarter Four (Fall)
IMPORTANT:
If students are interested in transferring to UW Seattle for any of their Architecture programs, they will be required to take UW courses as a UW non-matriculated student while also attending Cascadia College. In this quarter, students will want to take the following courses at UW Seattle:
- ARCH 200
- ARCH 350
If you are NOT transferring to UW Seattle, please consult one of our Academic Advisors about which courses can be taken as an alternative.
- Meet with your advisor about applying to universities. Start your transfer applications!
- Apply for next year's financial aid at your desired universities.
- If next year's FAFSA isn't available yet, set a reminder for when it will be!
Quarter Five (Winter)
IMPORTANT:
If students are interested in transferring to UW Seattle for any of their Architecture programs, they will be required to take UW courses as a UW non-matriculated student while also attending Cascadia College. In this quarter, students will want to take the following courses at UW Seattle:
- ARCH 201
- ARCH 301
If you are NOT transferring to UW Seattle, please consult one of our Academic Advisors about which courses can be taken as an alternative.
- Meet with your Advisor to apply for graduation!
Quarter Six (Spring)
IMPORTANT:
If students are interested in transferring to UW Seattle for any of their Architecture programs, they will be required to take UW courses as a UW non-matriculated student while also attending Cascadia College. In this quarter, students will want to take the following courses at UW Seattle:
- ARCH 352
If you are NOT transferring to UW Seattle, please consult one of our Academic Advisors about which courses can be taken as an alternative.
- Meet with your Advisor to apply for graduation!
Choice Classes: Distribution and Elective Requirements - Explore and align your interests.
The recommended choice classes listed below were thoughtfully chosen to help you gain the necessary skills in this pathway. You are welcome to choose other choice classes outside the recommended list, but consult with an academic advisor to be sure that the classes meet the specific requirements for this pathway.
150 Equity, Diversity, and Power (10 credits)
To meet the Equity, Diversity, and Power completion requirement, you must complete one 150-series EDP course, and at least one additional EDP-designated course for a total of ten (10) credits.EDP courses in the 150-series ground students in the needed cognitive tools and background to critically analyze their position in our increasingly interconnected, complex, and diverse world so they can pursue further study and seek out their careers more intentionally. EDP designated courses may also apply toward Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, or General Elective distribution requirements as indicated.
Choose one:
- CMST 150 Multicultural Communication
- GS 150 Globalization, Culture and Identity
- HIST 150 Cultural Diversity and Challenges in United States History
- HUMAN 150 Introduction to Cultural Studies
- SOC 150 Social Inequality
Choose one additional course designated in EDP in any distribution area by choosing from the choice classes below or checking the current class schedule for additional EDP designated courses.
Integrated Learning (5 credits)
You will include an Integrated Learning Experience in your course selections. This requirement can be satisfied through the completion of learning communities, linked classes, classes containing formal community-based learning, classes taken as part of an academic study abroad program, or classes with an academic internship. Through Learning Communities (LC) or other Integrated Learning Experiences (IL), you will demonstrate abilities to integrate skills, concepts, information, and analytical and methodological frameworks from two or more areas of inquiry in a purposeful project or experience.
For more information please see Integrated Learning and current learning communities.
Recommended:
Transfer Opportunities
For this pathway, Cascadia College recommends the Associate's degree linked at the top of this page. However, the College offers multiple degrees which are designed for transfer to public and private four-year institutions. Please consult with an Academic Advisor about which degree may be best suited for your long-term goals.
University of Washington, Seattle
Two separate degrees are offered at University of Washington-Seattle. In addition to a standard application to the university, students interested in either architecture program must also submit a second application directly to the department.
- Architectural Design (BA) - A pre-professional degree that prepares students for graduate study in a Master of Architecture professional program, which is a requirement for a career as a licensed architect
- Program Information, Application Requirements, and Secondary Application
- Required UW Courses (must be taken through UW Extension before applying): ARCH 200, 201, 350, 351, 352
- Courses must be completed in the spring quarter prior to desired quarter of entry (ex: if applying for Fall 2027 or Winter 2028, courses must be completed by Spring 2027)
- Architectural Studies (BA) - A liberal studies approach to the study of architecture that explores socio-cultural influences, urbanism, spatial reasoning, aesthetics, political and economic structures, landscape, construction, building technologies, and ecology
- Program Information, Application Requirements, and Secondary Application
- Required UW Courses (must be taken through UW Extension before applying): ARCH 200, 231, 350, 351, 352
- Courses must be completed in the spring quarter prior to desired quarter of entry (ex: if applying for Fall 2027 or Winter 2028, courses must be completed by Spring 2027)
View Cascadia’s Transfer Agreements for details of our partnerships with other colleges and universities.
University admissions requirements may vary – consult with the Career and Transfer Center for transfer assistance to plan your career and future educational goals.
Project manager, Construction manager, Architectural and Engineering manager, Commercial Architect, Residential Architect, Sustainable/Green Design Architect, Consultant.
You can learn more about career possibilities related to your interests in this pathway through O*Net Online. O*Net Online shares information about related careers, salary, skills related to the industry and more.
Connect with Cascadia’s Career and Transfer Center for assistance as you go through the process of planning your career and future educational goals.
Some job opportunities may also exist in business corporations, non-profits and Tribal Enterprises.