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Program Requirements

General Education Core Requirements

The School of Architecture requires certain core courses as part of the degree requirements for the ArchD These core requirements have been incorporated into the published degree requirements. 

Students who transfer into the architecture program may be required to take additional core courses in order to satisfy the architecture program's major requirements.

School Requirements

• 212 credit hours of course work
• University of Hawai'i at Manoa General Education Core
• Architecture major requirements noted below
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 in architecture course work

Major Requirements

General Education Core courses:

• ENG 100
• MATH 140
• HIST 151 and 152
• ARCH 100, 235, 235L, 271 and 272
• ART 1XX/2XX
• One oral communication course
• PHYS 151, CHEM 151
• One approved biological science course, one science lab
• Three approved social science courses
• Second level study of foreign language or Hawaiian language
• BUS 313
• ENG 200, 209, or 225
• Five writing-intensive (WI) courses

Architecture major courses:

• ARCH 101, 102
• ARCH 200, 201, 202, 218
• ARCH 301, 302, 315, 316, 317, 318
• ARCH 401, 431, 431L
• ARCH 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 533, 534, 535, 536, 573

Electives: 

21 credit hours of approved electives offered by the School of Architecture.

Special Requirements 

All students are expected to have their own personal computer for studio and class work.

Comprehensive Portfolio Review Requirements

Each student must submit a Comprehensive Portfolio to the faculty for evaluation and approval before continuing to the Professional Architecture segment. Eligibility requirements for the Comprehensive Portfolio submittal include good academic standing and successful completion of the Pre-Professional Architecture program. 

The student may advance once the portfolio has been approved. If the portfolio is determined to be marginal, the faculty will require additional coursework.

Other Requirements

Waiver or substitution of any required course must be approved by the Dean or Associate Dean. English as a Second Language (ESL) course work does not satisfy or substitute for the English requirements previously noted.

The School has adopted academic standards that are more restrictive than the general University standards. Architecture students with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of less than 2.50 in architecture courses will be placed on probation. If the architecture GPA is not raised to 2.50 upon completion of the probationary semester, or if special conditions that may have been established by the Dean or Associate Dean at the start of that semester are not met, students may be suspended or dismissed from the architecture program. Students who fail to achieve a minimum acceptable grade after repeating any required course can be dismissed from the architecture program. The School of Architecture strictly enforces the UH Manoa's withdrawal deadline.

Transfer Credits

The academic records of successful applicants to the School of Architecture will be reviewed and transfer credits granted as appropriate. Architecture course requirements will be waived only for transfer credits that are deemed equivalent to courses offered by the University. Students may, on occasion, be granted exemption from taking certain Manoa campus courses based upon previous experiences or studies, but this exemption may not always result in the granting of transfer credits.

Prior to acceptance into the school, the School of Architecture does not formally review in detail applicant's academic record, with regard to granting exemptions or transfer credits.

Additional Information

Specific questions about the Architecture Doctorate Degree program may be directed to the Associate Dean of the School of Architecture. 

For information on student loans and scholarships, contact the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Financial Aid Services Office.

Student Organizations

Students are encouraged to participate in the University of Hawai'i Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). The organization serves as the school's student government and engages in a number of worthwhile activities. At the national level, the AIAS is one of five organizations participating in the accreditation of architectural programs.

Honors and Awards

• Alpha Rho Chi Medal, National Professional Architectural Fraternity Award
• Henry Adams Medal, American Institute of Architects Award
• Henry Adams Certificate, American Institute of Architects Award 
• Allen R. Johnson-Roy C. Kelley Architectural Research Travel Scholarship
• David Stringer Fellowship
• School of Architecture Architectural Research Travel Scholarship
• School of Architecture Intern/Travel Scholarship (multiple)
• School of Architecture Architectural Travel Scholarships (multiple)
• School of Architecture International Student Exchange Program (multiple)
• Building Industry Association of Hawai'i Architectural Travel Scholarship
• Building Industry Association of Hawai'i Women's Council Travel Scholarship
• Construction Specifications Institute Architectural Travel Scholarship
• HonBlue Architectural Research Travel Scholarship
• American Institute of Architects Honolulu Chapter/School of Architecture Alumni Association Design Awards for Outstanding Achievement in 100, 200, 300, and 400 level design studios