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Explore Our Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

Architecture impacts your life daily. You experience it in almost everything you do. As the only accredited program in Kentucky, the School of Architecture in the College of Design has, since its inception, strived to not only educate and prepare our students to be the next generation of Architects, but also to inspire them to become the future leaders of the discipline.

The School of Interiors is a community of design researchers, theorists, historians, and practitioners in the College of Design at the University of Kentucky. We explore spatial design as a human-centered, critical practice focused on architectural interiors. Through our scholarship and community outreach endeavors, we advocate for the study of interiors as a complex, sensorial, intersectional, and equitable way of experiencing the world.

Product design is a strategic problem-solving process that drives innovation, builds business success, and leads to a better quality of life through innovative products, systems, services, and experiences. It combines aesthetics with the utility of objects. Values, ideals, and aspirations of a culture are expressed through material objects, systems and now digital footprints; these become imperative to understanding our current circumstance and to inventing our future.

Graduate Degrees

The Graduate School of Architecture offers an accredited Master of Architecture, a two-year or three-year professional degree program, which qualifies graduates to pursue licensure in architecture. Applicants with NAAB accredited Bachelor of Science or Arts in Architecture may apply for advanced standing, in order to complete the graduate program within two years.

Exploring the interdisciplinary territory of environmental design, students in the graduate program at the University of Kentucky School of Interiors address a vast array of issues impacting our region and the broader world. Students work closely with a diverse, internationally recognized faculty in design research and studios investigating the social, behavioral, and ecological parameters of design.

Historic preservation is an interdisciplinary field of study concerned with the care, use, and interpretation of historic buildings, sites, and landscapes. The Master of Historic Preservation (MHP) is a comprehensive graduate curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in preservation. Graduates have attained an outstanding record of placement and career advancement. The MHP requires 48 credit hours and culminates in a major project demonstrating original research ability and thoughtful application of professional skills and knowledge.

The online Master of Heritage in Resources Administration (MHRA), developed in cooperation with the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, combines historic preservation coursework with training in public and nonprofit administration, providing mid-career heritage professionals with a pathway to advancement and leadership within their organizations.

Certificates

For undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky, the Design-Build Certificate offers a unique interdisciplinary opportunity to focus 15 credits of undergraduate study on Design-Build topics with a special emphasis on entrepreneurship and integrated project delivery. Centered on the studio learning environment, students will work in trans-disciplinary teams on applied learning opportunities that range from building science and digital fabrication research to community-engaged design and construction challenges across the Commonwealth.

This certificate serves graduate students interested in Design-Build and advanced building science related to Architecture, research, digital fabrication, and the construction industry. Centered on the studio learning environment, students will work in trans-disciplinary teams on applied learning opportunities that range from building science and digital fabrication research to community-engaged design and construction challenges across Kentucky.

How does any place become “historic?” And what does that mean? This 12-credit-hour program introduces the history and theory of historic preservation while allowing students to explore specialized areas of practice. Students will explore how culture influences human connections to place and the role revitalization plays in community planning and economic development. A wide range of electives allows students to connect basic preservation principles with studies in their major and minor fields.

The on-campus graduate certificate introduces students in fields such architecture, interior design, history, and geography to the theory and practice of historic preservation. This 12-credit-hour program is designed to supplement graduate studies in a closely related discipline. By introducing fundamental principles and skills, the certificate expands the abilities of students preparing for careers in associated fields. (Also offered online)

Universal Design creates products and environments that are as usable as possible by as many people as possible. Principles of Universal Design are utilized to make products, systems, buildings, classrooms, and other environments that are accessible to everyone. This 12-hour undergraduate certificate is offered by the School of Interiors in partnership with UK's Human Development Institute.

The Urban & Environmental Design (UED) Graduate Certificate empowers students to think critically about emerging urban and environmental design problems through real-world projects and future-oriented ideas. In-person coursework introduces students to the complexity of urban and rural environments and promotes an interdisciplinary approach to designing sustainable communities.

Online Programs

The online Master of Heritage in Resources Administration (MHRA), developed in cooperation with the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, combines historic preservation coursework with training in public and nonprofit administration, providing mid-career heritage professionals with a pathway to advancement and leadership within their organizations.

The online graduate certificate is a 12-credit-hour program of study designed for working professionals and others who are unable to take in-person courses. Like the on-campus certificate, it is designed to introduce core principles and concepts for the purpose of expanding the knowledge and abilities of persons working in related fields. Practicing architects, city planners, archaeologists, design consultants, architectural review board members, and realtors have found it effective in building knowledge that compliments their existing training and experience. (Also offered on campus)