International Direct - Bachelor of Architecture

International direct admission to Louisiana State University (LSU) is designed for international students with advanced English-language skills. The program emphasizes academic, cultural, and professional growth to help students excel in their studies and prepare for a successful future.

As international direct students at Louisiana State University, individuals will receive:

Architects are responsible for creating structures and environments that enhance our way of living and working. Today’s architects are problem-solvers, artists, creators, and scientists who tackle a wide range of architectural challenges, from individual buildings to city planning.

Architecture, a blend of art, science, and business, is increasingly focused on the social, technological, and psychological aspects that impact our surroundings. To become an architect, one must possess an appreciation for beauty in forms and materials, as well as an understanding of the relationship between people and their environment. Architects may work independently, collaboratively, as consultants, or as part of an architectural firm. To prepare for these roles, individuals must undergo formal education, gain practical experience, pass a professional examination, and obtain registration.

Louisiana State University’s School of Architecture, accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board and a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, offers a five-year undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch). Ranked among the top 10 architecture schools in the South by DesignIntelligence, the school provides various travel opportunities and programs to tailor studies to individual interests. Field trips, class excursions, and study abroad programs allow students to explore major architectural centers. The educational approach at the school emphasizes studio-based design education, promoting active learning through dialogue, collaboration, risk-taking, and hands-on experience. Students can engage in extracurricular activities such as service-learning, design competitions, and student organizations.

Enrolling in the School of Architecture at Louisiana State University offers the resources of a large state school combined with the intimate atmosphere of a smaller program. The undergraduate architecture degree requires five years of study and 162 credit-hours of courses. After the first year, students can apply for admission to the upper division of the program, where they will integrate technical and creative elements in architectural projects and complete an integrative design project.