This program prepares students to enter the field of architecture and related areas. The student is provided with an option of direct employment in the field or preparation for transfer to a professional school of architecture. The Design Concentration focuses on studio-based design projects, drawing, and presentation skills. The student will develop a portfolio of work relevant to their concentration.

The Associate of Science in Architecture provides students with a strong foundational knowledge of the field of Architecture.

The Architecture Program at West Valley College is primarily transfer-oriented. It prepares students to enter 4- and 5-year architecture programs at the university level. The degree exceeds 60 units as it is preparing students for the five-year professional degree in Architecture. The Architecture courses at West Valley cover the following areas of study: building design, graphics, history, practical/technical communication, codes, construction, and structural design. An increasing number of WVC courses leverage computer technology as an educational tool.

Most architecture majors, after completing their studies and obtaining their Professional Degree, will choose to obtain their license to practice architecture and go into private practice as owners of their own firm. As practitioners, they will service a wide variety of clientele: private, business, institutional, and governmental. Others may elect to find employment in existing architectural firms, as members of their teams, in the design and development of the built environment. Some may elect to do advance work in fields such as art, historic restoration, product development, government, politics, business administration, law, education, medicine, research, land development, the military, etc. Others find opportunities in related fields that utilize the technical and problem-solving skills obtained from their architectural education.

Most architecture majors, after completing their studies and obtaining their professional degree, will choose to obtain their license to practice architecture and go into private practice as owners of their own firm.

The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in architectural technologies prepares you for a career as an architectural technologist, whose primary role is in the development of detailed designs for the construction and renovation of buildings to meet the needs of a sustainable world. The focus of the curriculum is on the knowledge base and decision-making processes involved with shaping building form and assembling architectural materials and components in a manner that supports minimal energy and resource consumption and produces functional, robust architecture.

Architects and architectural technicians shape the built environment, creating homes, offices, schools and much more. Do you have a passion for creating on paper and with computers? A career in architecture or architecture-related fields could be a satisfying and rewarding profession. An associate's degree in Architecture from Northampton provides an affordable foundation for a traditional five-year degree program leading to a career as a licensed architect. It can also prepare you for work in the field upon graduation.

The Architecture program at El Centro provides a curriculum of transferable college-level courses that give students the opportunity to gain exposure to the wide variety of skills that architects must master. Topics include architectural history, aesthetics, elements of design, hand-sketching techniques, computer graphics and structural concepts.

Associate of Science (Architectural and Building Technology)

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) degree is awarded upon completion of this program's requirements. Upon completing the ARC program, graduates can be expected to know the following areas of study.

The Architectural Graphics AAS degree prepares students for careers with architecture firms, construction companies, city, county, and state architectural and civil engineering departments and corporate architectural and civil engineering departments.

The Architectural Technology program provides instruction in the concepts and skills required for careers in architectural and related professions involved in designing for the built environment. At the core of the curriculum are a series of architectural studios where students prepare construction documents. The series begins with a study of residential construction and culminates with commercial. Emphasis is placed on quality graphic communication, the development of design skills, and a thorough understanding of a variety of construction types. Complementing the studio sequence are courses designed to provide instruction in building materials, structures, mechanical/electrical systems, professional practices, and architectural theory and history. Electives in the program allow students to customize their education to fit their interests. Given the wide range of topics covered in the curriculum, graduates are prepared to find employment in architectural and related professional offices including positions in construction estimating, civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical/electrical engineering, construction management, computer-aided drafting, building code enforcement, specification writing, urban planning, historic preservation, contracting, sub-contracting, and building material sales and marketing.