Online BS in Architectural Studies Degree Design the Architectural Environments of Tomorrow
120
Credit Hours
100% online courses
Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total
Next Start Dates: January 18, 2027 | February 15, 2027 | March 22, 2027
Available Spring 2027
Build the Skills to Design Practical Spaces with an Online Architectural Studies Degree
What makes a building more than walls, materials, and plans? Architecture shapes how people gather, worship, work, rest, and move through daily life. If you’re drawn to creativity, structure, and problem-solving, Liberty’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Architectural Studies can help you explore the built environment through flexible online study.
Across communities, thoughtful design affects homes, workplaces, museums, historic sites, and public spaces. Cities and organizations need people who can think visually, communicate clearly, and understand how space affects human experience. In this online architectural studies degree, you can study architectural history, design theory, visual communication, computer-aided design (CAD) software, building systems, and structural systems. You can also examine how architecture connects to culture, ethics, sustainability, and community needs.
At Liberty, this architectural studies degree is offered 100% online with no set login times, so you can complete coursework from anywhere with an internet connection. Our program is designed for students like you who are considering pursuing an architectural studies degree while balancing schoolwork with other responsibilities. Whether you want to explore future graduate study or design-related work, a flexible architectural studies and design degree can help you begin with an applicable undergraduate foundation.
For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Bachelor of Science (BS) in Architectural Studies. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026
What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Studies?
Choosing an architectural studies online bachelor’s degree should involve more than finding a flexible format. At Liberty, our program falls under the School of Communication and the Arts, where studio art, graphic design, digital design, human-centered design, interior design, and visual communication all support creative study. These fields connect with architecture through aesthetics, spatial reasoning, user experience, and visual storytelling. That multidisciplinary setting can help you study architecture as both a technical field and a human-centered design practice.
Additionally, faculty support matters when your work involves critique, revision, and visual communication. In our architectural studies degree program, you can engage with instructors with advanced experience in architecture, art, and design fields who can bring a practical perspective into your courses. Our online learning environment features small class sizes that can support more personalized feedback as you work through architectural drawing, digital presentation, and design process concepts.
Because Liberty’s architectural studies major is offered fully online, you can pursue your degree without relocating to campus. Through digital workflows, architectural technology, CAD drafting, and discussions connected to virtual reality in architecture, our program connects modern design communication with flexible access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Liberty’s undergraduate architectural studies pathway provides a foundation for professional graduate study. While the BS in Architectural Studies (BSAS) does not lead directly to architect licensure, it can help provide undergraduate preparation for students who later pursue a Master of Architecture.
What Will You Study in Liberty’s Architectural Studies Degree?
Architecture depends on the ability to see, sketch, test, revise, and explain ideas. In Liberty’s architectural studies major, you will study design exploration, architectural drawing, mapping, modeling, documentation methods, and digital technologies used in design communication. Coursework will introduce CAD software, building information modeling concepts, industry standards, representational techniques, and custom model creations. These topics can help you connect technical drawing with the visual language used across architecture-related fields.
Additionally, architectural visualization plays a major role in how ideas become understandable to clients, reviewers, and communities. In Liberty’s online architectural studies program, you can study digital rendering, three-dimensional modeling, compositing software, simulation tools, data analysis tools, visual logic, and presentation methods. These studies also aim to connect to portfolio development for interviews, graduate school applications, design grants, or competitions in the field of architecture. Rather than treating visuals as decoration, Liberty’s program presents architectural rendering as a way to communicate design intent with clarity.
Beyond drawings and digital models, buildings must meet certain guidelines related to structure, safety, materials, and site conditions. Your coursework will also examine building systems, environmental design considerations, construction methods, retaining and foundation systems, facades, movement systems, mechanical controls, and building code concepts. You will have the opportunity to explore structural systems through wood, timber, steel, concrete, and masonry applications.
Design also carries cultural, historical, and ethical weight. In our undergraduate architectural studies program, you can explore architectural history, urban design, community design, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and how built spaces can reflect human needs across different settings. Through this broader architecture curriculum, you can consider how ethical design and stewardship shape decisions about buildings, communities, and public life.
Potential Architectural Studies Career Opportunities
- Architectural assistant
- Architectural designer
- CAD technician
- Construction project coordinator
- Exhibit designer
- Historic preservation specialist
- Interior design assistant
Featured Courses
- ARCH 221 – Architectural Drawing
- ARCH 226 – Building Systems
- ARCH 311 – Digital Rendering and Presentation
- ARCH 326 – Structural Systems II
Course guides coming soon
Course Format
We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.
In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.
You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Communication and the Arts.
- View the Undergraduate Communication and the Arts Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Many of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2026 when compared to our leading online competitors.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no additional cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!
| Undergraduate Full Time | $410/Credit |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Part Time | $475/Credit |
| Military Undergraduate | $250/Credit |
These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the BS in Architectural Studies
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- There is no application fee to apply to Liberty University.
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.
Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Transcript Policies
High School Transcript Policy
Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.
- Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.
Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.
The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.
Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Military Transfers
If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
- Potential college credit for military training
*Not applicable to certificates.
These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Undergraduate Program for Architectural Studies
What is architectural studies?
Architectural studies is an academic field that examines architecture through design, history, theory, technology, and the built environment. Instead of focusing on professional licensure requirements, it gives you a broader framework for understanding how buildings and spaces are imagined, represented, constructed, and used. In Liberty’s architectural studies major, you can study topics such as architectural drawing, structural systems, digital rendering, urban planning, and historic preservation. This combination can help you explore architecture from creative, technical, and cultural perspectives.
Is architectural studies the same as architecture?
Architectural studies and architecture are closely related, but they are not the same. A professional architecture degree is typically tied more directly to licensure preparation, while an architectural studies degree focuses on foundational knowledge in design, visualization, building systems, and architectural history. Liberty’s BS in Architectural Studies can help support future study in a Master of Architecture.
What can you do with an architectural studies degree?
An architectural studies degree can support several design-related paths that involve buildings, spaces, planning, preservation, and visual communication. Depending on your experience, portfolio, location, and future education, you could pursue roles such as architectural designer, architectural assistant, CAD technician, construction project coordinator, historic preservation specialist, interior design assistant, or exhibit designer. Some students also continue into graduate programs connected to architecture, urban design, historic preservation, or related fields.
Does Liberty’s degree lead directly to architect licensure?
Liberty’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Architectural Studies does not lead directly to architect licensure. Obtaining licensure typically requires additional education, professional experience, and examinations, which often include completing a Master of Architecture. This BSAS degree can help provide important undergraduate preparation for that possible next step while also supporting broader design-related interests.
What is the best online architecture degree?
The best architecture degree online depends on your goals, especially whether you want professional licensure preparation, design-focused undergraduate study, or a pathway toward graduate architecture education. Liberty’s online BS in Architectural Studies is designed for students who want architecture-related coursework in design, CAD, visualization, building systems, and planning concepts. Because this degree does not lead directly to licensure, it can be a good fit if you’re seeking foundational architectural study or future graduate preparation.
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