Belmont University
Department of Architecture
The Architecture Department prepares graduates who are not only ready to enter the architectural profession but also equipped to use design to advance the greater good. Rooted in a Christ-centered liberal arts education, we cultivate architects who understand how physical transformations can lead to human ones, grounding their work in purpose, faith, and hope. Through close engagement with industry partners, community service initiatives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on experiential learning, we guide students toward excellence, empathy, and integrity as they design environments that nurture dignity and promote flourishing within Nashville and beyond.
https://www.belmont.edu/omore/undergrad/architecture/index.html
Setting
A Belmont education will prepare you for a life of meaning and purpose, whatever career path you pursue. Belmont graduates find themselves in incredible positions all across the country—in every industry—accomplishing their goals and making the world a better place.
School Philosophy
Belmont’s architecture program offers a purpose-driven, interdisciplinary education that prepares students to become reflective, service-minded “citizen architects” grounded in social equity, environmental stewardship, and ethical responsibility. Rooted in the University’s Christ-centered mission, the program integrates rigorous professional training with the liberal arts, emphasizing design as an intellectual, cultural, and human-centered practice. Students engage in collaborative learning across disciplines, develop metacognitive and vocational awareness, and cultivate the knowledge, empathy, and creative insight needed to imagine and realize a more just, sustainable, and beautiful built environment.
Programs
Belmont’s architecture curriculum combines a five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) professional program with additional pathways—the B.S. in Architectural Studies and the Architecture Minor—each offering distinct levels of depth and professional preparation. The B.Arch, the only NAAB-accredited track, provides an intensive, sequenced studio curriculum integrated with structures, environmental systems, history/theory, digital representation, professional practice, and a multi-year ePortfolio stream that supports reflection and vocational discernment. Students engage in community-impact design projects, interdisciplinary collaborations with fields such as environmental science, fine arts, interior design, and nursing, and experiential learning through field trips, firm tours, and engagement with Nashville’s design ecosystem. In contrast, the B.S. in Architectural Studies offers a broader, non-licensure pathway focused on architectural literacy, design thinking, and exposure to building culture without the full professional studio sequence, while the Minor provides foundational design and representation skills for students in other majors. Across all programs, students benefit from small studio environments, hands-on fabrication resources, service-learning opportunities, and a curriculum shaped by Belmont’s mission to prepare graduates to design ethically, sustainably, and empathetically for the communities they serve.
of Focus
1. Art & Design
2.Digital Fabrication & Technology
3. Community Design
4. History | Theory | Criticism
5. Cross-Cultural Contexts | Human Experiences 6. Industry Collaborations
7. Urbanism
8. Interior Design
Opportunities
Cross-disciplinary experience
Summer Program
Study Abroad
Facilities
Large-format Printer
Laser Cutter
Woodshop
3D Printing
Metalshop
CNC Milling
Fabrication Lab
Policies
Transfer Policies
The architecture program welcomes transfer students; however, due to the sequenced and integrated nature of the professional B.Arch curriculum, placement into studio courses is determined through a review of prior coursework, portfolios, and alignment with Belmont’s learning outcomes. General education credits typically transfer more readily, while architecture-specific courses are evaluated individually for equivalency to ensure students meet NAAB-aligned competencies. Transfer students may require additional time to complete the five-year curriculum depending on the level of studio preparedness and the match between previous coursework and Belmont’s program requirements.
