Architecture & Landscape Architecture

Architecture Department

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. Most students transfer to U.C. Berkeley, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, the University of Southern California, and to a variety of public and private institutions, nationwide.

The program is academically challenging. The West Valley architecture courses, by necessity, must match the content and intellectual rigor of those at the universities with which it has transfer agreements. In addition to architecture courses, students typically have substantial general education requirements to fulfill and must complete requisite math and science courses, usually including calculus and physics.

While it is generally possible to enter the field of Architecture directly with either a Certificate or A.S. Degree from West Valley, the transfer orientation of our program and the nature of internship within the Architecture profession limit that option.

The Architecture courses at West Valley cover four areas of study: design, graphics, history, and practice/technical communication. In most instances, these courses are foundational rather than comprehensive, since students need two or more additional years of study in these areas before they receive a Bachelor's or Master's degree, because technology is becoming increasingly important in architecture, both professionally and academically, an increasing number of WVC courses leverage computer technology as an educational tool.

Landscape Architecture Pathway

Should you wish to pursue landscape architecture as a career, this pathway enables you to seek a transfer to a university program or an internship with a licensed landscape architect. In both cases, a qualifying portfolio of your designs will be required with your university or office internship applications.

Consider a green career for a healthier planet. Landscape architecture is one of several disciplines within environmental design: a way of exploring the relationships between built and natural environments to benefit people and planet alike. Everything you see, how you experience outdoor spaces, and the way you interact with others in the outdoors, has likely been influenced by landscape architecture. Explore West Valley’s program and start your career in Landscape Architecture.