B.Sc. Architecture

Colleges and Faculties > College of Engineering and Environmental Studies (CEES) > Faculty of Environmental Studies > Department of Architecture > B.Sc. Architecture

If you are passionate about creativity, design, and the built environment, our B.Sc. Architecture programme offers you the perfect foundation to turn your ideas into real structures that shape how people live and interact.

This degree introduces you to the art and science of designing buildings and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. You will learn how architecture brings together creativity, technology, culture, and sustainability to solve real-world challenges.

By the time you complete the programme, you will have mastered how to design spaces that are not only beautiful but also environmentally sustainable and responsive to the needs of people and communities.

Course Overview

The programme runs for five academic years (or four years for Direct Entry students). Throughout your studies, you will explore the full scope of architectural education, encompassing design conception, building technology, urban planning, and professional practice.

You will spend a significant part of your time in design studios, where you will work on creative design projects under the supervision of experienced architects and lecturers. Each studio experience builds your confidence and skill in conceptualising and communicating architectural ideas.

The programme combines both artistic and scientific learning, giving you a balance of creativity and technical precision. You will study architectural history, structural systems, building materials, environmental control, and computer-aided design (CAD). You will also participate in site visits and model-making workshops that help you connect classroom learning to real construction practice.

By the end of your degree, you will have developed a professional design portfolio and gained the skills required to progress into professional practice or postgraduate studies in architecture and related fields.

Course Curriculum

Your learning journey in the programme follows the NUC CCMAS structure, combining theoretical instruction with design studio work, workshops, and field training.

At this level, you will be introduced to the basic principles of design and communication. You will take courses such as:

  1. Introduction to Architecture and the Built Environment
  2. Basic Design and Visual Communication
  3. Technical Drawing and Freehand Sketching
  4. Elements of Building Construction
  5. Mathematics, Physics, and Geometry for Architecture
  6. Communication in English
  7. Nigerian Peoples and Culture

This level builds your drawing skills, creativity, and understanding of how people relate to the built environment.

Here, you begin to apply design principles to small-scale projects. You will learn about materials, structural systems, and environmental control through courses such as:

  1. Architectural Design Studio I & II
  2. Building Construction and Materials Technology
  3. History and Theory of Architecture I & II
  4. Climatology and Environmental Design
  5. Structural Mechanics for Architects
  6. Computer Applications in Design

At this stage, your projects become more complex. You will design multi-functional buildings and integrate environmental and structural systems into your designs. Key courses include:

  1. Architectural Design Studio III & IV
  2. Building Services and Environmental Systems
  3. Structural Analysis and Building Physics
  4. Site Planning and Landscape Design
  5. Research Methods in Architecture
  6. Entrepreneurship in the Built Environment

You will refine your ability to handle real-life design problems, focusing on construction detailing and project management. Courses include:

  1. Architectural Design Studio V
  2. Building Construction Detailing and Integration
  3. Urban Design and Sustainable Development
  4. Professional Practice and Project Management
  5. Fieldwork and Industrial Training (SIWES)

Your final year is the culmination of your training, where you will complete an independent design thesis or research project. Core courses include:

  1. Comprehensive Architectural Design Project
  2. Research and Seminar in Architecture
  3. Building Systems Integration
  4. Urban Regeneration and Sustainable Design
  5. Final Design Portfolio Presentation

By graduation, you will have the technical knowledge, creative confidence, and professional discipline to design and manage building projects of any scale.

Entry Requirements

You can gain admission into the programme through either the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry (DE) route. Both routes are designed to admit students who demonstrate creativity, spatial reasoning, and a solid background in science and mathematics.

1. UTME Entry (Five-Year Programme)

To qualify through UTME, you must have:

  1. Five (5) credit passes at not more than two sittings in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) or its equivalent.
  2. The required subjects are English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and any one of Fine Arts, Technical Drawing, Geography, or Economics.
  3. A satisfactory score in the UTME, with the subject combination: English Language, Physics, Mathematics, and one of Fine Arts, Technical Drawing, or Geography.
  4. A successful result in the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise.

If you are admitted through UTME, you will begin at the 100 Level and complete a minimum of five academic sessions before graduation.

2. Direct Entry (Four-Year Programme)

You can also gain admission through Direct Entry if you:

  1. Meet the O-Level requirements above, and
  2. Hold A-Level passes (or equivalent) in Mathematics and Physics, and one other subject such as Fine Arts or Technical Drawing.
  3. Possess a National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Architecture, Building, or related disciplines with at least an Upper Credit.

Direct Entry students start from the 200 Level and complete the programme in four academic sessions.

Why study at OOU?

Choosing to study architecture here means you will join a creative and intellectually stimulating environment where innovation meets real-world design. You will be guided by experienced architects and educators who are passionate about helping you grow into a skilled, responsible, and visionary professional.

Here’s why this programme stands out:

  1. Balanced Creativity and Science: You will develop the perfect mix of creative design thinking and scientific problem-solving skills essential for modern architectural practice.
  2. Studio-Based Learning: You will spend much of your time in design studios where you can freely experiment with ideas, develop your drawing and modelling skills, and receive personal guidance from your lecturers.
  3. Modern Tools and Technology: You will learn to use Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and digital rendering software that prepare you for the technological demands of the profession.
  4. Real-World Experience: Through fieldwork, industrial training, and site visits, you will gain firsthand exposure to how design translates into construction and urban development.
  5. Environmental Responsibility: You will learn to design with climate and culture in mind, applying sustainable principles and using materials that are suitable for the Nigerian and African context.
  6. Professional Readiness: Your degree will prepare you to continue into the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) or pursue professional registration with the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and other recognised global bodies.

If you love design, enjoy solving problems, and care about the world around you, this is the programme that allows you to build a career that changes the way people live and experience space.

Research Project

In your final year, you will complete a comprehensive design thesis or research project that demonstrates your ability to integrate creativity, technical competence, and social responsibility.

What to Expect

  1. You will identify a real-world design problem, such as housing, public spaces, healthcare facilities, or urban renewal, and develop a project that addresses it.
  2. You will prepare conceptual sketches, working drawings, models, and digital presentations.
  3. You will support your design with written research that explains your design philosophy, site analysis, and technical solutions.

Supervision and Assessment

You will work under the supervision of an experienced academic or professional architect who will guide you through every stage of your research and design.

Your final assessment will include:

  1. Evaluation of design creativity and functionality.
  2. Accuracy and clarity of drawings and models.
  3. A written design report and oral defence before a panel of examiners.

This project gives you the opportunity to showcase your vision as a designer and demonstrate that you are ready to join the professional world of architecture.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Architecture, you must complete all academic, design, and professional training requirements prescribed by the University and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Academic Requirements

You are required to:

  1. Complete a minimum of five academic sessions (or four if admitted through Direct Entry).
  2. Pass all compulsory, elective, and general studies courses as listed in your approved curriculum.
  3. Accumulate the minimum number of credit units required for graduation, including design studios, fieldwork, and workshops.
  4. Successfully complete and defend your final-year design thesis or research project.
  5. Maintain good academic standing and adhere to all university regulations on attendance, conduct, and coursework submission.

Degree Classification

Your final degree classification will be determined by your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), following the national grading system:

When you complete all requirements, you will be awarded the B.Sc. Architecture degree and become eligible to progress to the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) — the professional qualification for practising architects.

Career Opportunities

With a B.Sc. in Architecture, you will have access to a wide range of rewarding and creative career paths within the built environment. The programme prepares you not just to design buildings but to think critically about space, sustainability, and how people live.

Possible Career Paths

After graduation, you can work as:

  1. Architectural Designer – developing residential, commercial, and public building projects.
  2. Urban Designer or Planner – designing cities, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
  3. Interior or Landscape Designer – creating functional and beautiful interior or outdoor environments.
  4. Construction Project Supervisor – managing the technical and on-site aspects of design implementation.
  5. 3D Visualisation and CAD/BIM Specialist – using digital tools to create and communicate design concepts.
  6. Sustainable Design Consultant – focusing on environmentally responsible and energy-efficient buildings.
  7. Lecturer or Researcher – contributing to architectural education and research in universities or institutes.

Industry and Global Opportunities

You can work in:

  1. Architectural and Construction Firms
  2. Government Ministries of Works, Housing, and Urban Planning
  3. Real Estate Development Companies
  4. International Development Agencies and NGOs
  5. Design, Engineering, and Consulting Firms

Your training equips you to function effectively anywhere in the world, as architectural design principles are universal, while your grounding in local climate and materials gives you a distinct advantage in sustainable design practice.

How to Apply?

1. UTME Entry (Five-Year Programme)

  1. Register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) via the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
  2. Select architecture as your course of study and choose the university as your first choice.
  3. Sit for the UTME with the correct subject combination: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, and one of Fine Arts, Technical Drawing, or Geography.
  4. Apply for and pass the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
  5. Complete your admission and registration process through the university’s official admission portal.

2. Direct Entry (Four-Year Programme)

  1. Apply through the JAMB Direct Entry portal and select Architecture as your course.
  2. Upload your relevant A-Level, ND, HND, or B.Sc. qualifications in related fields.
  3. Participate in the university’s direct entry screening exercise.
  4. Successful candidates are admitted into the 200 Level and complete the programme in a minimum of four academic sessions.
  5. By choosing this path, you are taking the first step toward becoming a professional architect who designs buildings that inspire, function, and last.

Course Coordinator

Our B.Sc. Architecture programme is managed by a team of experienced academic and professional architects within the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Studies. The department is committed to shaping you into a creative, disciplined, and ethically grounded designer capable of responding to global and local environmental challenges.

Contact Information:

Course Overview

  1. Next Admission Process
  2. Current Academic Year
  3. Associated programmes = Undergraduate
  4. Course Duration = 5 Years
  5. Degree = Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
  6. Department = Architecture
  7. Course Type = Full Time
  8. Course Delivery = On campus
  9. Location = Faculty of Environmental Studies,  Ibogun Campus
  10. Scholarship opportunities