Southwestern has offered a minor in architecture and design since 1985, with Prof. Thomas Howe (art historian, archaeologist, design teacher) providing lecture courses in architectural history and studios introductory architectural design, and Prof. Ron Geibel (ceramist) offering courses in design, with projects in industrial and landscape design.

To date the program has a 100% acceptance rate of getting students admitted to design graduate schools in fields of architecture, interior design, industrial design, landscape architecture, construction contracting, engineering and urban planning, and students have gone to graduate schools at Harvard, Yale, U.T. Austin, Clemson, UCLA, Univ. Houston, Univ. of Arizona, U.T. Arlington and Washington Univ., St. Louis. 

Acquiring a liberal arts B.A. may add about one year to attaining a professional degree as opposed to entering directly into a B.Arch program, but liberal arts background has a record of endowing design professionals with greater depth and flexibility throughout their careers. Because of their liberal arts background, many SU graduates progress in their profession much faster than those with just a B.Arch degree, and many have found themselves design project leaders at leading firms or independent within ten years of graduation. 

Students major in some other field that can enhance a design career, including almost any of the humanities, business, sciences, mathematics or studio art. Most SU graduates apply for M.Arch first degree programs. Students should major in any other discipline which appeals to them.