Theme Areas
Courses in the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) degree are arranged in five main thematic groups:
- Design: The practice of design and the understanding of its theories and methods.
- Visual and digital media: The use of creative and analytical tools and techniques.
- Cultural history and theory: The understanding of cultural and historical forces shaping the built world.
- Technology and environment: The understanding of materials and methods, building technologies, and environmental issues and systems critical to the making of architecture.
- Urbanism and landscape: An introduction to urbanism and landscape and the organization of natural and human ecologies.
Professional Practice
Students gain invaluable architectural professional experience through the co-op program which integrates two years of alternating paid work terms into the pre-professional course of study. Through co-op, Architecture students expand their professional education and opportunities as they apply their knowledge and skills within architectural firms all over the world.
Academic Requirements and Program Sequence
Pre-Professional Architecture
Term 1A (Fall)
- ARCH 110 Visual and Digital Media 1 [0.50 unit] (Visual and Digital Media)
- ARCH 120 An Introduction to Architectural Ideas and Communications [0.50 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 142 Introduction to Cultural History [0.50 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 172 Building Construction 1 [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 192 Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
Term 1B (Winter)
- ARCH 113 Visual and Digital Media 2 [0.50 unit] (Visual and Digital Media)
- ARCH 126 Environmental Building Design [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 143 Settlements, Sanctuaries, and Cities [1.00 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 173 Building Construction 2 [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 193 Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
Term 2A (Fall)
- ARCH 212 Digital Fabrication [0.50 unit] (Visual and Digital Media)
- ARCH 246 Cultural Encounters 600-1600 [1.00 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 260 Principles of Structures [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 292 Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
Term 2B (Spring)
- ARCH 225 Theory and Design of the Contemporary Landscape [0.50 unit] (Urbanism and Landscape)
- ARCH 243 Indigenous Practices [0.50 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 248 Cultural Encounters 1600-1914 [1.00 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 276 Timber: Design, Structure and Construction [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 293 Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
Term 3A (Winter)
- ARCH 327 Architecture of the Urban Environment [0.50 unit] (Urbanism and Landscape)
- ARCH 342 Modernisms: Local and Global [1.00 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
- ARCH 362 Steel and Concrete: Design, Structure and Construction [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 364 Building Science [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 392 Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
Term 3B (Fall)
Term 4A (Fall, Rome)
Term 4B (Spring)
- ARCH 463 Integrated Environmental Systems [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 473 Technical Report [0.50 unit] (Technology and Environment)
- ARCH 493 Design Studio/ Comprehensive Building Design [1.50 units] (Design)
- One elective from: ARCH 510, ARCH 520, ARCH 540, ARCH 570, ARCH 580
- Open elective (any discipline) [0.50 unit]
Architecture Electives
The Architecture elective requirement gives students breadth of study and opportunities for research at the upper levels of the pre-professional program in relation to four curricular areas: cultural history and theory (ARCH 540), technology and environment (ARCH 570), visual and digital media (ARCH 510), and urbanism and landscape (ARCH 520), as well as race, equity, and environmental justice (ARCH 580). A minimum of three and up to four architecture electives must be taken over the course of the BAS program. A minimum of two electives in the 4A term will be taken as ARCH 400-level cultural history electives offered in Rome, or as alternate Architecture upper-level electives. A minimum of two electives will be taken from the 500-level series in the third and fourth years (3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) of the BAS program.
Open Electives
The open elective requirement gives students some breadth of studies related to their role as educated professionals in society. A minimum of one and up to two electives from any discipline must be completed to satisfy the open elective requirement. These courses can be taken in any semester in the second to fourth years (2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) of the BAS program.