School of Architecture: Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Theme Areas

Courses in the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) degree are arranged in five main thematic groups:

1. Design: The practice of design and the understanding of its theories and methods.
2. Visual and Digital Media: The use of creative and analytical tools and techniques.
3. Cultural History and Theory: The understanding of cultural and historical forces shaping the built world.
4. Technology and Environment: The understanding of materials and methods, building technologies, and environmental issues and systems critical to the making of architecture.
5. 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)

• ARCH 393 Option Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
• ARCH 442 Contemporary Architectural Theory [0.50 unit] (Cultural History and Theory)
• Two Technical Architecture Electives
• Open Elective

Term 4A (Fall, Rome)

• ARCH 492 Design Studio [1.50 units] (Design)
• Any Architecture Elective (Technical or General)

Note: The Rome 4A term is the only opportunity for students to take Rome elective offerings, and these courses (ARCH 428, ARCH 446, ARCH 449) are only offered on the Rome campus during the 4A term. Students can enrol in a second ARCH 400-level elective to fulfil the open elective requirement.

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)
• Any Architecture Elective (Technical or General)

Electives

BAS program elective courses are organized into two primary groups: Architecture Electives (technical and general) and Open Electives.

Students must complete a minimum of five elective courses (0.5 unit each) as follows:

• Four Architecture Electives where a minimum of two are Technical Architecture Electives
• One Open Elective

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. Architecture electives are organized into two groups: technical and general.

Group 1: Technical Architecture Electives

Students must complete a minimum of two Technical Architecture Electives to meet graduation requirements.

• ARCH 510 Special Topics in Visual and Digital Media
• ARCH 570 Special Topics in Building Technology and Environment
• ARCH 580 Special Topics in Race, Equity, and Environmental Justice

Group 2: General Architecture Electives

• ARCH 428 Rome and the Campagna (Rome)
• ARCH 446 Italian Urban History (Rome)
• ARCH 449 The Development of Modern Italian Architecture (Rome)
• ARCH 520 Special Topics in Urbanism and Landscape
• ARCH 540 Special Topics in Architectural History and Theory

Open Elective