School of Architecture

The School of Architecture offers an opportunity for in-depth study of the discipline of architecture within the context of a liberal arts education. The program of study emphasizes the complex relationship between architectural form and culture and society, considered through an in-depth exploration of architectural design, history and theory of architecture, building technology, urbanism, and landscape architecture. Particular attention is paid to the social and political aspects of architecture’s urban setting, and its impact on the natural environment.

The courses in architecture develop a broad understanding of the concepts and methods for the planning and design of buildings, landscapes, and cities. They include the history of architecture, the history of urban form, analysis of contemporary urban problems, analysis of modern architecture and visual studies, related social sciences, and building technologies. Drawing skills are not required before entering the program; they are developed as an essential part of the coursework and design studios. ARC 203 and ARC 204 are prerequisites for the major, with ARC 204 serving as the preliminary studio course; ART 102 is strongly recommended to provide students with an introduction to the history of architecture.

The School of Architecture’s equivalent of independent work is the design studio. In the studios, students prepare architectural designs that are reviewed by the faculty. Students meet with the faculty for three-hour sessions every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon. The design studios are located in the Architecture Building and are open after hours for students to work on their projects.

Junior year: The independent work requirement in the junior year is satisfied by taking a design studio in each semester. All undergraduate design studios are organized topically. The projects in each studio may vary in scale and complexity; design methodologies and representational skills are introduced incrementally beginning with the fall semester. Teaching methods within the design studios include seminars, desk criticism, and school-wide reviews of student projects. Students may choose from one of several offerings in each semester via a lottery system at the beginning of each semester. Every effort will be made to see that as many students as possible receive their first choice from the design studios being offered in each semester. Every effort is made to keep the enrollment of the design studios at a maximum of 12 students.

Senior year: In the fall and spring semesters of the senior year, the independent work requirement is satisfied by the architectural thesis.

Senior design studio: All students in the concentration are required to complete three studios in the two years of their study; the third studio takes place as part of the coursework in the fall semester of the senior year. The Senior Design Studio presents a challenging independent design project in which the knowledge of previous studios is synthesized and new techniques of representation are employed.

National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) statement: Most states require that an individual intending to become an architect hold an accredited degree. There are two types of degrees accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board: (1) the bachelor of architecture, which requires a minimum of five years of study, and (2) the master of architecture, which requires a minimum of three years of study following an unrelated bachelor’s degree or two years following a related pre-professional bachelor’s degree. These professional degrees are structured to educate those who aspire to registration and licensure to practice as architects.

The four-year, pre-professional degree, where offered, is not accredited by NAAB. The pre-professional degree is useful for those who want a foundation in the field of architecture, as preparation for either continued education in a professional degree program or employment options in fields related to architecture.