7: School of Architecture

General Information | Academic Information | Degrees Offered | Course Descriptions | Faculty

Architecture | Urban and Environmental Planning | Architectural History

Architectural History

The undergraduate curriculum provides a broad-based liberal arts program and an introduction to the discipline of architectural history. A minimum of 33 credits of architectural history is required. Among them is AR H 490, an independent study course taken during the fourth year which requires that the student produce a paper devoted to some subject of a synthetic, integrative character and which, with faculty comments, becomes part of the student's permanent record. Introduction to historic preservation and other appropriate preservation courses may be used to help fulfill this requirement. In addition, students complete the first year of architectural design (i.e., ARCH 201-202) required of students in the architecture department. Students sometimes fulfill this requirement during the summer at the University or approved programs abroad. The student should emerge with a knowledge of the history of architecture and a grounding in the methodology of research and critical evaluation. A semester abroad in London is available to students in their third year.

Bachelor of Architectural History [1]

First Year
First Semester
AR H 101History of Architecture: Ancient to Renaissance 3
ENWR 101Composition[2] 3
MATH 121 Applied Calculus I or
MATH ___Approved MATH substitute[2]3
Foreign Language[3]3-4
Elective (ARCH 102 recommended)3
Total15-16
Second Semester
AR H 102History of Architecture: Renaissance to Modern 3
Foreign Language[3]3-4
English elective (ENWR 202 recommended)3
Elective (ARCH 102 is recommended)3
Open elective[5]3
Total15-16
Second Year
First Semester
ARCH 201Introduction to Architectural Design 4
History of Architecture elective[4]3
Foreign Language[3]3-4
Natural Science elective3-4
Social Science elective3
Total16-18
Second Semester
ARCH 202Introduction to Architectural Design 4
Foreign Language[3]3-4
Natural Science elective3-4
Social Science elective3
Open elective[5]3
Total16-18
Third Year
First Semester
History of Architecture electives[4] 6
English elective3
History elective3
Open elective[5]3
Total15
Second Semester
History of Architecture electives[4] 6
English elective3
History elective3
Elective (ARCH 589 recommended)3-4
Total15-16
Fourth Year
First Semester
History of Architecture electives[4] 6
Open electives[5]9
Total15
Second Semester
AR H 490Major Special Study 3
History of Architecture elective[4]3
Open electives[5]9
Total15

[1] Students must have a minimum of 122 credits with at least 2.0 average in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Architectural History degree.
[2] If ENWR 101 or MATH are waived, any open electives may be substituted.
[3] Students must attain at least the intermediate level (normally by completing a language course labeled 202) in at least one foreign language. This is usually done by completing 12 credits of foreign language study through the 202 level. Any remaining course slots may be used for additional languages or as open electives. Those with previous language study may contact the appropriate department for placement in advanced level courses (e.g. to begin study at the University with a 200- rather than a 100-level language course). Students scoring at least 620 on a CEEB language achievement examination have satisfied this requirement. Those intending to continue in the field of architectural history are advised to study a second language.
[4] Related art history courses offered by the McIntire Department of Art and related courses in the history of landscape architecture may be taken for architectural history credit with the permission of the student's advisor.
[5] Students should take advantage of courses in preservation and building technology when they are available.

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