Architectural Studies, BS
for the Bachelor of Science Major in Architectural Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies BSAS is a pre-professional degree that prepares students to enter a professional 2-year M ARCH degree. The program provides a strong foundation in design, technology and history as they relate to architectural practice. The degree also provides students with a broad liberal arts foundation that can lead to many other career options.
In this curriculum, normal progress is imperative. A student failing to complete any required course more than one semester later than the time designated in the curriculum is prohibited from progressive registration in architectural courses until the deficiency is corrected. To continue at the sophomore level and beyond, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (A = 4.0) for all University course work attempted. For the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree, a total of 120 semester hours are required.
for the Bachelor of Science Major in Architectural Studies
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
A maximum of nine hours may be taken as professional architecture elective courses which a student can count toward the Master of Architecture in Architecture requirements.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Architecture Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | 3 | |
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| ARCH 101 | Introduction to Architecture | 2 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 7-10 | |
| MATH 220 | Calculus | 5 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| or PHYS 101 | College Physics: Mech & Heat | |
| Design | 13 | |
| ARCH 171 | Introduction to Design I | 3 |
| ARCH 172 | Introduction to Design II | 3 |
| ARCH 273 | Fundamentals of Design I | 4 |
| ARCH 274 | Fundamentals of Design II | 4 |
| Health & Wellbeing | 3 | |
| ARCH 321 | Environment, Architecture, and Global Health | 3 |
| Urbanism (select one) | 3 | |
| History of the Urban Environment | ||
| Overseas Architectural Studies | ||
| Cities of the World | ||
| Social & Environmental Issues | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| Introduction to City Planning | ||
| Architectural History | 9 | |
| ARCH 210 | Introduction to the History of World Architecture | 3 |
| Select one course focused on architecture before 1850 CE from the following: | 3 | |
| Islamic Gardens & Architecture | ||
| History of World Landscapes (may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Introduction to the History of Architectural Theory (may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Special Topics in Architectural History (may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Rome: City of Visible History | ||
| Studies in Spanish Architecture (Section B, Barcelona only; may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Ancient Egyptian & Greek Arch | ||
| Ancient Roman Architecture | ||
| Medieval Architecture | ||
| Baroque & Rococo Arch | ||
| Modernity’s Mirror: Nineteenth-Century Architecture 1750-1900 | ||
| Select one course focused on architecture after 1850 CE from the following: | 3 | |
| History of World Landscapes (may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Introduction to the History of Architectural Theory (may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Special Topics in Architectural History (may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| Studies in Spanish Architecture (Section B, Barcelona only; may be used to cover requirement before or after 1850CE, but may not fulfill both) | ||
| The Architecture of the United States, c.1650 to Present | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Global Architecture | ||
| Performance | 21 | |
| ARCH 231 | Anatomy of Buildings | 4 |
| ARCH 232 | Structural Fundamentals | 4 |
| ARCH 433 | Design of Steel and Reinforced Concrete Structures I | 4 |
| ARCH 434 | Environmental Control Systems I | 5 |
| ARCH 435 | Structural Systems and Construction Methods | 4 |
| Studio | 24 | |
| ARCH 371 | Intermediate Design I | 6 |
| ARCH 372 | Intermediate Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 473 | Advanced Design I | 6 |
| ARCH 474 | Advanced Design II | 6 |
Summary of Credits for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Architecture Curriculum | 83 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Total | 120 | |
for the Bachelor of Science Major in Architectural Studies
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 101 | 2 | ARCH 172 | 3 |
| ARCH 171 | 3 | MATH 231 or PHYS 101 | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 5 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course that is also Cultural Studies) | 3 |
| FAA 101 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 273 | 4 | ARCH 274 | 3 |
| ARCH 231 | 4 | ARCH 232 | 4 |
| ARCH 210 | 3 | General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course that is also Cultural Studies) | 3 |
| Urbanism course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| 17 | 13 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 371 | 6 | ARCH 372 | 6 |
| ARCH 321 | 3 | ARCH 435 | 4 |
| ARCH 433 | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 473 | 6 | ARCH 474 | 6 |
| ARCH 434 | 5 | Architectural History 'select one additional' course | 3 |
| Architectural History 'select one additional' course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the Bachelor of Science Major in Architectural Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS) curriculum combines a comprehensive design education with the broad perspective necessary to become active and engaged global citizens. Students learn to address and solve tomorrow’s complex problems at the intersection of the social, political, economic and environmental realms. Two- and three-dimensional design form the foundation of the four-year BSAS degree. Technology, history, and structures courses complete the curriculum, preparing students to enter a two-year NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture degree program, or to pursue a graduate degree or career in an allied discipline.
When students complete the BSAS degree they will be able to:
1. Employ Specialized Knowledge
- Apply design thinking approaches to address environmental and societal challenges.
- Implement design processes--documentation, research, analysis and application--intervening to improve a set of environmental conditions.
- Communicate ideas and concepts through verbal and graphic, physical and digital, means.
2. Put Broad and Integrative Knowledge to Use
- Identify complex problems and approaches to addressing them.
- Understand diverse community dynamics and social relationships.
- Explore the intersections among environmental, social, cultural, political and economic aspects.
3. Exercise Intellectual Skills:
- Evaluate and apply theories of the built environment’s impact on human wellbeing.
- Differentiate and assess various means of manufacture and their suitability for use in a number of diverse contexts.
- Acknowledge different theories for analyzing and intervening in urban contexts.
- Evidence proficiency integrating technological systems to improve environmental performance.
- Critically examine humanistic perspectives in architecture, urban and landscape throughout time.
4. Demonstrate Proficiency in Applied and Collaborative Learning:
- Apply skills needed for successful teamwork and consensus decision making.
- Employ leadership skills.
- Recognize the value of multidisciplinary contributions in the realm of environmental design.
5. Illustrate Civic and Global Understanding:
- Demonstrate empathic and ethical decision making.
- Apply sustainable practices across a variety of scales and contexts.
- Cultivate self-learning skills and curiosity to learn and broaden cultural perspectives.
- Utilize contemporary and historical perspectives in design thinking processes.
for the Bachelor of Science Major in Architectural Studies
School of Architecture
Director of the School: Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Suárez
School of Architecture website
School of Architecture email
Fine & Applied Arts
College of Fine & Applied Arts website
Admissions
Fine & Applied Arts Undergraduate Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
Admissions email