UTexas

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

The four-year, pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS) degree program, with an optional architectural history track, is an excellent platform for future graduate studies in architecture and associated fields. The required coursework is concentrated in the first three years, leaving the fourth year to develop the student’s career interests.

Applicants for admission to this program must fulfill the Requirements for Admission to the School of Architecture. 

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies alone does not fulfill the educational requirements for registration as an architect. Students interested in pursuing registration must complete a first-professional degree in architecture.

Curriculum 

A total of at least 125 hours of coursework is required for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies.

All students must complete the University's Core Curriculum as well as the courses listed in the following table. In some cases, a course that is required for the BSAS may also be counted toward the core curriculum; these courses are identified below.

RequirementsHours
Architecture
Design
ARC 310KDesign I3
ARC 310LDesign II3
ARC 323DDesign III Intermediate Studio3
ARC 523EDesign IV Intermediate Studio5
ARC 523FDesign V Intermediate Studio5
Visual communication
ARC 311KVisual Communication I3
ARC 311LVisual Communication II3
ARC 221KVisual Communication III2
Design theory
ARC 327RTopics in Architectural Theory (All courses in the series ARC 327C-W may count.)3
Site design
ARC 333Site Design3
Environmental controls
ARC 334KEnvironmental Controls I3
Construction
ARC 415KConstruction I4
ARC 415LConstruction II4
ARC 435RStructures I4
History
ARC 308Architecture and Society (visual and performing arts)3
ARC 318KWorld Architecture: Origins to 17503
ARC 318LWorld Architecture: The Industrial Revolution to the Present3
ARC 342RTopics in the History of Architecture (All courses in the series ARC 342C-W may count.)3
Other Degree Requirements
M 408CDifferential and Integral Calculus (meets the mathematics requirement of the core curriculum)4
PHY 302KGeneral Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound (physics sequence meets part I science and technology)3
or PHY 303K Engineering Physics I
PHY 105MLaboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K1
PHY 302LGeneral Physics Technical Course: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics3
or PHY 303L Engineering Physics II
PHY 105NLaboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L1
Upper-division humanities course in literature, foreign language, philosophy, or another field approved by the Undergraduate Office3
Philosophy course3
Electives (foreign language courses that are used to remove an admission deficiency may not be used to fulfill this requirement and may not be counted toward the degree)20
Additional coursework to satisfy the core curriculum27
Total Hours125

Electives

Twenty-six semester hours of electives are required for the completion of the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree program. These electives consist of three hours of upper-division coursework in humanities, three hours in philosophy, and 20 additional open elective hours, generally completed outside the School of Architecture. Students pursuing the architectural history track must take 18 of their 20 hours of open electives in architectural history. Up to six hours of related coursework taken at the University, and approved by the program director, may be used to fulfill the elective requirement.