Architecture (BArch)
This five-year degree program for professionals features a rigorous design-oriented curriculum with a solid foundation in technology and the history and theory of architecture. The curriculum prepares students for the challenges and demands of professional practice.
Total Hours Required: 161
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| ARC 310K | Design I | 3 |
| ARC 311K | Visual Communication I | 3 |
| ARC 308 | Architecture and Society | 3 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ARC 310L | Design II | 3 |
| ARC 311L | Visual Communication II | 3 |
| ARC 318K | World Architecture: Origins to 1750 | 3 |
| PHY X02K & PHY X05M |
General Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound and Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K |
4 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ARC 323D | Design III Intermediate Studio | 3 |
| ARC 221K | Visual Communication III | 2 |
| ARC 415K | Construction I | 4 |
| ARC 318L | World Architecture: The Industrial Revolution to the Present | 3 |
| PHY X02L & PHY X05N |
General Physics Technical Course: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics and Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L |
4 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ARC 523E | Design IV Intermediate Studio | 5 |
| ARC 415L | Construction II | 4 |
| ARC 333 | Site Design | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ARC 523F | Design V Intermediate Studio | 5 |
| ARC 435R | Structures I | 4 |
| ARC 334K | Environmental Controls I | 3 |
| ARC 342R | Topics in the History of Architecture | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ARC 561C | Comprehensive Studio | 5 |
| ARC 435S | Structures II | 4 |
| ARC 334L | Environmental Controls II | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ARC 561E | Advanced Design Studio | 5 |
| ARC 342R | Topics in the History of Architecture | 3 |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ARC 561E | Advanced Design Studio | 5 |
| ARC 335T | Architectural Details and Materials | 3 |
| ARC 361T | Technical Communication | 3 |
| ARC 369J | City Architecture | 3 |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ARC 561E | Advanced Design Studio | 5 |
| ARC 342R | Topics in the History of Architecture | 3 |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ARC 561E | Advanced Design Studio | 5 |
| ARC 362 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 161 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| Design | ||
| ARC 310K | Design I | 3 |
| ARC 310L | Design II | 3 |
| ARC 323D | Design III Intermediate Studio | 3 |
| ARC 523E | Design IV Intermediate Studio | 5 |
| ARC 523F | Design V Intermediate Studio | 5 |
| ARC 561C | Comprehensive Studio | 5 |
| Hours chosen from: | 20 | |
| Advanced Design Studio (may be taken four times for credit) | ||
| Advanced Design Studio (may be taken four times for credit) | ||
| Advanced Design Professional Residency Program Internship | ||
| Bachelor Design Study, Part II | ||
| Visual communication | ||
| ARC 311K | Visual Communication I | 3 |
| ARC 311L | Visual Communication II | 3 |
| ARC 221K | Visual Communication III | 2 |
| ARC 361T | Technical Communication | 3 |
| or ARC 361U | Professional Residency Program Internship Technical Communication | |
| Professional experience | ||
| ARC 362 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| Site design | ||
| ARC 333 | Site Design | 3 |
| Environmental controls | ||
| ARC 334K | Environmental Controls I | 3 |
| ARC 334L | Environmental Controls II | 3 |
| Construction, Structures, and Architectural Detail/Materials | ||
| ARC 415K | Construction I | 4 |
| ARC 415L | Construction II | 4 |
| ARC 435R | Structures I | 4 |
| ARC 435S | Structures II | 4 |
| ARC 335T | Architectural Details and Materials | 3 |
| History | ||
| ARC 308 | Architecture and Society | 3 |
| ARC 318K | World Architecture: Origins to 1750 | 3 |
| ARC 318L | World Architecture: The Industrial Revolution to the Present | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 9 | |
| Topics in the History of Architecture (taken three times) | ||
(ARC 342C through ARC 342W may count.) | ||
| City Architecture | ||
| ARC 369J | City Architecture | 3 |
| Additional hours | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| PHY 302K | General Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| PHY 302L | General Physics Technical Course: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 15 | |
| Subtotal | 134 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 27 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| College Requirements - Architecture | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 161 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
Portfolio Review Requirement
As a requirement to enter the advanced studio sequence, all students pursuing architecture degrees must satisfactorily complete the Portfolio Review process and submit a portfolio that summarizes all previous design and visual communication coursework. Guidelines for the Portfolio Review process, including timeline and deadlines, are available from the Undergraduate Office.
The Portfolio Review process provides critical information to the faculty reviewing committee in evaluating the student’s progress toward the degree. The faculty reviewing committee, at its discretion, may require the student to retake an intermediate design studio and participate in a final Portfolio Review at the end of the following semester in order to determine eligibility to enter advanced studios.
A student is limited to three Portfolio Review attempts. Students who do not have a satisfactory Portfolio Review by the third attempt are advised to change to the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree.