Overview

The curriculum leads to the professional degree of Bachelor of Architecture, enabling graduates to practice architecture in a wide range of environments, or to pursue graduate studies in a range of fields including architecture, urban design, urban planning, landscape design, construction management, or related fields.

This comprehensive approach begins with a common foundation year in which students are introduced to design as a general field, from which they proceed into their specialization. The program offers wide exposure to the current issues and problems of both a theoretical and a practical nature, complemented by a number of activities such as international studios, workshops, visiting critics, and exchanges with architecture and design institutes worldwide.

The total number of credits required for graduation with a Bachelor of Architecture degree is 176 credits, which can be completed in a minimum of five academic years after the freshman year, including summer modules.

Mission

The mission of the architecture program is to give students a comprehensive education, based on a humanistic approach to the discipline, that prepares them to pursue a professional career or graduate studies.

Program Objectives

The purpose of the Bachelor of Architecture is to:

1. Offer students, who successfully complete their studies, the professional degree of Bachelor of Architecture;
2. Provide a platform for graduate specialization in architecture, urban planning, urban design, landscape design, digital design, and other fields in design;
3. Develop a broad base of theoretical knowledge and necessary practical skills;
4. Assert the role of an architect as a synthesizer of the different factors that affect the built environment; and
5. Expose students to the current issues in architectural theory and practice and to the latest technology in the field.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Architecture program will acquire the following skills:

1. The ability to practice architecture in various contexts and cultures;
2. A capacity for critical thinking and the ability to engage in problem solving;
3. The ability to identify design issues, conduct research, and to provide solutions;
4. An understanding of the urban dimension of architecture and the consequences of building activities on the environment;
5. The capacity to deal innovatively with projects of different types and scale;
6. The capacity to elaborate projects with innovative structural systems, detailing and material;
7. The capacity to operate in a multi-disciplinary environment; and
8. The capacity to serve the community in both public and private sector organizations.

Admission Requirements

To enter the major, students must meet the general university requirements as well as the specific requirements of the architecture program.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 176 credits are required to graduate, based on:

Program Requirements

A Final Year Project is required for all students in addition to successful completion of the course of study.

Foundation Requirements (25 credits)

• See Foundation courses

Major Core Requirements (107 credits):

• ARC240 / Sketching (2 cr.)
• ARC241 / Technical Graphics (2 cr.)
• ARC311 / Building Systems I (3 cr.)
• ARC312 / Building Systems II (3 cr.)
• ARC331 / Design Studio III (6 cr.)
• ARC332 / Design Studio IV (6 cr.)
• ARC341 / Technical Graphics II (3 cr.)
• ARC342 / Technical Graphics III (3 cr.)
• ARC351 / Computer Graphics I (2 cr.)
• ARC352 / Computer Graphics II (2 cr.)
• ARC361 / Theory I (2 cr.)
• ARC363 / Theory II (2 cr.)
• ARC371 / History of Architecture I (3 cr.)
• ARC372 / History of Architecture II (2 cr.)
• ARC411 / Building Systems III (3 cr.)
• ARC412 / Building Systems IV (3 cr.)
• ARC421 / Building Technology I (2 cr.)
• ARC422 / Building Technology II (2 cr.)
• ARC431 / Design Studio V (6 cr.)
• ARC432 / Design Studio VI (6 cr.)
• ARC481 / Construction Documents (4 cr.)
• ARC501 / Design Workshop I (1 cr.)
• ARC502 / Design Workshop II (1 cr.)
• ARC521 / Building Technology III (2 cr.)
• ARC522 / Building Technology IV (2 cr.)
• ARC523 / Environmental Systems I (3 cr.)
• ARC524 / Environmental Systems II (3 cr.)
• ARC531 / Design Studio VII (5 cr.)
• ARC532 / Design Studio VIII (5 cr.)
• ARC561 / Seminar (2 cr.)
• ARC581 / Urban Planning I (3 cr.)
• ARC583 / Internship (1 cr.)
• ARC584 / Building Codes & Laws (1 cr.)
• ARC601 / Final Project Research (1 cr.)
• ARC631 / Design Studio IX (5 cr.)
• ARC632 / Design Studio X (5 cr.)

History and Theory Elective - Choose any course of the following (3 credits):

• ARC375 / Introduction to Islamic Art (3 cr.)
• ARC376 / Introduction to Islamic Architecture (3 cr.)
• ARC461 / Topics in Architecture Theory (2 cr.)
• ARC471 / Contemporary Architecture (2 cr.)

Professional Electives - Choose any twelve (12) credits of the following:

• ARC373 / History of Landscape Design (2 cr.)
• ARC375 / Introduction to Islamic Art (3 cr.)
• ARC376 / Introduction to Islamic Architecture (3 cr.)
• ARC381 / Architectural Photography (2 cr.)
• ARC404 / Landscape Design Workshop (2 cr.)
• ARC451 / Digital Modeling (3 cr.)
• ARC452 / Computer Animation (3 cr.)
• ARC454 / Dynamic 3D Modeling (3 cr.)
• ARC461 / Topics in Architecture Theory (2 cr.)
• ARC471 / Contemporary Architecture (2 cr.)
• ARC482 / Regional Architecture I (2 cr.)
• ARC483 / Regional Architecture II (3 cr.)
• ARC484 / Regional Urbanism (3 cr.)
• ARC551 / Computer Graphics Studio (4 cr.)
• ARC582 / Urban Planning II (2 cr.)
• ARC585 / Professional Practice (2 cr.)
• ARC591 / International Studio (3 cr.)
• ARC592 / International Workshop (2 cr.)
• DES403 / Furniture Design Workshop (2 cr.)
• DES484 / Furniture Design (2 cr.)
• GRA301 / Intermediate Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
• GRA302 / Advanced Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
• GRA484 / Web Design (3 cr.)
• GRA487 / 3D Animation Techniques (3 cr.)

Art Elective - Choose any course of the following (3 credits):

• ART211 / Ceramics I (3 cr.)
• ART222 / Drawing II (3 cr.)
• ART334 / Graphics (3 cr.)
• ART341 / Painting I (3 cr.)
• ART351 / Sculpture I (3 cr.)
• COM222 / Introduction to Radio/TV/Film (3 cr.)
• COM244 / Introduction to Technical Stagecraft (3 cr.)
• COM247 / Theater in Performance (3 cr.)
• GRA345 / Silkscreen and Binding (3 cr.)
• MUS201 / Fundamentals of Music (3 cr.)
• PHO212 / Photography II (3 cr.)
• PHO222 / Digital Photography I (3 cr.)

Sample Study Plan

Year One

Fall

• See Foundation courses

Spring

• See Foundation courses

Summer (7 credits)

• ARC240 / Sketching (2 cr.)
• ARC241 / Technical Graphics (2 cr.)
• LAC (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

• ARC331 / Design Studio III (6 cr.)
• ARC341 / Technical Graphics II (3 cr.)
• ARC351 / Computer Graphics I (2 cr.)
• ARC361 / Theory I (2 cr.)
• ARC371 / History of Architecture I (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

• ARC332 / Design Studio IV (6 cr.)
• ARC342 / Technical Graphics III (3 cr.)
• ARC352 / Computer Graphics II (2 cr.)
• ARC363 / Theory II (2 cr.)
• ARC372 / History of Architecture II (2 cr.)

Summer (12 credits)

• ARC311 / Building Systems I (3 cr.)
• Professional Elective (3 cr.)
• LAC (6 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (16 credits)

• ARC312 / Building Systems II (3 cr.)
• ARC421 / Building Technology I (2 cr.)
• ARC431 / Design Studio V (6 cr.)
• History & Theory Elective (2 cr.)
• LAC (3 cr.)

Spring (17 credits)

• ARC411 / Building Systems III (3 cr.)
• ARC422 / Building Technology II (2 cr.)
• ARC432 / Design Studio VI (6 cr.)
• Art Elective (3 cr.)
• LAC (3 cr.)

Summer (13 credits)

• ARC412 / Building Systems IV (3 cr.)
• ARC481 / Construction Documents (4 cr.)
• Professional Elective (3 cr.)
• LAC (3 cr.)

Year Four

Fall (14 credits)

• ARC501 / Design Workshop I (1 cr.)
• ARC521 / Building Technology III (2 cr.)
• ARC523 / Environmental Systems I (3 cr.)
• ARC531 / Design Studio VII (5 cr.)
• ARC581 / Urban Planning I (3 cr.)

Spring (13 credits)

• ARC502 / Design Workshop II (1 cr.)
• ARC522 / Building Technology IV (2 cr.)
• ARC524 / Environmental Systems II (3 cr.)
• ARC532 / Design Studio VIII (5 cr.)
• ARC561 / Seminar (2 cr.)

Summer (7 credits)

• ARC583 / Internship (1 cr.)
• Professional Elective (3 cr.)
• LAC (3 cr.)

Year Five

Fall (7 credits)

• ARC584 / Building Codes & Laws (1 cr.)
• ARC601 / Final Project Research (1 cr.)
• ARC631 / Design Studio IX (5 cr.)

Spring (8 credits)

• ARC632 / Design Studio X (5 cr.)
• Professional Elective (3 cr.)