Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Architecture
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Architecture
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Architecture, students will be able to:
- Formulate architectural projects that integrate design skills with critical thinking, engaging broader theoretical, social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental issues.
- Explore how technology, issues of the environment, and construction inform innovative design solutions.
- Strategize how the relationship of architectural concepts, communication and representation techniques, and construction technology can innovate practice.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Architecture
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Architecture must complete:
- A minimum of 17 courses (75 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 130 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 55 credit hours of Elective Requirements, 45 of which must be taken outside of the School of Architecture (courses outside of departmental (ARCH) course offerings), and 10 of which may be taken as free electives from any subject code.
- A minimum of 11 courses (45 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Architecture | 75 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Architecture | 130 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| ARCH 101 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE I - FORM | 6 |
| ARCH 102 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE II - SYSTEMS | 6 |
| ARCH 201 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE III - CONTEXT | 6 |
| ARCH 202 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE IV - URBANITY | 6 |
| ARCH 207 | TECHNOLOGY I | 3 |
| ARCH 225 / HART 225 | INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURAL THINKING | 3 |
| ARCH 301 | COMPREHENSION I - STRUCTURE | 6 |
| ARCH 302 | COMPREHENSION II - ASSEMBLY | 6 |
| ARCH 309 | TECHNOLOGY II | 3 |
| ARCH 314 | TECHNOLOGY III | 3 |
| ARCH 316 | TECHNOLOGY IV | 3 |
| ARCH 345 / HART 345 | FOUNDATIONS IN THE HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE I (1450-1850) | 3 |
| ARCH 346 | FOUNDATIONS IN THE HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE II (1850-1950) | 3 |
| ARCH 352 | FOUNDATIONS IN THE HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE III (1950-2000) | 3 |
| ARCH 401 | ADVANCED TOPICS I - ENVIRONMENT | 6 |
| ARCH 402 | ADVANCED TOPICS II - TERRITORY | 6 |
| ARCH 403 | DEGREE PROJECT SEMINAR | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Architecture | 75 | |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | ||
| Complete 45 credit hours from any course offerings outside of ARCH course offerings | 45 | |
| Complete 10 additional credit hours as free electives from any course offerings | 10 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 130 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
Required Plan-of-Study
Students must complete the required ARCH course offerings below in the sequence and semester prescribed by the School of Architecture.
| 1st Semester | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 101 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE I - FORM | 6 |
| ARCH 225 / HART 225 | INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURAL THINKING | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| ARCH 102 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE II - SYSTEMS | 6 |
| ARCH 345 / HART 345 | FOUNDATIONS IN THE HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE I (1450-1850) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 3rd Semester | ||
| ARCH 201 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE III - CONTEXT | 6 |
| ARCH 207 | TECHNOLOGY I | 3 |
| ARCH 346 | FOUNDATIONS IN THE HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE II (1850-1950) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| 4th Semester | ||
| ARCH 202 | PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE IV - URBANITY | 6 |
| ARCH 309 | TECHNOLOGY II | 3 |
| ARCH 352 | FOUNDATIONS IN THE HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE III (1950-2000) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| 5th Semester | ||
| ARCH 301 | COMPREHENSION I - STRUCTURE | 6 |
| ARCH 314 | TECHNOLOGY III | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 6th Semester | ||
| ARCH 302 | COMPREHENSION II - ASSEMBLY | 6 |
| ARCH 316 | TECHNOLOGY IV | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 7th Semester | ||
| ARCH 401 | ADVANCED TOPICS I - ENVIRONMENT | 6 |
| ARCH 403 | DEGREE PROJECT SEMINAR | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| 8th Semester | ||
| ARCH 402 | ADVANCED TOPICS II - TERRITORY | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 75 | |
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Architecture
The BA degree with a major in Architecture, leading to a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree, is the primary undergraduate architecture program at Rice. Students who apply and are accepted into the University and the School of Architecture enter directly into this program. The required courses for the BA degree with a major in Architecture, leading ultimately to the BArch degree, consist of four integrated sequences in the following areas: Design Studios, History and Theory, Technology, and Practice. Courses in these sequences must be taken in the order and semesters specified by the School of Architecture.
The curriculum for this professional degree program sequence has three two-year long stages. The first stage provides a foundation sequence in design, history and theory, and technology taken in the first and second years. Students are also expected to fulfill the majority of University general distribution requirements during these two years. The curriculum is designed to provide an intensive focus on architecture, while allowing each student to receive a broad education and to pursue other interests.
Approval of major is based on academic performance and demonstrated aptitude indicating that the student is on track for advanced study at the BArch level. While grades are not the exclusive criteria for the decision, the school expects a minimum of a B (average 3.00) GPA within the required courses for the major and no more than one studio course grade in the C (2.00) GPA range. Students apply during the Spring of their second year of architectural study, and are notified after the conclusion of that semester.
The second intermediate stage occurs in the third and fourth years. Students complete the courses required for the BA degree with a major in Architecture, remaining university requirements, and take electives through which students can develop their particular interests in the field and in other areas. In their fourth year, students pursue a design research sequence through a seminar in the fall that is linked to the spring studio. At the end of this stage, and with the completion of all major and university requirements, students graduate, receiving a BA degree with a major in Architecture.
The third and final stage consists of the Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree and includes the year of Preceptorship. The BArch degree program is only open to students who have completed the first four years at Rice School of Architecture and who apply for admission into this stage of the program during their fourth year. As with the approval for major two years prior, approval is based on satisfactory academic performance and preparation for the advanced studies of the BArch degree.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Architecture should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the School of Architecture website: https://arch.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Architecture
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the School of Architecture website: https://arch.rice.edu/.