Architecture

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First Year

Undergraduate students entering the School of Architecture share a common first year curriculum. Students take core courses in Architectural History, Architecture and Urban and Environmental Planning to provide a framework for the study of contemporary culture through observation, analysis, and considered design of our ongoing constructed occupation of the earth. Students must pass each core course with a grade of C- or higher. For the first year curriculum, please refer to: Common First Year in the School of Architecture .

During the spring semester of the first year, students choose an intended major: Bachelor of Science Architecture, Bachelor of Architectural History, or Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning.

Bachelor of Science (Architecture)

The Bachelor of Architecture program attracts a diverse range of students with a wide range of interests that are bound together by an overriding desire to consider and construct environments of enduring value. Two different concentrations are offered: the Pre-Professional concentration and the Architectural Design-Thinking concentration.

Note: Students who wish to obtain the Master of Architecture professional degree apply to a graduate program. Students expecting to enter graduate studies should have maintained a 3.000 cumulative grade point average, with a 3.500 GPA in the architectural design sequence. Admission into the graduate program in architecture at the University of Virginia is extremely competitive.

Second Year

The prime objective of the curricular core of second year is to provide a framework for the study of contemporary culture through observation, analysis, and considered design of our built environment. This exploration uses design as a mode of critical inquiry from the scale of the city to the scale of the hand while maintaining its focus on the value of this effort to the community and the land, both immediate and extended.

Students entering the Department of Architecture as architecture majors follow one curriculum during their second year. A strategic selection of electives will begin to prepare the students to pursue the concentration of their choice.

Fall Semester - Credits: 15

Spring Semester - Credits: 16

ARCH 2010 - Foundation Studio II, Credits: 6

A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course.
ARCH 1010 - Lessons of the Lawn, Credits: 3
A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course.
ARCH 2710 - CAAD 3D Geometrical Modeling and Visualization, Credits: 3

A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course.
Physics Elective, Credits: 3

ARCH 2020 - Foundation Studio III, Credits: 6

A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course.
ARCH 2240 - Introduction to Structural Design, Credits: 4

A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course.
ARH 3403 - World Contemporary Architecture, Credits: 3

A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course.
Social/Behavioral Science Elective, Credits: 3

Notes

The terms “Humanities Elective”, “Math/Natural Science Elective”, and “Social/Behavioral Science Elective” mean electives defined according to the corresponding area requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. The term “General Education Elective” means an elective from any of these three categories. See also: Academic Rules, Curricular Requirements.

One Open Elective per semester may be taken Credit/No Credit. A maximum of 8 degree credits will be granted for Ensemble Music or Dance. A maximum of 12 degree credits will be granted for AIRS, MISC, & NASC courses. PHYE “Physical Education” credits do not count toward degree totals. It may be necessary to use Open Electives to complete the requirements of a minor.

Eligible students may receive up to three credits for one independent study course supervised and graded by eligible UVA faculty members. Only one “open elective” requirement within the architecture curriculum may be substituted with an independent study course. Independent courses are subject to the same policies as other courses. Final approval of the independent study course by the Undergraduate Program Director is required no later than one month prior to the start of the semester.

Election of Concentration

At the end of spring semester of the Second Year, each student will elect either the Pre-Professional concentration or the Architectural Design Thinking concentration within the BS Architecture major. The two concentrations are designed to maximize the opportunities for undergraduate study given the scope of student interests and wide range of career paths.

Third Year - Pre-Professional Concentration

This concentration is for students’ intent on pursuing a career as a practicing architect. The curriculum is designed to maximize the opportunities to explore through design of complex projects as well as representing intentions in material form. Students in the pre-professional concentration are required to successfully complete a total of 38 design studio credits (36 design studio credits for third year transfer students) in order to graduate.

Fall Semester - Credits: 15	Spring Semester - Credits: 16
ARCH 3010 - Research Studio I, Credits: 6 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. ARCH 3120 - 20th Century History of Ideas, Credits: 3 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. ARCH 3270 - Intro Parametric Structural Design, Credits: 3 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. Humanities Elective, Credits: 3	ARCH 3020 - Foundation Studio IV, Credits: 6 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. ARCH 3260 - Building Matters, Credits: 4 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. General Education Elective, Credits: 3 SARC 5555 Visualization Elective, Credits: 3 or Open Elective, Credits: 3

Notes

Fourth Year - Pre-Professional Concentration

Fall Semester - Credits: 15	Spring Semester - Credits: 15
ARCH 4010 - Research Studio II, Credits: 6 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. General Education Elective, Credits: 3 SARC 5555 Visualization Elective, Credits: 3 or Open Elective, Credits: 3 Open Elective, Credits: 3	ARCH 4020 - Independent Design Research Studio, Credits: 6 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. General Education Elective, Credits: 3 SARC 5555 Visualization Elective, Credits: 3 or Open Elective, Credits: 3 Open Elective, Credits: 3

Notes

or

Third Year - Architectural Design Thinking

The Architectural Design Thinking concentration is for students interested in interdisciplinary problem solving through exploratory design processes. The curriculum offers a strong core in the design of the built environment while offering broader studios and electives designed to collaborate across the University. Students are asked to integrate a second field of study by declaring a second major or a minor.

Fall Semester - Credits: 14	Spring Semester - Credits: 16
ARCH 3011 - Design Thinking Studio I, Credits: 4 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. ARCH 3120 - 20th Century History of Ideas, Credits: 3 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. ARCH 3070 – Foundations in Design Thinking, Credits: 4 Humanities Elective, Credits: 3	ARCH 3021 - Design Thinking Studio II, Credits: 4 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. Entrepreneurship/Economics Requirement, Credits: 3 Minor Requirement, Credits: 3 Minor Requirement, Credits: 3 General Education Elective, Credits: 3

Notes

Fourth Year - Architectural Design Thinking

Fall Semester - Credits: 16	Spring Semester - Credits: 15
ARCH 4011 - Design Thinking Studio III, Credits: 4 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. Sustainability Requirement, Credits: 3 Minor Requirement, Credits: 3 Minor Requirement, Credits: 3 General Education Elective, Credits: 3	ARCH 4020 - Independent Design Research Studio, Credits: 6 A student must receive a grade of at least a C- to pass this course. Leadership/Community Engagement Requirement, Credits: 3 Minor Requirement, Credits: 3 General Education Elective, Credits: 3

Notes

Architecture Minor

A minor in architecture provides students with an opportunity to develop a basic understanding of, and appreciation for, architecture as an important component of culture and the built environment. The Minor in Architecture is offered to all students at the University. Students who complete the Minor range from those whose major is in a related field and who wish to expand the boundaries of that endeavor, to those considering graduate study in architecture.

Requirements

ARCH 1010 - Lessons of the Lawn, Credits: 3
Choice of one ARCH studio course (3-4 credits) from:
ARCH 1020 - Lessons in Making Credits: 3 or
ARCH 1030 - Foundation Studio I Credits: 4
Architecture department elective (ARCH) or SARC 5555 Visualization Elective, Credits: 3
Prerequisite: ARCH 1010, ARCH 1020, ARCH 1030, or ARCH 1040
Architecture department elective (ARCH) or SARC 5555 Visualization Elective, Credits: 3
Prerequisite: ARCH 1010, ARCH 1020, ARCH 1030, or ARCH 1040
Elective within the School of Architecture (SARC/PLAN/LAR/ARH/ARCH), Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Upper-level undergraduate students may enroll in graduate courses in the 5000-level for elective credit. These courses are described in the Graduate Record and are offered through all four departments.

Although SARC, ALAR, ARH, ARCH, LAR, and PLAN are pre-professional and professional courses, not all are restricted to School of Architecture students. If students outside the school wish to enroll in one of these courses, they should secure the approval of the faculty member offering that course. Even in professionally-oriented courses, some faculty members encourage and welcome such participation.