Program Overview

Architecture, B.Arch Program Overview

The five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program is structured with required courses and electives that provide thorough professional preparation and opportunities for study in the liberal arts and advanced study in architecture. This degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Program Structure

• The program is divided into five years of study, with each year building on the previous one to provide a comprehensive education in architecture.
• The curriculum includes required courses and electives in design, visual and digital media, architectural history and theory, technological systems, writing, and other electives in cultural knowledge and scientific inquiry.

First Year

• First-year courses include required study in design, visual and digital media, architectural history and theory, technological systems, writing, and other electives in cultural knowledge and scientific inquiry.
• The emphasis in first-year design focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of formal, spatial, and material principles in architecture, while obtaining a strong skill base in freehand drawing, descriptive geometry, material techniques, and visual and digital media.
• First-year electives allow students to supplement their background in physics or calculus, begin or advance foreign language study, broaden their skills in the arts, or choose any other subject area from among dozens offered by the university’s undergraduate divisions.

Second and Third Years

• Second and third-year courses cover the majority of the program requirements.
• Intensive studio work in architectural design is complemented by study in architectural history and theory, structures, technological systems, digital media, and urban studies.
• In the second year, students are fully immersed in digital design techniques while learning to incorporate knowledge from historic, environmental, social, programmatic, and technological studies into the design studio.
• In the third year, coordinated coursework allows students a truly synthetic experience in the integrated design of a complex architectural project.

Fourth Year

• The fourth-year curriculum involves advanced architectural design in research studio courses as well as upper-level seminars in architectural theory, technology, professional concerns, urban studies, and digital media.
• Emphasis is placed on the relationship of architecture to the urban environment, both locally and globally.
• Students may spend one semester studying in one of the school's many programs ranging from urban design, to housing, to design/build.
• In the fourth year, students will also have the opportunity for international study through various programs and research studios.

Fifth Year

• In the fifth year of study, students will develop an advanced thesis through research, analysis, and design in one of four curricular streams.

Undergraduate Professional Degree Program

Course List

• History/Theory Sequence:
  • ARCH 1110: Intro to Architecture (3 c.h.)
  • ARCH 1111: Topics in Architecture History/Theory (1.5 c.h.)
  • ARCH 1112: Topics in Architecture History/Theory (1.5 c.h.)
  • ARCH 2113: Topics in Architecture History/Theory (1.5 c.h.)
  • ARCH 2114: Topics in Architecture History/Theory (1.5 c.h.)
  • ARCH 3130: Architectural Research Methods (3 c.h.)
• Studio Sequence:
  • ARCH 1011: Architecture Studio (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 1012: Architecture Studio (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 2021: Architecture Studio (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 2022: Architecture Studio (and ARCH 2892) (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 3031: Architecture Studio (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 3032: Architecture Studio (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 4041: Advanced Studio Elective / Research (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 4042: Advanced Studio Elective / Research (6 c.h.)
  • ARCH 5051: Advanced Studio Elective / Research (6 c.h.)
• Design Media Sequence:
  • ARCH 2311: Design Media I (3 c.h.)
  • ARCH 3312: Design Media II (3 c.h.)
  • ARCH 4512: Design Media III (3 c.h.)
• Math and Physics Requirement:
  • MATH 1150: Long Calculus I (3 c.h.)
  • or MATH 1210: Calculus I
  • or MATH 1310: Consolidated Calculus
  • PHYS 1050: Physics for Architects (3 c.h.)
  • or PHYS 1210: Introductory Physics I
  • or PHYS 1310: General Physics I
• Technology Sequence:
  • ARCH 2211: Site Strategies (3 c.h.)
  • ARCH 2212: Materials and Methods (3 c.h.)
  • ARCH 2213: Building, Climate, Comfort (4 c.h.)
  • ARCH 3214: Structural Systems (4 c.h.)
  • ARCH 3215: Integrated Building Systems (4 c.h.)
• Professional Concerns Sequence:
  • ARCH 3511: Professional Concerns I (3 c.h.)
• Thesis Sequence:
  • ARCH 5980: Thesis Preparation (3 c.h.)
  • ARCH 5990: Thesis Studio (6 c.h.)
• Architecture Electives:
  • General Architecture Electives (3) (9 c.h.)
  • History/Theory Architecture Elective (1) (3 c.h.)
• Non-Architecture Courses:
  • Additional Newcomb-Tulane core courses (34 c.h.)
  • General University Electives (as needed to reach total credit count)

Total Credit Hours

• The B.Arch degree requires a minimum of 157 credit hours.
• The typical student transcript will consist of a total of 117 architecture credits and 40 non-architecture credits.

Notes on School of Architecture and Built Environment Curriculum

• NAAB requires 40 hours to be taken in courses without architectural content.
• Students are strongly encouraged to reinforce and expand their skills and knowledge through professional internship experiences, recognized in the form of academic credits.
• Undergraduate students may earn up to a total of six credit hours for internship over the course of their degree.

Notes on Newcomb Tulane College Core Curriculum

• Questions regarding these requirements should be directed to your NTC Academic Advisor.
• University Core and elective courses, with the exception of TIDES and English Composition, may be completed at any time during the student’s curriculum.
• To satisfy the Tier 2 Writing Intensive NTC Core Requirement, students must take at least one Tier 2 designated course prior to beginning the fifth year of study.
• Architecture-specific requirements within the core curriculum are described in the footnotes to the course requirements.