Architecture Degrees Online

The Architecture Department offers a Bachelor of Architecture degree. This degree program, accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB), is a five year “first professional degree” program, a pre-requisite for licensing as a registered architect in most states. Architecture epitomizes the “learn-by-doing” pedagogy that is fundamental to Cal Poly. The program is rigorous, lab oriented, and sequential in nature and reflects a balance and integration of design and technology – the theoretical and the pragmatic. The fourth year offers qualified students the opportunity to study off-campus. The fifth year is a selected year long project and final exhibit that salutes the architectural creativity of each individual’s extended research and design.

The administration, faculty and staff are committed to the program and its primary emphasis on teaching excellence at the undergraduate level. The unusual size of the program and the diversity of faculty interests and accomplishments offer a vast palette of directions, concerns and issues as backgrounds for studio work.

The location of the program within the College provides cross-disciplinary opportunities in the areas of Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, City & Regional Planning and Architectural Engineering.

Students in their fourth year of design may apply by July 1st of that year to the College of Business to begin the MBA program during their fifth year. Admissions into the program is competitive and performance on the GMAT is very important. Completion of the Master in Business Administration can be accomplished in one year or less after completing the BArch program depending on the number of graduate courses a student completes during their fifth year in the architecture program.

First Year
Basic Science
Systems of Representation and Expression
Architecture I
History and Criticism I
Introduction to Technology

Second Year
Introduction to Structures
Facilities
Theory of Design I
Architecture II
Morphology I
History and Criticism II

Third Year
Building I
Structures I
Architecture III
Morphology II
Theory of Design II
History and Criticism III

Fourth Year
Facilities II
Structures II
Building II
Architecture IV
Theory of Urban Design and Management
Urban Development

Fifth Year
Organization and Professional Practice
V Architecture
Management and Development of Housing
Urban Development II
Assisted Professional Practice Seminar

Sixth Year
Final Race
Supervised Professional Practice

Electives
1 optional subject at 4th. Year.
1 optional subject in 5th. Year.
2 optional subjects in 6th. Year.

Architecture is a unique field that integrates elements of both engineering and art. Those who would master architecture must have both a basic knowledge covering many fields and creativity. With these unique aspects of architecture in mind, students in this curriculum will be thoroughly acquainted with the various kinds of specialized knowledge needed for design work, from design training to industrial design, construction, facilities, materials and construction methods.

Third and fourth year students are divided into four groups: 1. architectural planning/design, 2. building system and structure, 3. building materials/construction methods, and 4. building environment/facilities — and they participate in seminars and graduate research. The students themselves determine the directions their studies will follow.

In recent years, there has been expansion in fields covered by architecture, such as regional planning, project management, facility management, etc. in design and a wide variety of innovative technologies are emerging in engineering. In this curriculum, we are passionate about teaching students the solid basic skills as well as creative thinking that will allow them to flexibly respond to these conditions.

Requirements
First year (48 points)
First semester
DGN1001 Design studio 1 (6 points)
DIS1103 Digital processes for art and design 1 (6 points)
DWG1301 Drawing 1C (6 points)
OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety (0 points)
TAD1203 Introduction to design history and theory (6 points)

Second semester
DIS1912 Virtual space A (6 points)
IAR1112 Interior architecture studio 2 (6 points)
IAR1211 Building construction and materials A (6 points)
IAR1401 Communication methods for interior architecture (6 points)

Second year (48 points)
First semester
DIS2910 Virtual space B (6 points)
IAR2113 Interior architecture studio 3 (6 points)
IAR2303 Structures and services A (6 points)
TAD2214 Critical issues in design (6 points)

Second semester
IAR2114 Interior architecture studio 4 (6 points)
IAR2204 Building construction and materials B (6 points)
IAR2205 The production of space and place (6 points)
IDE2810 Furniture 1 (6 points)

Third year (48 points)
First semester
IAR3115 Interior architecture studio 5 (6 points)
IAR3308 Structures and services B (6 points)
PPR3102 Professional practice for interior architecture (6 points)
TAD3214 Contemporary discourse in design (6 points)

Second semester
IAR3116 Interior architecture studio 6 (12 points)
IAR3205 Building construction and materials C (6 points)
elective (6 points)

Fourth year (48 points)
First semester
IAR4117 Interior architecture studio 7 (12 points)
IAR4406 Industrial experience (0 points)
TAD4503 Advanced art theory (6 points) or TAD4523 Design research methods and seminar (6 points)
elective (6 points)

Second semester
IAR4118 Interior architecture studio 8 (18 points)
TAD4504 Research seminar in art and design (6 points) or elective (6 points)