School of Architecture

Contact Information:
Campus Location: 1300 Architecture and Design Studios Building (ADS)
(312) 996-3335
arch@uic.edu
arch.uic.edu

Administration:
Director: Florencia Rodriguez
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Antonio Torres
Undergraduate Academic Advisor: Maria Tolbert

BS in Architecture

The four-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture program provides a preprofessional education in architecture within the broader context of liberal arts courses provided by the university. The broad-based knowledge and skills provided by a liberal arts education assures graduates that they can adapt to the complex demands of a rapidly changing profession and environment.

The preprofessional degree is useful for those who want a foundation in the field of architecture as preparation for either continued education in a professional degree program or for employment options in architecturally related areas.

Qualified graduates from the BS in Architecture program may apply for advanced standing in a professional Master of Architecture degree program such as that offered at the University of Illinois Chicago or at other accredited schools of architecture. Graduates who do not choose to continue into a professional degree program may work in related architectural careers or apply for advanced degrees in landscape architecture, urban design and planning, law, public policy, history/theory of architecture, or business.

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. For details on the graduate program, please refer to the School of Architecture website and the UIC Graduate and Professional Catalog.

Master’s degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which when earned sequentially comprise an accredited professional education. However, the preprofessional degree is not by itself recognized as an accredited degree.

BA in Architectural Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies is an upper-level undergraduate major that uses architecture and related design practices as a lens through which to understand the history of ideas and cultural invention. In addition, it exposes students to the synthetic environment of the design studio, providing an introductory experience that some students may wish to pursue later in graduate education.

The program operates as a two-year junior and senior program. It will admit undergraduate students having completed two years of college, either at UIC or at other institutions. Students interested in the program who have not attained junior status will be enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences until such time as they are ready to apply. Upon completion of the prerequisite coursework, they may apply to the program as intercollege transfer students. Admitted students will move as a cohort through the junior and senior year programs, graduating at the end of the two year program.

In addition to the understanding of contemporary architecture culture provided by the program’s theory and history courses, students will gain design experience in two introductory studio courses, and thus have greater appreciation for the work and synthetic problem-solving methods that comprises design. The major has enough university elective offerings to enable students to pursue and potentially minor in other areas of interest.

The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies program is designed to provide graduating students with everything they would need to prepare an application that would be favorably received by three year Master of Architecture (MArch) programs such as that offered by UIC. Graduates who do not choose to continue into a professional degree program may work in related architectural careers or apply for advanced degrees in landscape architecture, graphic or industrial design, urban design and planning, law, public policy, history/theory of architecture, or business.

Distinction

Distinction in architecture is awarded to students who qualify as described below.

Distinction: A grade point average of at least 3.30/4.00 in all Architecture courses.
High Distinction: A grade point average of at least 3.50/4.00 in all Architecture courses.
Highest Distinction: A grade point average of at least 3.70/4.00 in all Architecture courses.

Study Abroad

The School of Architecture offers a select number of study abroad options. Further details are available from the School of Architecture.

Degree Programs

Minor

Minor in Architectural Studies

ARCH 105. Architectural Studio 1. 5 hours.

Introduction to the visual and graphic principles of architectural design and production, with emphasis on observation, process, and composition, developed under the theme of representation and visual culture. Course Information: 5 hours. Field trips required at a nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory.

ARCH 106. Architectural Studio 2. 5 hours.

Introduction to materials and methods of assembly in architectural design and production, with emphasis on design process, problem-solving, and construction, developed under the general theme of representation and visual culture. Course Information: 5 hrs. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 105 and approval of the department. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory.

ARCH 151. Architecture at Chicago. 2 hours.

Introduction to the architecture culture of the School of Architecture and in the city. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Field work required. Requires concurrent registration in ARCH 105.

ARCH 200. Architecture and Society. 4 hours.

Provides an understanding of the issues and factors that motivate and influence architectural design and theory, and how architecture is shaped by and shapes cultural concerns and social organization. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Discussion. Creative Arts course, and Individual and Society course.

ARCH 205. Architectural Studio 3. 5 hours.

Principles of building design and representation explored through integrative analysis of program, site, structure, materials, mechanical systems, and composition, developed under the general theme of architectural technology. Course Information: 5 hours. Extensive computer use required. Field trips required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students will use city as a research laboratory with field work on project sites. Additional scheduled field trips will be made to significant or historical architectural buildings as part of preliminary design research and analysis. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 105 and ARCH 106; and approval of the department. Students must have earned an average grade of C or better in ARCH 105 and ARCH 106. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory.

ARCH 206. Architectural Studio 4. 5 hours.

Expands basic principles of building design and representation explored through integrative analysis of program, site, structure, materials, mechanical systems, and composition, developed under the general theme of architectural technology. Course Information: 5 hours. Extensive computer use required. Field trips required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students will use city as a research laboratory with field work on project sites. Additional scheduled field trips will be made to significant or historical architectural buildings as part of preliminary design research and analysis. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 205 and approval of the department. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory.

ARCH 210. Architecture as Archetype: Explorations of the City and Its Forms. 3 hours.

Introduces students to architectural knowledge through its most elementary forms, analyzing their historical manifestations and present expressions. Past course.

ARCH 251. Architectural Analysis. 3 hours.

Analysis of the form and space of the built environment beginning with experiential and empirical inquiry and expanding to formal, visual, compositional, and perceptual techniques. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Approval of the Department; and BA Architectural Studies students must enroll concurrently in ARCH 105; and BS Architecture students must have completed ARCH 106 and also register concurrently in ARCH 205. Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory.

ARCH 252. Modern Architecture. 3 hours.

Introduction to the concept of architectural theory as an integral part of making, understanding, and interpreting works of architecture. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): BS Arch students: ARCH 205 and ARCH 251. BA Arch students: ARCH 251. Arch Minor Students: ARCH 200. Corequisite(s): BS Arch students must concurrently enroll in ARCH 206. Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory.

ARCH 359. Architectural Technology 1. 4 hours.

Examines the architect's role in protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public through responsible and ethical building practices. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Third year standing in the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program or approval of the school. Requires concurrent registration in ARCH 365. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 360. Architectural Technology 2. 4 hours.

Introduction to building construction processes, terminology, principles, conventions, standards, applications, restrictions and communcations pertaining to construction materials and assemblies. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ARCH 359 or approval of the school. Requires concurrent registration in ARCH 366. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 365. Architectural Studio 5. 6 hours.

Intermediate exercises in building design and representation explored through integrative analysis of program, site, structure, materials, mechanical systems, and composition, developed under the general theme of city and environment. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Field trip required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students will use city as a research laboratory with field work on project sites. Additional scheduled field trips will be made to significant or historical architectural buildings as part of preliminary design research and analysis. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 205 and ARCH 206; and approval of the department. Students must have earned an average grade of C or better in ARCH 205 and ARCH 206. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 366. Architectural Studio 6. 6 hours.

Extended intermediate exercises in building design and representation explored through integrative analysis of program, site, structure, materials, mechanical systems, and composition, developed under the general theme of city and environment. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Field trips required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students will use city as a research laboratory with field work on project sites. Additional scheduled field trips will be made to significant or historical architectural buildings as part of preliminary design research and analysis. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 365 and approval of the department. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 371. Architectural Theory 1. 3 hours.

The emergence of the metropolis beginning in the mid-nineteenth century is examined through a survey of the forces that produced it, and the ideologies and practices that have attempted to organize, control, and simulate it. Course Information: BS Arch students must be enrolled in ARCH 359 and ARCH 365. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 372. Architectural Theory 2. 3 hours.

Discusses a diversity of critical and generative approaches to twentieth-century architecture and theory, with an emphasis on how architects invent and instrumentalize history. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ARCH 371. BS students must concurrently enroll in ARCH 366. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 391. Architectural Study Abroad. 0-17 hours.

Lectures, seminars, studio, and independent travel/study abroad. Architectural/art history, architectural elective and/or architectural theory and analysis. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 34 hours. Prerequisite(s): A 2.50 cumulative grade point average in architecture and approval of the school.

ARCH 395. Cooperative Education. 1 hour.

Introduction to architectural practice. Offers students the opportunity to couple academic learning with professional experience in an off-campus placement. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 3 hours. Field work required. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Restricted to students withthird or fourth year standing in the B.A. in Architectural Studies program.

ARCH 399. Architecture Elective I. 3 hours.

Special topics in architectural theory, design, and criticism. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term.

ARCH 414. Contemporary Practices. 3 hours.

An upper level "selective" seminar that examines specific approaches to the contemporary practice of architecture; students choose by lottery from among several options that are offered by faculty. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ARCH 252; and approval of the department. BS in Architecture students must complete ARCH 371 and 372. Corequisite(s): BS in Architecture students must concurrently enroll in ARCH 465. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Discussion/Recitation and one Lecture-Discussion.

ARCH 440. Digital Design and Fabrication. 3 hours.

Lectures, 3D software modeling lab time, and lab time for fabricating these files into physical models and prototypes, delivers a survey knowledge of digital fabrication and production in contemporary architectural practice. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ARCH 106; and approval of the department.

ARCH 465. Advanced Topic Studio 1. 6 hours.

Advanced studio that pursues specific design and research agendas of current significance; students choose by lottery from among several options that are offered by faculty. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Field trip required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students will use city as a research laboratory with field work on project sites. Additional scheduled field trips will be made to significant or historical architectural buildings as part of preliminary design research and analysis. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 360 and ARCH 365 and ARCH 366 and ARCH 372; and junior standing or above; and approval of the department. Students must have earned an average grade of C or better in both ARCH 365 and ARCH 366. Students with a lower grade point average for the 365/366 studio sequence are required to take an eight-week summer studio in which they must earn at least a C in order to advance to the studio sequence for the following year. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 466. Advanced Topic Studio 2. 6 hours.

Advanced studio that pursues specific design and research agendas of current significance; students choose by lottery from among several options that are offered by faculty. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Field trip required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students will use city as a research laboratory with field work on project sites. Additional scheduled field trips will be made to significant or historical architectural buildings as part of preliminary design research and analysis. Prerequisite(s): ARCH 465; and approval of the department. Students must have earned an average grade of C or better in ARCH 365 and ARCH 366. Students with a lower grade point average for the 365/366 studio sequence are required to take an eight-week summer studio in which they must earn at least a C in order to advance to the studio sequence for the following year. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

ARCH 470. Structures I: Statics. 3 hours.

Introduction to the analysis of structural elements. Introduction to fundamental structural planning criteria and relevant concepts of tension, compression and bending. Introduction to historical and contemporary structural precedents. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in MATH 180 and Credit or concurrent registration in PHYS 131.

ARCH 471. Structures II: Strength of Materials. 3 hours.

Introduction to material properties; strength characteristics of building materials and material assemblies; stress and strain; rigidity and deformation; temperature effects; torsion effects; combined loading of elements and systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ARCH 470 and approval of the school.

ARCH 499. Special Topics. 3 or 4 hours.

Special topics in theory, design, technology, or graphic skills and craft (manual or digital). Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 3 time(s). Prerequisite(s): Senior standing or above.

Academic Catalog

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog