The Bachelor of Science in Architecture curriculum combines a rigorous studio sequence with architecture history and building technology courses to prepare students to respond innovatively and conscientiously to the complex needs of the built environment and its inhabitants. In studio classes, students have an opportunity to develop core design and critical thinking skills through a project-based experiential curriculum. These small classes, held in Ruggles Studio, allow for regular one-on-one consultation with faculty and critiques with classmates. Formal reviews with guest critics are held throughout the semester. History courses provide grounding in the ways in which historical, economic, cultural, and social factors shape the built environment. In building technology classes, students study design and test structural and environmental systems of buildings and their synergistic integration. The degree is designed to prepare students to bring specific disciplinary expertise to the inherently broad and interdisciplinary challenges facing the built environment. Additionally, four- and five-year degree path options allow students flexibility in the pace of their studies, as well as to pursue electives and/or minors in subjects that complement and enhance the study of architecture.
Students in every track participate in co-op. Students on the four-year track enroll in one six-month co-op with the option of adding a four-month co-op in their third year of study. Students on the five-year track enroll in two six-month co-ops. This allows students to gain real-world experience in architecture that aids them in both their academic development and in professional advancement. Co-op experience can often be applied to AXP credits required for licensure. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad or at affiliated institutions through a variety of different programs during their third year or summer months.
Applicants should note that the BS degree in architecture is not sufficient by itself to meet the academic requirement to sit for state licensure (most undergraduate architecture degrees are not accredited). However, students who graduate with the BS degree have the option to apply to the one-year, NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture degree that is open to our BS graduates in good standing, which allows our own students to achieve a master’s degree and become eligible for professional licensure in an efficient and timely manner.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
Universitywide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
NUpath attributes Natural and Designed World (ND), Creative Expression and Innovation (EI), Interpreting Culture (IC), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Societies and Institutions (SI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), and Differences and Diversity (DD) are met through the major course requirements.
In order to graduate, students must complete Ethical Reasoning (ER) in their electives.
Architecture Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
SEMESTER 1 | ||
ARCH 1000 | Architecture at Northeastern | 1 |
ARCH 1110 | Fundamental Architectural Representation | 4 |
ARCH 1120 | Fundamental Architectural Design | 6 |
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311 | Buildings and Cities, A Global History and Recitation for ARCH 1310 | 4 |
SEMESTER 2 | ||
ARCH 2130 | Site, Space, Program | 6 |
ARCH 2240 | Architectonic Systems | 4 |
Architecture History Elective 1 | ||
Complete any course in the range of ARCH 2300 to ARCH 2399. | 4 | |
SEMESTER 3 | ||
ARCH 2140 | Urban Housing | 6 |
ARCH 3450 | Advanced Architectural Communication | 4 |
Architecture History Elective 2 1 | ||
Complete any course in the range of ARCH 2300 to ARCH 2399. | 4 | |
SEMESTER 4 | ||
ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341 | Modern Architecture and Recitation for ARCH 2340 | 4 |
ARCH 3170 | Architecture, Infrastructure, and the City | 6 |
ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211 | Environmental Systems and Recitation for ARCH 3210 | 4 |
SEMESTER 5 | ||
Travel Study | ||
Students work with the department and their advisor to choose the approved off-campus study experience that best aligns with their ambitions. | 16 | |
SEMESTER 6 | ||
ARCH 5115 | Option Studio | 6 |
ARCH 5330 | Theories of Architecture and Urbanism | 4 |
ARCH 5430 | Introduction to Professional Practice in Architecture | 4 |
SEMESTER 7 | ||
ARCH 3370 | Advanced Topics in Architectural History | 4 |
ARCH 5140 | Capstone Studio | 6 |
ARCH 5230 and ARCH 5231 | Structural Systems and Recitation for ARCH 5230 | 4 |
ARCH 5310 | Design Tactics and Operations | 4 |
- 1
Please note that Urban and Architectural History Abroad (ARCH 4850), taught exclusively on Dialogues of Civilizations, also satisfies one of the two architectural history electives.
Supporting Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
SEMESTER 1 | ||
PHYS 1141 | General Physics | 4 |
SEMESTER 2 | ||
EEAM 2000 | Professional Development for Co-op | 1 |
ENGW 1111 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
SEMESTER 3 | ||
MATH 1241 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
SEMESTER 6 | ||
ENGW 3314 | Advanced Writing in the Arts, Media, and Design | 4 |
or ENGW 3315 | Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines | |
Cooperative Education | ||
Architecture majors are required to complete one or two six-month co-ops, depending on their plan of study. | ||
Co-op Work Experience |
Important Note
When registering for classes, note additional electives are required. If you are taking less than 18 semester hours during fall or spring semesters, verify with your advisor that you have registered for all required electives.
Major GPA Requirement
Minimum 2.500 GPA required
Architecture Major Credit Requirement
Complete 96 semester hours in the major.
Program Requirement
142 total semester hours required
Sample Plans of Study
Four Years, One Co-op in Summer 2/Fall
LAST NAME BEGINS WITH A–L
Year 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 1000 | 1 | ARCH 2130 | 6 | MATH 1241 | 4 | Vacation | |
ARCH 1110 | 4 | ARCH 2240 | 4 | or | |||
ARCH 1120 | 6 | EEAM 2000 | 1 | Elective | |||
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
PHYS 1141 (or elective) | 4 | Architecture history elective (1 of 2) | 4 | ||||
19 | 19 | 4 | 0 | ||||
Year 2 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 2140 | 6 | ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341 | 4 | Elective | 4 | Co-op | 0 |
ARCH 3450 | 4 | ARCH 3170 | 6 | Elective | 4 | ||
MATH 1241 (or elective) | 4 | ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211 | 4 | ||||
Architecture history elective (2 of 2) | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
18 | 18 | 8 | 0 | ||||
Year 3 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
Co-op | 0 | Travel study | 16 | Optional 4-month co-op | Optional 4-month co-op | ||
Students may choose from a variety of approved, off-campus study opportunities and are expected to complete a minimum of 16 credits in the location of their choosing. | or | or | |||||
Dialogue of Civilizations | Dialogue of Civilizations | ||||||
or | or | ||||||
Electives (2) | Electives (2) | ||||||
or | or | ||||||
Vacation | Vacation | ||||||
0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 4 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
ARCH 5115 | 6 | ARCH 3370 | 4 | ||||
ARCH 5330 | 4 | ARCH 5140 | 6 | ||||
ARCH 5430 | 4 | ARCH 5230 and ARCH 5231 | 4 | ||||
ENGW 3314 | 4 | ARCH 5310 | 4 | ||||
18 | 18 | ||||||
Total Hours: 138 |
Four Years, One Co-op in Spring/Summer 1
LAST NAME BEGINS WITH M–Z
Year 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 1000 | 1 | ARCH 2130 | 6 | MATH 1241 (or elective) | 4 | Vacation | |
ARCH 1110 | 4 | ARCH 2240 | 4 | ||||
ARCH 1120 | 6 | EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
PHYS 1141 (or elective) | 4 | Architecture history elective (1 of 2) | 4 | ||||
19 | 19 | 4 | 0 | ||||
Year 2 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 2140 | 6 | ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341 | 4 | Optional 4-month co-op | Optional 4-month co-op | 0 | |
ARCH 3450 | 4 | ARCH 3170 | 6 | or | or | ||
Architecture history elective (2 of 2)1 | 4 | ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211 | 4 | Dialogue of Civilizations | Dialogue of Civilizations | ||
Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | or | or | ||
Electives (2) | Electives (2) | ||||||
or | or | ||||||
Vacation | Vacation | ||||||
18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 3 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
Travel study | 16 | Co-op | Co-op | Elective | 4 | ||
Students may choose from a variety of approved, off-campus study opportunities and are expected to complete a minimum of 16 credits in the location of their choosing. | Elective | 4 | |||||
16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
Year 4 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
ARCH 5115 | 6 | ARCH 3370 | 4 | ||||
ARCH 6330 | 4 | ARCH 5140 | 6 | ||||
ARCH 6430 | 4 | ARCH 5230 and ARCH 5231 | 4 | ||||
ENGW 3314 | 4 | ARCH 5310 | 4 | ||||
18 | 18 | ||||||
Total Hours: 138 |
Five Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
Last Name Begins with A–L
Year 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 1000 | 1 | ARCH 2130 | 6 | Vacation | Vacation | ||
ARCH 1110 | 4 | ARCH 2240 | 4 | ||||
ARCH 1120 | 6 | EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311 | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
Elective | 4 | Architecture history elective (1 of 2) | 4 | ||||
19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 2 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 2140 | 6 | ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341 | 4 | Vacation | Co-op | 0 | |
ARCH 3450 | 4 | ARCH 3170 | 6 | ||||
PHYS 1141 | 4 | ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211 | 4 | ||||
Architecture history elective (2 of 2)1 | 4 | ||||||
18 | 14 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 3 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
Co-op | 0 | Travel study | 16 | Vacation | Vacation | ||
Students may choose from a variety of approved, off-campus study opportunities and are expected to complete a minimum of 16 credits in the location of their choosing. | |||||||
0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 4 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 5330 | 4 | ARCH 5115 (1 of 2) | 6 | Vacation | Co-op | 0 | |
ARCH 5430 | 4 | ARCH 5310 | 4 | ||||
ENGW 3314 | 4 | MATH 1241 | 4 | ||||
Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
16 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 5 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
Co-op | 0 | ARCH 3370 | 4 | ||||
ARCH 5140 | 6 | ||||||
ARCH 5230 and ARCH 5231 | 4 | ||||||
Elective | 4 | ||||||
0 | 18 | ||||||
Total Hours: 138 |
Five Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1
Division B—Last Name Begins with M–Z
Year 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 1000 | 1 | ARCH 2130 | 6 | Vacation | Vacation | ||
ARCH 1110 | 4 | Architecture history elective (1 of 2) | 4 | ||||
ARCH 1120 | 6 | ARCH 2240 | 4 | ||||
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311 | 4 | EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||
Elective | 4 | ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||
19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 2 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 2140 | 6 | ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341 | 4 | Vacation | Vacation | ||
ARCH 3450 | 4 | ARCH 3170 | 6 | ||||
PHYS 1141 | 4 | ARCH 3210 | 4 | ||||
Architecture history elective (2 of 2) | 4 | ||||||
18 | 14 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 3 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
Travel study | 16 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Vacation | |
Students may choose from a variety of approved, off-campus study opportunities and are expected to complete a minimum of 16 credits in the location of their choosing. | |||||||
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 4 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
ARCH 5115 | 6 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Vacation | |
ARCH 5430 | 4 | ||||||
Elective | 4 | ||||||
Elective | 4 | ||||||
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Year 5 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
ARCH 5330 | 4 | ARCH 3370 | 4 | ||||
ENGW 3314 | 4 | ARCH 5140 | 6 | ||||
MATH 1241 | 4 | ARCH 5230 and ARCH 5231 | 4 | ||||
Elective | 4 | ARCH 5310 | 4 | ||||
16 | 18 | ||||||
Total Hours: 138 |