DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Architecture is a four-year pre-professional degree. The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree, including Core Curriculum requirements, is 132. Students are advised to complete the B.S. in Architecture degree coursework in the order indicated within the “Recommended Curriculum” issued by the College of Architecture for their catalog year.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Architecture is a program that provides students with the opportunity to prepare for the continuation of studies in a professional graduate program, a Master of Architecture (M. Arch.). Completion of the B.S. in Architecture degree allows the graduate to pursue limited architectural practice but does not, in itself, fully prepare the graduate for architectural licensure. Students in the B.S. in Architecture program are advised that certification for architectural registration and professional practice by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) requires, in virtually all cases, an accredited professional degree and broad architectural education such as that provided by the Masters in Architecture Program (M. Arch.) at UTSA.

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. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.

Master 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.

Transfer Students: All transfer students who have completed Architecture, Interior Design, or Design courses are required to submit a bound portfolio (maximum size 8.5 inches by 11 inches) to the College of Architecture as soon as admittance to the University is approved. Portfolios must be received at the College of Architecture prior to the second week in March for Fall Semester admissions, and prior to the second week in August for Spring Semester admissions. The portfolio must clearly demonstrate creative and communicative skills in written and graphic form. A complete transcript of all professional courses accompanied by the catalog descriptions from the originating institutions must be included. Do not send slides or original work. A postage-paid, self-addressed return envelope must be included for return of the work to the candidate. The portfolio will be reviewed by a faculty committee to determine the student’s placement within the curricular sequence.

Portfolio Review: All students in the B.S. in Architecture program are required to complete a portfolio review prior to their entrance into the third year of architectural studies. Without a portfolio submission, students will not be allowed to take ANY 3000-level or above courses; therefore, all students are required to submit a bound portfolio (maximum size 8.5 inches by 11 inches) prior to the second week in March. The portfolio must clearly demonstrate creative and communicative skills in written and graphic form. A Portfolio Review Committee composed of faculty in the College of Architecture will evaluate the portfolio to determine the level of advancement.

All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed in the table below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students will need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.

Core Curriculum Component Area	Courses that Satisfy Core Curriculum and Degree Requirements
Communications	English Rhetoric/Composition (6 semester credit hours) All students must take the following six hours to meet this core requirement: WRC 1013 Freshman Composition I WRC 1023 Freshman Composition II
Mathematics	Mathematics (3 semester credit hours) MAT 1093 Precalculus
Natural Sciences	Science (6 semester credit hours) PHY 1603 Algebra-based Physics I or PHY 1903 Engineering Physics I And one other science course; the following are recommended: ANT 2033 Introduction to Physical Anthropology ANT 2043 Introduction to Archaeology AST 1013 Introduction to Astronomy CHE 1073 Basic Chemistry CHE 1103 General Chemistry I ES 2013 Introduction to Environmental Systems I GEO 1013 The Third Planet GEO 1103 Introduction to Earth Systems GRG 2613 Physical Geography PHY 1623 Algebra-based Physics II
Social and Behavioral Sciences	United States History and Diversity (6 semester credit hours) Any six hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement. Political Science (6 semester credit hours) POL 1013 Introduction to American Politics, plus three additional hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 semester credit hours) Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement. Economics (3 semester credit hours) Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
Humanities & Visual and Performing Arts	Literature (3 semester credit hours) Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement. The Arts (3 semester credit hours) ARC 2413 History of Architecture: Antiquity through Medieval
World Society and Issues	(3 semester credit hours) ARC 1413 Architecture and Culture

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Degree Requirements

6 semester credit hours of mathematics and science (may also be used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirements in Mathematics and Natural Sciences):

MAT 1093 Precalculus

PHY 1603 Algebra-based Physics I
or
PHY 1903 Engineering Physics I
78 semester credit hours in the major passed with a grade of “C” or better in each course (ARC 1413 and ARC 2413 may also be used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirements):
1. 39 semester credit hours of required lower-division architectural courses:
  
  ARC 1213 Design I
  ARC 1223 Design II
  ARC 1313 Visual Communication
  ARC 1413 Architecture and Culture
  ARC 2116 Design III
  ARC 2126 Design IV
  ARC 2213 Construction Materials and Concepts
  ARC 2223 Structures I
  ARC 2413 History of Architecture: Antiquity through Medieval
  ARC 2423 History of Architecture: Renaissance through Nineteenth Century
  ARC 2513 Introduction to Digital Design Media
2. 39 semester credit hours of required upper-division architectural courses:
  
  ARC 3216 Architecture Studio I
  ARC 3226 Architecture Studio II
  ARC 3233 Structures II
  ARC 3343 Environmental Systems I
  ARC 3353 Environmental Systems II
  ARC 3613 History of Modern Architecture
  ARC 4246 Architecture Systems Studio
  ARC 4256 Architecture Topics Studio
  ARC 4513 Professional Practice and Ethics
18 semester credit hours of electives

It is strongly recommended that the electives should include 6 semester credit hours of foreign language courses.