Bachelor of Architecture

Rhett Russo, Associate Professor
Chair

First Year Design Studio

The five-year undergraduate professional degree program seeks applicants curious about the acquisition of knowledge, the creative and scientific aspects of buildings, the importance of ecological design, the power of learning, the value of hard work, and the transformative opportunities afforded the next generation of architects committed to changing the world. Conceived as a supportive and inspiring environment for the beginning student of architecture, the program offers a comprehensive curriculum comprised of architectural design, history/theory, and technology courses as preparation for our graduates to become future leaders in the profession.

The School has an extensive international study abroad program enabling students to spend one full semester in Italy, India, or Latin America. In addition, the School also offers a semester-long program in New York City for undergraduate students to study at the Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) as an opportunity to pursue research on next-generation sustainable architecture.

The Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer is a professional degree fully accredited by the National Architectural Accreditation Board. Graduates of the School are distinguished by being creatively independent, technologically astute, progressive, professionally ambitious with a strong sense of social responsibility, and prepared for career advancement at any level.

Contact: David Bell, Associate Professor
Acting Associate Dean
518-276-6862

 

Malika Yansaneh (BArch ’22)

The five-year B.Arch. program concludes with a year-long individually developed and comprehensive final project in the context of optional research studio and thematic contexts provided by faculty. The first semester of the final project integrates a Research Methods seminar.  An integrated design research phase continues throughout the first and the second semesters.The final project is an opportunity to develop a point of view about architecture and its place in the world; to question conventions, habitual responses, and routine approaches to architectural design; and to investigate issues that the student sees as significant to architecture.

 

The ARCH program is mandatory for all RPI undergraduates who enter in the fall 2017 and afterward. B ARCH students must fulfill the All-Institute AWAY requirement in the summer after their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year.

 

A sample template of the B.Arch. curriculum structure is provided below. Please note that special circumstances such as participating in a semester abroad or a semester at CASE in New York City may involve some variation from this template.

 


The Bachelor of Architecture degree requires 172 credit hours.
All undergraduate students should develop a Plan of Study with their faculty adviser.


Program Curriculum

First Year

Fall

Course Number Course Credits
ARCH-2150 The Ethos of Architecture 3
ARCH-2160 Architectural Media 2
ARCH-2510 Materials and Design 2
ARCH-2520 Digital Constructs 1 2
ARCH-2800 Architectural Design Studio 1 5
MATH-1500 Calculus 4
 

 

Semester Total:   18
Program Running Total:   18

Spring

Course Number Course Credits
HASS HASS Inquiry and Communication Course 4
ARCH-2370 Energy, Comfort and Ecology 2
ARCH-2530 Digital Constructs 2 2
ARCH-2810 Architectural Design Studio 2 5
ARCH-4090 Architectural Case Studies 2
ARCH-4100 An Architectural Genealogy 3
 

 

Semester Total:   18
Program Running Total:   36

 

Second Year

Fall

Course Number Course Credits
ARCH-2330 Structures 1 3
ARCH-2350 Construction Systems 2
ARCH-2540 Digital Constructs 3 2
ARCH-2820 Architectural Design Studio 3 5
ARCH-4050 Cities & Their Territories 2
ARCH-4120 Modernity & Architecture 3
 

 

TOTAL:   17
Program Running Total:   53

 

Spring

Course Number Course Credits
ARCH-2360 Environmental and Ecological Systems 4
ARCH-2550 Digital Constructs 4 2
ARCH-2830 Architectural Design Studio 4 5
ARCH-4150 Contemporary Design Approaches 3
PHYS-1050 General Physics 4
 

 

TOTAL:   18
Program Running Total:   71

 

Third Year

Fall

Course Number Course Credits
HASS HASS Elective 4
SCIENCE Science Elective 4
ARCH-43301 Structures 21 3
ARCH-4770 Architectural Design Studio 5 5
ARCH-45901 Entrepreneurship & Architecture1 2
ARCH-42001 Portfolio Development1 1
 

 

TOTAL:   19
Program Running Total:   90

1Note: These courses are also taught in spring of 3rd year

 

Spring

Course Number Course Credits
MATH Math Elective 4
ARCH Professional Elective 2
ARCH Professional Elective 2
HASS HASS Elective 4
ARCH-4780 Architectural Design Studio 6 5
 

 

TOTAL:   17
Program Running Total:   107

 

Fourth Year

Fall

Course Number Course Credits
ARCH-48202,3 Comprehensive Design Studio 12,3 5
ARCH-43202,3 Building Integration 1 – Design2,3 3
ARCH-45403 Professional Practice 13 2
ELECTIVE Free Elective 4
HASS HASS Elective 4
 

 

TOTAL:   18
Program Running Total:   125

Spring

Course Number  Course Credits
ARCH-48302,3 Comprehensive Design Studio 22,3 5
ARCH-4550 Professional Practice 2 2
ARCH-43252,3 Building Integration 2 – Practice2,3 3
ARCH Professional Elective 2
SCIENCE Science Elective 4
 

 

TOTAL:   16
Program Running Total:   141

 

Fifth Year

Fall

Course Number Course  Credits
ARCH Professional Elective 2
HAAS HASS Elective 4
ELECTIVE Free Elective 4
ARCH-4790 Architectural Design Studio 7 5
ARCH-4910 Final Project Design Research Seminar 3
 

 

TOTAL:   18
Program Running Total:   159

Spring

Course Number  Course Credits
ARCH Professional Elective 2
ARCH Professional Elective 2
ELECTIVE Free Elective 4
ARCH-49204 Final Project Design Studio4 5
 

 

TOTAL:   13
Program Running Total:   172

 


 

General Note: BS&E (4 credits) and M&E (2 credits) are in the process of a curricular change and will transition to BI-1 and BI-2 beginning fall 24.

 

2Please Note the Following:

 

2022 COHORT Spring 24, 2nd-year students:
In spring 2025 ARCH-4740, BS&E (4 credits) and ARCH-4560 M&E (2 credits) = 6 total credits, will be replaced with ARCH-4320, Building Integration 1 – Design (3 credits) in 4th year with CDS1 and ARCH-4325, Building Integration 2 – Practice (3 credits) in 4th year with CDS2. This cohort will not be required to take BS&E or M&E.

 

 

2021 COHORT Spring 24, 3rd-year students:
a. have taken BS&E and M&E = 6 credits, no action required
b. have taken BS&E = 4 credits, then you must take M&E in fall 24 to graduate
c. have taken M&E = 2 credits then you must take BS&E in fall 24 to graduate. If you have taken BS&E and M&E = 6 credits, no action is required. However, it is highly recommended to take the studio co-reqs, Building Integration 1 (3 credits) with CD 1 and Building Integration 2 with CD 2. BI-1 and BI-2 will fulfill professional electives.

 

 

2020 COHORT Spring 24, 4th-year students:
and you have completed CDS 1 and are taking, or have completed CDS2 in spring 24 and you:
a. have taken BS&E and M&E = 6 credits, no action required
b. have taken BS&E = 4 credits, then you must take M&E in fall 24 to graduate
c. have taken M&E = 2 credits then you must take BSE in fall 24 to graduate. If you plan to take CD 2 in spring 25, it is highly recommended to take Building Integration 2 (3 credits) as a professional elective with
CDS 2.

 

3Please Note the Following:

 

4th year co-requisites a. the fall semester of the 4th year ARCH-4820 CD1, ARCH-4320 B1-1, and ARCH-4540 PP1, are co-requisite courses to be taken concurrently.
b. the spring semester of the 4th year ARCH-4830 CD2 and ARCH-4325 BI-2, are co-requisite courses to be taken concurrently.

 

 

4Please Note the Following:

 

Disciplinary-specific Communication Intensive requirement ARCH-4920, Final Project Design Studio meets the disciplinary-specific Communication Intensive requirement that is indicated in DegreeWorks.

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Marcos (BArch ’23) and Chelsea Zhao (BArch ’23)

 

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Dean

Evan Douglis, Professor

Address

School of Architecture
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street - Greene Bldg.
Troy, NY 12180 - USA

Main Phones

Front Desk: (+1) 518-276-6466
Dean’s Office: (+1) 518-276-6460
Student Services: (+1) 518-276-6877

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