3100 Art and Architecture Building (AA)
(312) 996-3335
arch@uic.edu
http://www.arch.uic.edu
Administration: Director, Robert Somol
Academic Advisor: Maria Tolbert
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 at 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 Web site and the UIC Graduate 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.
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from UIC, students need to complete University, college, and school degree requirements. The School of Architecture degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Architecture and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies. In addition to college and University GPA requirements, students must maintain a C average in studio each year.
| BS in Architecture Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Core Courses | 94 |
| Distribution Requirements | 30 |
| Additional Electives | 6 |
| Total Hours—BS in Architecture | 130 |
Core Courses
The core courses in the curriculum provide a foundation in the discipline of architecture through the study of the visual and verbal languages of architectural form and the materials and techniques of architectural production. Courses in math and the natural sciences, art and architectural history, humanities, and the social sciences as well as the profession of architecture enable students to make rational decisions about career options relative to their personal strengths and weaknesses.
| Courses | Hours |
| ARCH 105—Design Foundations: Visual Studies | 4 |
| ARCH 106—Design Foundations: Physical Studies | 4 |
| ARCH 205—Building Design I | 4 |
| ARCH 206—Building Design II | 4 |
| ARCH 251—Architectural Analysis | 3 |
| ARCH 252—Beginnings of Modern Architectural Theory | 3 |
| ARCH 359—Building Science I | 4 |
| ARCH 360—Building Science II | 4 |
| ARCH 365—Building Design Studio III | 6 |
| ARCH 366—Building Design Studio IV | 6 |
| ARCH 371—Design and the Environment | 3 |
| ARCH 372—Design and the City | 3 |
| ARCH 470—Structures I | 4 |
| ARCH 471—Structures II | 3 |
| ARCH 414—Professional Practices | 3 |
| ARCH 465—Comprehensive Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 466—Option Studio | 6 |
| MATH 180—Calculus Ia | 5 |
| PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I Lecturea | 4 |
| PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I Laboratorya | 1 |
| ENGL 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts |
3 |
| ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research |
3 |
| AH 110—Art History Ib | 4 |
| AH 111—Art History IIb | 4 |
| Total Hours—Core Courses | 94 |
b This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.
Distribution Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| Understanding the Past coursea | 3 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society coursea | 3 |
| Exploring World Cultures coursea | 3 |
| Understanding U.S. Society coursea | 3 |
| Two courses in Art History | 6 |
| Liberal arts courses | 12 |
| Total Hours—Distribution Requirementsa | 30 |
a Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.
Additional Electives
| Courses | Hours |
| Free Electives | 6 |
| Total hours—Additional Electives | 6 |
| Freshman Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 105—Design Foundations: Visual Studies | 4 |
| ENGL 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts |
3 |
| Understanding the Past course | 3 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course | 3 |
| LAS elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 106—Design Foundations: Physical Studies | 4 |
| ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for
Inquiry and Research |
3 |
| Exploring World Cultures course | 3 |
| Understanding U.S. Society course | 3 |
| LAS elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 205—Building Design I | 4 |
| ARCH 251—Architectural Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 180—Calculus I | 5 |
| AH 110—Art History I | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 206—Building Design II | 4 |
| ARCH 252—Beginnings of Modern Architectural Theory | 3 |
| PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture | 4 |
| PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory | 1 |
| AH 111—Art History II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 365—Building Design Studio III | 6 |
| ARCH 359—Introduction to Building Science I | 4 |
| ARCH 371—Design and the Environment | 3 |
| AH elective (choose any Art History course at the 200-level or higher)a | 3 |
| Total hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 366—Building Design Studio IV | 6 |
| ARCH 360—Introduction to Building Science II | 4 |
| ARCH 372—Design and the City | 3 |
| Elective (choose any course offered at UIC) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 465—Comprehensive Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 414—Professional Practices | 3 |
| ARCH 470—Structures I | 4 |
| Elective (choose any course offered at UIC) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 466—Option Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 471—Structures II | 3 |
| AH elective
(choose any Art History course at the 200- level or higher)a |
3 |
| LAS Elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| Elective (choose any course offered at UIC) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 |
a For this requirement, students can choose any Art History course at the 200-level or higher. For those students planning to go to graduate school in architecture at UIC or elsewhere, History of Architecture courses within the Art History sequence are highly recommended.
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.
The School of Architecture offers a select number of study abroad options. Further details are available from the School of Architecture.