School of Architecture
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
3100 Art and Architecture Building (AA)
(312) 996-3335
arch@uic.edu
http://www.arch.uic.edu
Administration: Director, Robert Somol
Acting Director, David Brown
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 website 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, Design, 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 | 97 |
| Distribution Requirements | 24 |
| Additional Electives | 2–3 |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1* |
| Total Hours—BS in Architecture | 124 |
*New freshmen are required to complete CC 120—First Year Dialogue Seminar for one hour. These students will complete 2 hours of electives for the BS in Architecture. All other students complete 3 hours of electives for the BS in Architecture.
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—Architecture Studio 1 | 5 |
| ARCH 106—Architecture Studio 2 | 5 |
| ARCH 205—Architecture Studio 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 206—Architecture Studio 4 | 5 |
| ARCH 251—Architectural Analysis | 3 |
| ARCH 252—Modern Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 359—Architectural Technology 1 | 4 |
| ARCH 360—Architectural Technology 2 | 4 |
| ARCH 365—Architecture Studio 5 | 6 |
| ARCH 366—Architecture Studio 6 | 6 |
| ARCH 371—Architectural Theory 1 | 3 |
| ARCH 372—Architectural Theory 2 | 3 |
| ARCH 470—Structures I | 3 |
| ARCH 471—Structures II | 3 |
| ARCH 414—Contemporary Practices | 3 |
| ARCH 465—Advanced Topic Studio 1 | 6 |
| ARCH 466—Advanced Topic Studio 2 | 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 | 97 |
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 College Electives | 6 |
| Liberal Arts courses | 6 |
| Total Hours—Distribution Requirementsa | 24 |
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 | 2–3 |
| Total hours—Additional Electives | 2–3 |
a New freshmen are required to complete CC 120—First Year Dialogue Seminar for one hour. These students will complete 2 hours of electives for the BS in Architecture. All other students complete 3 hours of electives for the BS in Architecture.
UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar
| Courses | Hours |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1 |
| Freshman Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 105—Architecture Studio 1 | 5 |
| ENGL 160—Academic Writing I: Writing for Academic and Public Contexts |
3 |
| Exploring World Cultures course | 3 |
| LAS Elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 106—Architecture Studio 2 | 5 |
| ENGL 161—Academic Writing II: Writing for
Inquiry and Research |
3 |
| CC 120—UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) |
1* |
| Understanding the Past course | 3 |
| Understanding U.S. Society course | 3 |
| Total Hours | 14–15 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 205—Architecture Studio 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 251—Architectural Analysis | 3 |
| Understanding the Individual and Society course | 3 |
| AH 110—Art History I | 4 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 206—Architecture Studio 4 | 5 |
| ARCH 252—Modern Architecture | 3 |
| PHYS 105—Introductory Physics I—Lecture | 4 |
| PHYS 106—Introductory Physics I—Laboratory | 1 |
| AH 111—Art History II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 17 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 365—Architecture Studio 5 | 6 |
| ARCH 359—Architectural Technology 1 | 4 |
| ARCH 371—Architectural Theory 1 | 3 |
| MATH 180—Calculus I | 5 |
| Total hours | 18 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 366—Architecture Studio 6 | 6 |
| ARCH 360—Architectural Technology 2 | 4 |
| ARCH 372—Architectural Theory 2 | 3 |
| College Elective | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 465—Advanced Topic Studio 1 | 6 |
| ARCH 414—Contemporary Practices | 3 |
| ARCH 470—Structures I | 3 |
| LAS Elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 466—Advanced Topic Studio 2 | 6 |
| ARCH 471—Structures II | 3 |
| College Elective | 3 |
| Elective (choose any course offered at UIC) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
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 will operate 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 course work, 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.
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies 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, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA in Architectural Studies Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Pre-Architectural Studies | 60 |
| Architectural Studies | 60 |
| Total Hours—BA in Architectural Studies | 120 |
Course Requirements—Pre-Architectural Studies
| Courses | Hours |
| 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 Ia | 4 |
| AH 111—Art History IIa | 4 |
| Analyzing the Natural World courseb | 3–5 |
| Understanding the Past courseb | 3 |
| Exploring World Cultures courseb | 3 |
| Understanding U.S. Society courseb | 3 |
| ARCH 200—Architecuture and Societyac | 4 |
| MATH 121—Precalculus Mathematics | 5 |
| University Electives (choose any course at UIC, approximately 8 courses total, depending on credit value of 3–5 hours per course) | 23–25 |
| Total Hours—Pre-Architectural Studies | 60 |
aThis course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.
bStudents should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this
category.
cThis course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
Course Requirements—Architectural Studies
| Courses | Hours |
| ARCH 105—Architecture Studio 1 | 5 |
| ARCH 106—Architecture Studio 2 | 5 |
| ARCH 251—Architectural Analysis | 3 |
| ARCH 252—Modern Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 371—Architectural Theory 1 | 3 |
| ARCH 372—Architectural Theory 2 | 3 |
| ARCH 414—Contemporary Practices | 3 |
| ARCH 440—Digital Design and Fabrication | 3 |
| ARCH 499—Special Topics | 3 |
| Two Art History Electives (200-level or higher) | 6 |
| Arts Elective (choose any art, design, music, or theatre course) | 3 |
| LAS Elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| LAS English Elective (choose any English drama, film, fiction, U.S. culture, or popular genres) | 3 |
| University Electives (choose any courses at UIC to reach a minimum of at least 14 semester hours) | 14 |
| Total Hours—Architectural Studies | 60 |
Sample Course Schedule—Architectural Studies
| Junior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 251—Architectural Analysis | 3 |
| ARCH 105—Architecture Studio 1 | 5 |
| Art History Elective (200-level or higher) | 3 |
| English Elective | 3 |
| Total hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 371—Architectural Theory 1 | 3 |
| ARCH 106—Architecture Studio 2 | 5 |
| ARCH 252—Modern Architecture | 3 |
| Arts Elective (choose any art, design, music, or theatre course) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 14 |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 372—Architecture Theory 2 | 3 |
| ARCH 414—Contemporary Practices | 3 |
| ARCH 440—Digital Design and Fabrication | 3 |
| University Elective (choose any course at UIC)* | 4 |
| University Elective (choose any course at UIC)* | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 499—Special Topics | 3 |
| Art History elective (200- level or higher)a | 3 |
| LAS Elective (choose any Liberal Arts and Sciences course) | 3 |
| University Elective (choose any course at UIC)* | 4 |
| University Elective (choose any course at UIC)* | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
*To meet prerequisites for many MArch programs, the University Electives should include: MATH 180—Calculus 1 (5 hours), PHYS 105—Introductory Physics Lecture (4), and PHYS 106—Introductory Physics Laboratory (1).
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.
