The undergraduate curriculum provides an introduction to the discipline of architectural history within a liberal arts course of study.

CURRICULAR FOCUS

Course offerings focus on the following areas of architectural history:

• Ancient
• Medieval
• Renaissance
• Baroque
• Europe after 1750
• American
• Non-western, particularly East Asian

CURRICULUM

A minimum of 38 credits in architectural history is required for the major. These include a research and writing preparatory course and a thesis taken during the fourth year, which allows students to research and write an independent advanced paper on a topic of their choice while working closely with a faculty member. Students must also complete the first year of architectural design courses. Appropriate preservation and art history courses may be used to fulfill architectural history requirements after consultation with an academic advisor. Students must take at least one course from four of the areas listed above. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

FIRST YEAR

Fall Semester

• AR H 1010 History of Architecture Ancient-Medieval (3)
• ENWR 1100  Accelerated Academic Writing (3)
• MATH 1210 Applied Calculus I (or approved substitute) (1)
• Foreign Language² (3–4)
• Open Elective (ARCH 101 recommended) (3)
• ^{16-17 Total Credits}

Spring Semester

• AR H 1020 Renaissance to Modern (4)
• Foreign Language² (3–4)
• English Elective  (3)
• Open Elective (ARCH 102 recommended) (3)
• Social Science Elective (3)
• ^{16–17 Total Credits}

SECOND YEAR

Fall Semester

• ARCH 2010 Introduction to Architectural Design (6)
• Foreign Language² (3–4)
• AR H Elective (Area Requirement) (3–4)
• Natural Science Elective (3)
• ^{15–17  Total Credits}

Spring Semester

• AR H Elective (3)
• AR H Elective (Area Requirement) (3)
• Foreign Language ² (3–4)
• Natural Science Elective (3–4)
• Social Science Elective (3)
• ^{15–17 Total Credits}

THIRD YEAR

Fall Semester

• AR H Elective (Area Requirement) (3)
• AR H Elective⁴ (3)
• English Elective (3)
• History Elective (3)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• ^{15 Total Credits}

Spring Semester

• AR H 4910 or ARTH 4910 AR H Seminar (3)
• English Elective  (3)
• History Elective (3)
• Open Elective (3–4)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• ^{15–16 Total Credits}

FOURTH YEAR

Fall Semester

• AR H Elective³ (3)
• AR H Elective³ (3)
• Open Elective ⁴  (3)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• ^{15 Total Credits}

Spring Semester

• AR H 490 Major Special Study: Thesis (3)
• AR H Elective ³ (3)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• Open Elective ⁴ (3)
• ^{15 Total Credits}

Degree Total: 122

^{Notes:
1 If ENWR 1100 or MATH is waived, any open elective may be substituted.
2 Students must attain, at a minimum, an intermediate level in one foreign language, usually by completing 12 credits of foreign language study through the 202 level. Any remaining course slots may be used for additional languages or as open electives. Those with previous language study may contact the appropriate department for placement in advanced level courses (i.e., to begin study at the University with a 200- rather than a 100-level language course). Students scoring at least 620 on a SATII foreign language achievement examination have satisfied this requirement. Those intending to continue in the field of architectural history are advised to study a second language.
3 Related art history courses offered by the McIntire Department of Art and related courses in the history of landscape architecture may be taken for architectural history credit with advisor permission.
4 Students should take advantage of courses in preservation and building technology when they are available.}