Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Architectural Studies builds a broad foundation for professional master’s degrees in architecture and other design disciplines. By focusing on historical and contemporary design thinking, the program links design to art, culture, society, environment and urbanism. The degree prepares students to be innovative, active, well-rounded, critical and informed designers and introduces students to architectural design culture while emphasizing the history and theory of architecture and art. The program includes design studios, lecture/studio hybrid courses and seminars that focus on architectural history, theory and criticism; urban issues; and sustainability.

Students are required to complete elective credits outside of the Architectural Studies major, which allows students to customize their undergraduate experience to suit their own career and educational goals, expand their understanding of design and explore the ways it is connected to other fields. Students may use these electives to pursue minors, double majors and dual degrees in other areas of interest, such as a streamlined dual degree with the B.S. degree in Construction Management.

Students may take advantage of the semester-long study abroad program in Florence, Italy, during any semester after successful completion of at least 6 credit hours of Architectural Studies (ARCS) coursework and 30 total credit hours at Kent State University. The Florence program is open to all Architectural Studies students who have made satisfactory progress toward completion of their undergraduate program.

Students may apply early to the M.L.A I degree in Landscape Architecture and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the language, logic and rhetoric of design and ability to deploy this understanding in design projects, research, analysis and critique.
2. Demonstrate abilities in design thinking, visual thinking, critical thinking and design discourse.
3. Demonstrate skills in research and apply these skills to the design of the built environment.
4. Recognize the value of cultural diversity and a broad range of historical traditions.
5. Demonstrate understanding of the interconnectedness of the allied design disciplines and the ability to articulate relationships between these professions and other areas of study.
6. Appreciate a wide range of contrasting perspectives on sustainability, recognize the relationship between these perspectives and the design of the built environment and advocate for specific positions.
7. Utilize and interpret literature and data related to environments and their design.
8. Demonstrate leadership skills in cross-disciplinary settings.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students switching from the B.S. in Architecture to the B.A. in Architectural Studies may substitute ARCH 10101 for ARCS 10123 and ARCH 10102 for ARCS 20123. Students requesting either of these substitutions must submit a 1-2-page statement of purpose to the architectural studies program coordinator that explains a) what they understand about the ARCS program, and b) why it suits their interests and goals. Please contact the program coordinator for more information. Requests for these exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis according to a standardized rubric.

²

Students declaring a dual degree program with the B.S. in Construction Management may substitute CMGT 21071 for ARCS 30123.

³

Students declaring a dual degree program with the B.S. in Construction Management may substitute CMGT 33111 for ARCS 30321.

⁴

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

⁵

Students declaring a dual degree program with the B.S. in Construction Management may substitute CMGT 43099 for 3 credit hours of Architecture Upper-Division Electives. Students may not use ARCH 30031 to fulfill Architecture Upper-Division Electives.

⁶

Students declaring a dual degree program with the B.S. in Construction Management may substitute ACCT 23020, ECON 22060, ECON 22061 and MKTG 25010 for the foreign language requirement.

Graduation Requirements

• Students in the Architectural Studies major are required to declare and complete a minor. Students may select any minor available at Kent State University. The number of credit hours required to complete the minor depends on the minor selected.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture enables students to learn, develop and apply knowledge that contributes to the betterment of the built environment. The balanced curriculum of technology, visualization, history, theory and design studio coursework offers a platform for research, constructive discourse and debate.

Northeast Ohio's rich history and dynamic urban landscape serve as a setting for academic learning. By placing equal emphasis on the art and science of architectural design, the curriculum inspires experimentation, collaboration, discovery, critical thinking and innovation in a studio context of project-based learning. The program fosters academic excellence and prepares students to become leaders in the architecture field.

The college offers full-semester programs abroad for qualified third-year students. The study abroad program is housed in the heart of historic Florence, Italy. The program is open to all students who have made satisfactory progress toward completion of their undergraduate program.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Freshman Students: Admission to the Architecture major is selective and based on a holistic review process. Prospective applicants must have a minimum 3.000 overall grade point average (on a 4.000 scale) to be considered for a holistic review and potential admission into the Architecture program.

Applicants with a non-professional bachelor’s degree or a pre-professional degree from another institution will have their prior education evaluated to determine if they meet student performance criteria as stipulated by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). If deficient criteria or courses are recognized, the student may be required to complete additional courses to earn the degree. Determinations will be made by the program director and graduate coordinator at the time the student is admitted to the program

Admission to Non-Degree General major: Students not admitted to the Architecture major may qualify for admission to the college's non-degree General major. Students in the General major are assigned to freshman orientation classes with students in all College of Architecture and Environmental Design majors. These classes aid in understanding the broad range of career options within the environmental design professions. Students should take regular coursework in preparation to attempt entry into one of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design majors or may consider alternative degree program options. Students should meet with their advisor to aid in making a decision regarding their degree program and major. In order to move forward with a minimum loss of credit hours, it is strongly recommended that students in the General, who were not accepted into a degree program, choose an alternate degree program within or outside the college prior to completing 45 credit hours.

Students in the General major may apply for admission to the architecture Spring/Summer studio programs. To be eligible for consideration, they must complete their first semester (or first-year) with a minimum 2.750 GPA (3.000 GPA or higher are the most competitive), complete first-year non-studio requirements and apply for the summer studio program. Students who are accepted will complete ARCH 10101 and ARCH 10102 during the Spring/Summer between their first and second years. A personal interview with the program director is recommended during the first week of the spring semester of their first year.

Transfer, Transitioning and Former Students: For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the fundamentals of visual perception and the principles of two and three-dimensional form and space making.
2. Demonstrate comprehensive design studio experiences through which graduates apply an understanding of the integration of building design, site design, assemblies, structure, environmental systems and building code requirements.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of building systems and their integration for human comfort, including lighting, heating ventilation and acoustics.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

This course is equivalent to ARCH 30112.

³

Students who successfully complete PHY 13002 will have met the requirement for PHY 13012.

⁴

ECON 22060 is a recommended Kent Core Social Sciences course.

Progression Requirements

Requirements for advancement to third year—professional level:

Advancement review for the B.S. degree in Architecture occurs upon completion of second-year architecture course work. To advance, students must accomplish the following:

• Comply with all specific course prerequisites
• Earn a minimum 2.250 GPA in architecture courses
• Earn a minimum 2.500 overall GPA
• ​Complete the following courses: ARCH 10101, ARCH 10102, ARCH 10011, ARCH 10012, ARCH 20101, ARCH 20102, ARCH 20301, ARCH 20601, ARCH 20602, ARCH 30031, MATH 12002 (or MATH 12011 and MATH 12012), PHY 13001, PHY 13012, PHY 13021, UC 10001 and Kent Core Composition.

Graduation Requirements

• Architecture majors may not use the following course to satisfy the architectural major requirements: ARCH 10001.
• No more than 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may apply to required credit hours for graduation.
• No more than the first 16 credit hours of ROTC courses—Aerospace Studies (ASTU) and Military Studies (MSCI)—may apply to required credit hours for graduation. Veterans who have completed a minimum one year of active duty may receive PWS credit for military basic training according to branch of service, as follows:
  • Army and Marine Corps: 3 credit hours
  • Navy and Coast Guard: 2 credit hours
  • Air Force: 1 credit hour

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus