The
bachelor's degree program begins intensively with architectural studies in the
first year and provides for a mix of architectural and general university
studies throughout the program. The curriculum includes two cycles of
development. The first cycle of five semesters provides a foundation in
understanding architecture, concluding with integrative studies after two years
of introductory work. The second cycle, also five semesters, provides the
opportunity to explore many aspects of architecture and to develop individual
strengths and interests. The second cycle, and the program, concludes with a
comprehensive thesis project of the student's choice and initiative.
All
applicants to the School of Architecture must first complete the university
application form and return it to the USC Office of Admission along with all
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or other test scores. All architecture
applicants, including all transfer students and all international students, are
required to submit SAT or the American College Testing (ACT) assessment.
It is
possible, in selected instances, that a transfer student from an accredited
junior college, community college or other university may be eligible for
advanced placement at the second year level or above if previous work includes
a minimum of 32 semester units of acceptable academic credit in a
pre-architecture program. The academic credit must include eight semester units
in architectural design or environmental design. Students accepted for advanced
placement must still comply with all requirements for the degree.
Advanced
placement applicants are required to submit a portfolio to the School of
Architecture prior to the application deadline.
A
seven-week summer design studio allows highly qualified students transferring
from community college programs to be evaluated for advanced placement in the
fall semester. Applicants must submit a portfolio by May 1.
During the summer studio, transfer students must demonstrate significant design
and drawing skill to justify advanced placement. Successfully completing this
summer transfer studio allows students to reduce the required 10-semester
design sequence by two semesters, reducing USC residency to four years. For
information about qualifying for this program, contact the school at (213)
740-2420.
Transfer
students who are admitted with fewer than 32 units of college level work and
who have only limited drawing or design skills will usually be placed in the
first year of the five-year design sequence. Previous academic work may in part
be applied toward required and elective courses for the five-year Bachelor of
Architecture program.
The
School of Architecture maintains an advisement service for the benefit of all
students in the school. Soon after being accepted, new students are advised by
mail of an appointment for preregistration advisement. A complete record is
kept of the progress of each student while in attendance. Appointments for
interviews with an advisor may be scheduled at any time during the academic
year.
Less
than average work in design is not considered sufficient for a professional
degree. Students must receive a grade of C (2.0) or above in each semester of
design (ARCH 102abL, 202abL, 302L, 402abcdL, 502L) in order to continue in the
design sequence and to graduate. Students will be required to repeat the course
until such a grade is achieved.
School
of Architecture majors enrolling for a semester of study off campus are limited
to the transfer of only one design studio course within the ARCH 402abcdL
sequence. Approval of transfer credit will be dependent upon portfolio review
by an appointed faculty review committee.
Architecture
students are permitted to take a maximum of 24 units of non-architecture
electives, exclusive of the writing requirement, MATH 108 and PHYS 125aLg, on a
pass/no pass option. No more than 12 units of pass/no pass courses may be
applied to general elective requirements; no more than four units may be taken
in one semester. Students who have taken non-architecture courses pass/no pass
in the past (i.e., before admission to architecture) may count such pass/no
pass courses toward, but not in addition to, the maximum of 24 units.
Students
in upper division (ARCH 402abcdL) may accelerate by one semester in the design
sequence by completing a summer studio course with the grade of C or higher.
While
there are no specific time limits for completing the bachelor's degree (except
in the case of discontinued programs) the School of Architecture may require
additional course work of students who remain in the degree program beyond six
years.
|
First Year, First
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 102aL |
Architectural Design I |
4 |
|
ARCH 105L |
Fundamentals of Design
Communication |
2 |
|
ARCH 114 |
Introduction to Modern
Architecture |
2 |
|
General Education |
Social Issues |
4 |
|
MATH 108* |
Introductory College
Mathematics, or |
|
|
WRIT 140* |
Writing and Critical Reasoning |
4 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
||
|
First Year, Second
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 102bL |
Architectural Design I |
4 |
|
ARCH 211 |
Materials and Methods of
Building Construction |
3 |
|
PHYS 125aL** |
Physics for Architects |
4 |
|
General Education, or |
|
|
|
WRIT 130* |
Analytical Writing |
4 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
||
|
Second Year, First
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 202aL |
Architectural Design II |
6 |
|
ARCH 213a |
Building Structures and Seismic
Design |
3 |
|
ARCH 214a |
History of Architecture |
4 |
|
General Education |
4 |
|
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
||
|
Second Year, Second
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 202bL |
Architectural Design II |
6 |
|
ARCH 213b |
Building Structures and Seismic
Design |
3 |
|
ARCH 214b |
History of Architecture |
4 |
|
General Education |
4 |
|
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
||
|
Third Year, First
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 215 |
Design for the Thermal and
Atmospheric Environment |
3 |
|
ARCH 302L |
Architectural Design III |
6 |
|
ARCH 313 |
Design of Building Structures |
3 |
|
General Education |
4 |
|
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
||
|
Third Year, Second
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 315 |
Design for the Luminous and
Sonic Environment |
3 |
|
ARCH 402aL |
Architectural Design IV |
6 |
|
ARCH 411 |
Architectural Technology, or |
|
|
ARCH 412 |
Architecture Technology in
Europe |
3 |
|
General Education |
4 |
|
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
||
|
Fourth Year, First
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 314 |
Theory and Criticism: Recent
Trends and Developments |
3 |
|
ARCH 402bL |
Architectural Design IV |
6 |
|
ARCH 520 |
Professional Practice:
Pre-Design |
2 |
|
Electives |
|
4 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
||
|
Fourth Year, Second
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 402cL |
Architectural Design IV |
6 |
|
ARCH 521 |
Professional Practice: Project
Documentation |
2 |
|
Advanced Writing Course |
4 |
|
|
Electives |
|
4 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
||
|
Fifth Year, First
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 402dL |
Architectural Design IV |
6 |
|
ARCH 501 |
Thesis Preparation |
2 |
|
ARCH 522 |
Professional Practice: Project
and Office Administration |
2 |
|
Electives |
|
6 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
16 |
|
Fifth Year, Second
Semester |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 502L |
Architectural Design V |
6 |
|
ARCH 523 |
Professional Practice: Legal and
Economic Context |
2 |
|
Electives |
|
8 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
|
16 |
*All
students must enroll in WRIT 140 in the fall except those who are required to
take MATH 108. These students must take WRIT 130 the following spring.
**PHYS
125aL fulfills the General Education requirement in Category IV.
In
order to take advantage of elective opportunities in the advanced program,
students must complete the following courses before the end of the special
integrative semester (third year, first semester): ARCH 102abL, 105L, 202abL,
302L, 114, 211, 214ab, 213ab, 215; MATH 108 (or equivalent); PHYS 125aL (or
equivalent); and WRIT 140 or WRIT 130.
A
total of 22 units of electives is included toward completion of the 160 units
for the degree.
A
minimum of 10 units in architecture is required.
As of
fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program,
designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the
breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every
undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six
courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which
are described in detail here.
All
students who (1) enter the School of Architecture as freshmen in the summer of
1997 or later; or (2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later;
or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or
later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program.
Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program
as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may
elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.
Students
who are required to take MATH 108 during the freshman year may take their
Social Issues course in the fall and WRIT 130 separately in the spring.
An
additional 12 units in any category of professional courses, humanities, social
sciences and communication and natural sciences. Natural sciences include
astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, geological
sciences, mathematics (excluding MATH 108 or equivalent) and physics (excluding
PHYS 125aLg or equivalent).
Two
minors are offered by the School of Architecture. Students from other majors
may choose to minor in either architecture or architectural history.
The
minor in architecture allows students to specialize in a variety of areas of
study including: housing, history and theory, landscape architecture,
computers, technology, and historic preservation.
The
history minor provides students with a foundation of fundamental principles of
architectural history and electives which combine theory, regional and special
history studies.
To
declare the minor, students must first meet with a School of Architecture
advisor and create a program of studies to be approved by the advisor. Students
on academic probation will not be accepted into the minor program.
|
Required courses |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 102a |
Architectural Design I |
4 |
|
ARCH 105L |
Fundamentals of Design
Communication |
2 |
|
ARCH 114 |
Introduction to Modern
Architecture |
2 |
|
Sixteen or more units from the
core course pool (8 units must be upper division 300- or 400-level courses) |
16 |
|
|
|
____ |
|
|
Total Units |
24 |
|
|
Core Course Pool |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 206a |
Shelter |
4 |
|
ARCH 207ab |
Computer Applications in
Architecture |
2-2 |
|
ARCH 209 |
Modern Housing |
3 |
|
ARCH 211 |
Materials and Methods of
Building Construction |
3 |
|
ARCH 213ab |
Building Structures and Seismic
Design |
3-3 |
|
ARCH 214ab |
History of Architecture |
4-4 |
|
ARCH 215 |
Design for the Thermal and
Atmospheric Environment |
3 |
|
ARCH 308L |
Wind Tunnel Laboratory |
4 |
|
ARCH 313 |
Design of Building Structures |
3 |
|
ARCH 314 |
Theory and Criticism: Recent
Trends and Developments |
3 |
|
ARCH 315 |
Design for the Luminous and
Sonic Environment |
3 |
|
ARCH 322 |
Great Houses of Los Angeles |
4 |
|
ARCH 326 |
The Modern Movement in
Architecture |
4 |
|
ARCH 341 |
History of Italian Architecture
1400-1990 |
4 |
|
ARCH 409 |
American Architecture and
Urbanism |
4 |
|
ARCH 411 |
Architectural Technology |
3 |
|
ARCH 417 |
Computer Programming in
Architecture |
3 |
|
ARCH 418 |
Designing with Natural Forces |
3 |
|
ARCH 434 |
Nature Landscape and Gardens in
Non-Western Cultures |
4 |
|
ARCH 440 |
Literature and the Urban
Experience |
4 |
|
ARCH 442 |
Women's Spaces in History:
"Hussies," "Harems," and "Housewives" |
4 |
|
ARCH 499 |
Special Topics |
2-8 |
|
ARCH 507* |
Theories of Computer Technology |
3 |
|
ARCH 511L* |
Seminar: Building Systems |
4 |
|
ARCH 513L* |
Seminar: Advanced Structures |
4 |
|
ARCH 515L* |
Seminar: Advanced Environmental
Systems |
4 |
|
ARCH 521* |
Professional Practice: Project
Documentation |
2 |
|
ARCH 522* |
Professional Practice: Project
and Office Administration |
2 |
|
ARCH 523* |
Professional Practice: Legal and
Economic Context |
2 |
|
ARCH 532ab* |
Elements of the Urban Landscape |
2-2 |
*Note:
In order to receive undergraduate credit for 500-level courses, students must
obtain pre-approval. Students wishing to select 500-level courses as part of
their program of study for the minor should meet with an academic advisor to
obtain instructions.
|
Required courses (8
units) |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 214ab |
History of Architecture |
4-4 |
|
Three courses from the following
core course pool |
11-12 |
|
|
|
|
____ |
|
Total Units |
|
19-20 |
|
Core Course Pool |
Units |
|
|
ARCH 314 |
Theory and Criticism: Recent
Trends and Developments |
3 |
|
ARCH 326 |
The Modern Movement in
Architecture |
4 |
|
ARCH 341 |
History of Italian Architecture
1400-1990 |
4 |
|
ARCH 409 |
American Architecture and
Urbanism |
4 |
|
ARCH 440 |
Literature and the Urban
Experience |
4 |
|
ARCH 442 |
Women's Spaces in History:
"Hussies," "Harems," and "Housewives" |
4 |