Architecture, BS (Boston)

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The Bachelor of Science in Architecture curriculum combines a rigorous studio sequence with architecture history and building technology courses to prepare students to respond innovatively and conscientiously to the complex needs of the built environment and its inhabitants. In studio classes, students have an opportunity to develop core design and critical thinking skills through a project-based experiential curriculum. These small classes, held in Ruggles Studio, allow for regular one-on-one consultation with faculty and critiques with classmates. Formal reviews with guest critics are held throughout the semester. History courses provide grounding in the ways in which historical, economic, cultural, and social factors shape the built environment. In building technology classes, students study design and test structural and environmental systems of buildings and their synergistic integration. The degree is designed to prepare students to bring specific disciplinary expertise to the inherently broad and interdisciplinary challenges facing the built environment. Additionally, four- and five-year degree path options allow students flexibility in the pace of their studies, as well as to pursue electives and/or minors in subjects that complement and enhance the study of architecture. 

Students in every track participate in co-op. Students on the four-year track enroll in one six-month co-op with the option of adding a four-month co-op in their third year of study. Students on the five-year track enroll in two six-month co-ops. This allows students to gain real-world experience in architecture that aids them in both their academic development and in professional advancement. Co-op experience can often be applied to AXP credits required for licensure. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad or at affiliated institutions through a variety of different programs during their third year or summer months.

Applicants should note that the BS degree in architecture is not sufficient by itself to meet the academic requirement to sit for state licensure (most undergraduate architecture degrees are not accredited). However, students who graduate with the BS degree have the option to apply to the one-year, NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture degree that is open to our BS graduates in good standing, which allows our own students to achieve a master’s degree and become eligible for professional licensure in an efficient and timely manner.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath attributes Natural and Designed World (ND), Creative Expression and Innovation (EI), Interpreting Culture (IC), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Societies and Institutions (SI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), and Differences and Diversity (DD) are met through the major course requirements.

In order to graduate, students must complete Ethical Reasoning (ER) in their electives.

Architecture Core Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
History
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311	Buildings and Cities, A Global History and Recitation for ARCH 1310	4
ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341	Modern Architecture and Recitation for ARCH 2340	4
ARCH 3370	Advanced Topics in Architectural History	4
ARCH 3984	Topics in Global Architecture History	4
Architectural History Electives
Choose two of the following:		8
ARCH 2310	History of Chinese Architecture
ARCH 2320	Modern Chinese Architecture
ARCH 2335	Architecture and Politics
ARCH 2355	Architecture Conservation: Intervention, Transformation, and Reuse
ARCH 2370	Topics in Architectural History
ARCH 4850	Urban and Architectural History Abroad
Building Technology
ARCH 2240	Architectonic Systems	4
ARCH 2260	Introduction to Building Systems	4
ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211	Environmental Systems and Recitation for ARCH 3210	4
ARCH 5230	Structural Systems	4
Representation and Design Theory
ARCH 1110	Fundamental Architectural Representation	4
ARCH 3985	Topics in Global Architecture Design Theory	4
ARCH 5330	Theories of Architecture and Urbanism	4
Architectural Representation Elective
Choose one of the following:		4
ARCH 3430	Topics in Architectural Representation
ARCH 3450	Advanced Architectural Communication
Advanced Architecture Elective
Choose one of the following:		4
ARCH 5370	Topics in Architectural Design Theory
ARCH 5310	Design Tactics and Operations
ARCH 5312	Mapping and Building Health
ARCH 5314	Planning and the Built Environment
ARCH 5530	Innovative Models in Real Estate Development and Design
Studio
ARCH 1120	Fundamental Architectural Design	6
ARCH 2130	Site, Space, Program	6
ARCH 2140	Urban Housing	6
ARCH 3130	Adaptive Reuse	6
ARCH 3170	Architecture, Infrastructure, and the City	6
ARCH 3983	Topics in Global Architecture Studio	6
ARCH 5115	Option Studio	6
Architectural Practice
ARCH 1000	Architecture at Northeastern	1
ARCH 5430	Introduction to Professional Practice in Architecture	4
COOP 3945	Co-op Work Experience	0
EEAM 2000	Professional Development for Co-op	1
Supporting Courses
ENGW 1111	First-Year Writing	4
ENGW 3314	Advanced Writing in the Arts, Media, and Design	4
PHYS 1141	General Physics	4

Important Note

When registering for classes, note additional electives are required. If you are taking less than 18 semester hours during fall or spring semesters, verify with your advisor that you have registered for all required electives.

Major GPA Requirement

Minimum 2.500 GPA required

Architecture Major Credit Requirement

Complete 106 semester hours in the major.

Program Requirement

142 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study

Four Years, One Co-op in Summer Session B/Fall

LAST NAME BEGINS WITH A–L

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 1000	1	ARCH 2130	6	ENGW 1111 (or elective)	4	Vacation
ARCH 1110	4	ARCH 2260	4	Arch History Elective 1/2 or Elective	4
ARCH 1120	6	ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341	4
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311	4	EEAM 2000	1
PHYS 1141 (or elective)	4	ENGW 1111 (or elective)	4
	19		19		8		0
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 2140	6	ARCH 3130	6	Elective	4	Co-op	0
ARCH 2240	4	ARCH 3450 or 3430	4	Elective	4
Architecture History Elective 1/2 or Elective	4	ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211	4
Elective	4	Architecture History Elective 2/2 or Elective	4
	18		18		8		0
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
Co-op	0	Travel Study1		Dialogue of Civilizations		Dialogue of Civilizations
		ARCH 3983	6	or		or
		ARCH 3984	4	Vacation		Vacation
		ARCH 3985	4
		Global Elective	2
	0		16		0		0
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
ARCH 3170	6	ARCH 5115	6
ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211	4	ARCH 3370	4
ARCH 5330	4	ARCH 5370 or 5310	4
ARCH 5430	4	ENGW 3314	4
	18		18
Total Hours: 142

Four Years, One Co-op in Spring/Summer Session A

LAST NAME BEGINS WITH M–Z

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 1000	1	ARCH 2130	6	ENGW 1111 (or elective)	4	Vacation
ARCH 1110	4	ARCH 2240	4	Arch History Elective 1/2 or Elective	4
ARCH 1120	6	EEAM 2000	1
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311	4	ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341	4
PHYS 1141 (or elective)	4	ENGW 1111 (or elective)	4
	19		19		8		0
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 2140	6	ARCH 3130	6	Dialogue of Civilizations		Dialogue of Civilizations
ARCH 2240	4	ARCH 3450 or 3430	4	or		or
Arch History Elective 1/2 or Elective	4	ARCH 2230		Vacation		Vacation
Elective	4	Arch History Elective 2/2 or Elective	4
		Elective	4
	18		18		0		0
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
Travel Study1		Co-op		Co-op	0	Elective	4
ARCH 3983	6					Elective	4
ARCH 3984	4
ARCH 3985	4
Global Elective	2
	16		0		0		8
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
ARCH 3170	6	ARCH 5115	6
ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211	4	ARCH 3370	4
ARCH 5330	4	ENGW 3314	4
ARCH 5430	4	ARCH 5370	4
	18		18
Total Hours: 142

Five Years, Two Co-ops in Summer Session B/Fall

LAST NAME BEGINS WITH A–L

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 1000	1	ARCH 2130	6	Vacation		Vacation
ARCH 1110	4	ARCH 2260	4
ARCH 1120	6	ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341	4
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311	4	EEAM 2000	1
PHYS 1141	4	ENGW 1111	4
	19		19		0		0
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 2140	6	ARCH 3130	6	Vacation		Co-op	0
ARCH 2240	4	ARCH 3450 or 3430	4
Arch History Elective 1/2	4	ARCH 2230	4
Elective	4	Arch History Elective 2/2	4
	18		18		0		0
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
Co-op	0	Travel study1		Vacation		Vacation
		ARCH 3983	1-6
		ARCH 3984	1-4
		ARCH 3985	1-4
		Global Elective	2
	0		5-16		0		0
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 3170	6	ARCH 3370	4	Vacation		Co-op	0
ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211	4	ARCH 5370	4
ARCH 5330	4	ENGW 3314	4
Elective	4	Elective	4
	18		16		0		0
Year 5
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
Co-op	0	ARCH 5115	6
		ARCH 5430	4
		Elective	4
		Elective	4
	0		18
Total Hours: 131-142

Five Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First Half

Division  B—Last Name Begins with M–Z

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 1000	1	ARCH 2130	6	Vacation		Vacation
ARCH 1110	4	ARCH 2260	4
ARCH 1120	6	ARCH 2340 and ARCH 2341	4
ARCH 1310 and ARCH 1311	4	EEAM 2000	1
PHYS 1141	4	ENGW 1111	4
	19		19		0		0
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 2140	6	ARCH 3130	6	Vacation		Vacation
ARCH 2240	4	ARCH 2230	4
Arch History Elective 1/2	4	ARCH 3450 or 3430	4
Elective	4	Arch History Elective 2/2	4
	18		18		0		0
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
Travel Study1		Co-op	0	Co-op	0	Vacation
ARCH 3983	6
ARCH 3984	4
ARCH 3985	4
Global Elective	2
	16		0		0		0
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer Session A	Hours	Summer Session B	Hours
ARCH 3170	6	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	Vacation
ARCH 3210 and ARCH 3211	4
ARCH 5330	4
Elective	4
	18		0		0		0
Year 5
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
ARCH 5370	4	ARCH 5115	6
ENGW 3314	4	ARCH 3370	4
Elective	4	ARCH 5430	4
Elective	4	Elective	4
	16		18
Total Hours: 142

¹

Students should consult the School of Architecture for a current list of pre-approved Travel Study options, and work with their academic advisor to choose off-campus study experience that best aligns with their ambitions and program need. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 16 credits in the location of their choosing.