2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/faa/architectural-studies-bs/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS) is a pre-professional degree that prepares students to enter a professional 2-year Master of Architecture degree program. The BSAS program provides a strong foundation in design, technology and history as they relate to architectural practice. The degree also provides students with a broad liberal arts foundation that can lead to many other career options.
In this curriculum, timely progress is imperative. A student failing to complete any required course more than one semester later than the time designated in the curriculum is prohibited from progressive registration in architectural courses until the deficiency is corrected. To continue at the sophomore level and beyond, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (A = 4.0) for all university course work attempted. For the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree, a total of 120 semester hours are required.
for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation:120 hours.
A maximum of nine hours may be taken as professional architecture elective courses which a student can count toward the Master of Architecture in Architecture requirements.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | fulfilled by MATH 220 or MATH 221; and MATH 231 or PHYS 101 | | | | Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | | 0-15 |
Architecture Curriculum
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Orientation | | 3 | | FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 | | ARCH 101 | Introduction to Architecture | 2 | | Quantitative Reasoning | | 7-10 | | MATH 220 | Calculus | 5 | | or MATH 221 | Calculus I | | | MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 | | or PHYS 101 | College Physics: Mech & Heat | | | Design | | 14 | | ARCH 171 | Introduction to Design I | 3 | | ARCH 172 | Introduction to Design II | 3 | | ARCH 273 | Fundamentals of Design I | 4 | | ARCH 274 | Fundamentals of Design II | 4 | | Health & Wellbeing | | 3 | | ARCH 321 | Environment, Architecture, and Global Health | 3 | | Urbanism (select one) | | 3 | | ARCH 418 | History of the Urban Environment | | | ARCH 468 | Overseas Architectural Studies | | | GGIS 204 | Cities of the World | | | GGIS 210 | Social & Environmental Issues | | | GGIS 483 | Urban Geography | | | UP 101 | Introduction to City Planning | | | Architectural History | | 9 | | ARCH 210 | Introduction to the History of World Architecture | 3 | | Select two courses from upper division offerings in architectural history (ARCH) at the 300- or 400-level. Typical courses include those listed below, but other options may be available each semester. Students are advised to discuss appropriate choices with an advisor. | | 6 | | ARCH 403 | Special Topics in Architectural History | | | ARCH 407 | Rome: City of Visible History | | | ARCH 409 | Studies in Spanish Architecture | | | ARCH 412 | Medieval Architecture | | | ARCH 415 | Modernity’s Mirror: Nineteenth-Century Architecture 1750-1900 | | | ARCH 416 | The Architecture of the United States, c.1650 to Present | | | ARCH 417 | Modern and Contemporary Global Architecture | | | ARCH 419 | Historic Building Preservation | | | Additional Architectural History (ARCH) courses, as approved by advisor | | | | Performance | | 21 | | ARCH 231 | Anatomy of Buildings | 4 | | ARCH 232 | Structural Fundamentals | 4 | | ARCH 433 | Design of Steel and Reinforced Concrete Structures I | 4 | | ARCH 434 | Environmental Control Systems I | 5 | | ARCH 435 | Structural Systems and Construction Methods | 4 | | Studio | | 24 | | ARCH 371 | Intermediate Design I | 6 | | ARCH 372 | Intermediate Design II | 6 | | ARCH 473 | Advanced Design I | 6 | | ARCH 474 | Advanced Design II | 6 |
Summary of Credits for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | General Education | | | | Architecture Curriculum | | 84 | | Free Electives | | | | Total | | 120 |
for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 101 | 2 |
| ARCH 171 | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 5 |
| Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| FAA 101 | 1 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 172 | 3 |
| MATH 231 or PHYS 101 | 3 |
| Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course that is also Cultural Studies) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 273 | 4 |
| ARCH 231 | 4 |
| ARCH 210 | 3 |
| Urbanism course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 274 | 4 |
| ARCH 232 | 4 |
| General Education course (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course that is also Cultural Studies) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 371 | 6 |
| ARCH 321 | 3 |
| ARCH 433 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 372 | 6 |
| ARCH 435 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 473 | 6 |
| ARCH 434 | 5 |
| Architectural History 'select one additional' course | 3 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 474 | 6 |
| Architectural History 'select one additional' course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 12 | |
| Total Hours 12 |
Total Hours: 120
for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS) curriculum combines a comprehensive design education with the broad perspective necessary to become active and engaged global citizens. Students learn to address and solve tomorrow’s complex problems at the intersection of the social, political, economic and environmental realms. Two- and three-dimensional design form the foundation of the four-year BSAS degree. Technology, history, and structures courses complete the curriculum, preparing students to enter a two-year NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture degree program, or to pursue a graduate degree or career in an allied discipline.
When students complete the BSAS degree they will be able to:
- Employ Specialized Knowledge
- Apply design thinking approaches to address environmental and societal challenges.
- Implement design processes--documentation, research, analysis and application--intervening to improve a set of environmental conditions.
- Communicate ideas and concepts through verbal and graphic, physical and digital, means.
- Put Broad and Integrative Knowledge to Use
- Identify complex problems and approaches to addressing them.
- Understand diverse community dynamics and social relationships.
- Explore the intersections among environmental, social, cultural, political and economic aspects.
- Exercise Intellectual Skills:
- Evaluate and apply theories of the built environment’s impact on human wellbeing.
- Differentiate and assess various means of manufacture and their suitability for use in a number of diverse contexts.
- Acknowledge different theories for analyzing and intervening in urban contexts.
- Evidence proficiency integrating technological systems to improve environmental performance.
- Critically examine humanistic perspectives in architecture, urban and landscape throughout time.
- Demonstrate Proficiency in Applied and Collaborative Learning:
- Apply skills needed for successful teamwork and consensus decision making.
- Employ leadership skills.
- Recognize the value of multidisciplinary contributions in the realm of environmental design.
- Illustrate Civic and Global Understanding:
- Demonstrate empathic and ethical decision making.
- Apply sustainable practices across a variety of scales and contexts.
- Cultivate self-learning skills and curiosity to learn and broaden cultural perspectives.
- Utilize contemporary and historical perspectives in design thinking processes.
for the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies
School of Architecture
Director of the School: Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Suárez\ Associate Director for Curricular and Academic Programs: Emelie Mies\ School of Architecture website\ architecture@illinois.edu
Fine & Applied Arts
College of Fine & Applied Arts website
Admissions
Fine & Applied Arts Undergraduate Admissions & Requirements\ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions\ admissions@illinois.edu