Courses of Study 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Architecture – B.Arch.
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Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
The undergraduate professional program is normally five years in length and incorporates both a general and professional educational base.
- Instruction mode: In person
- Program location: Ithaca, NYC (Gensler Family AAP NYC Center), Cornell in Rome
- Length of program: 10 semesters, 154 credits; full-time study
B.Arch. Degree Requirements
The following curriculum applies to students matriculating in fall 2023. Students who matriculated in prior years should follow the curriculum in the Courses of Study catalog for the year in which they matriculated.
Total: 15 academic credits + 1 non-academic credit
Total: 15 academic credits + 1 non-academic credit
Total: 15 academic credits
Total: 15 academic credits
Total: 15 academic credits
Total: 15 academic credits
Fourth Year: Rome and NYC
Fall Semester: Cornell in Rome or Gensler Family AAP NYC Center
Total: 15 academic credits
Spring Semester: Cornell in Rome or Gensler Family AAP NYC Center
Total: 15 academic credits
Total: 17 academic credits
Total: 17 academic credits
Total Academic Credits: 154 + 2 Physical Education classes
*Elective courses may be switched between different semesters, as long as total distribution requirements are met (except that the First-Year Writing Seminar and Physical Education classes should be satisfied in the first year).
Required Departmental Non-Elective Courses:
| Semesters |
Subject |
Course Numbers |
Credits |
| 10 |
Design |
ARCH 1101 , 1102 , 2101 , 2102 , 3101 , 3102 , 4101 , 4102 , 5101 , 5902 |
62 |
| 2 |
Structures |
ARCH 1612 , 2613 |
6 |
| 2 |
Environmental systems |
ARCH 1611 , 2616 |
6 |
| 2 |
Building technology |
ARCH 2614 , 3615 |
6 |
| 2 |
Analysis |
ARCH 2302 , 3302 |
6 |
| 2 |
History |
ARCH 1801 , 2802 |
6 |
| 1 |
Professional practice |
ARCH 5201 |
3 |
| 2 |
Architectural representation |
ARCH 1501 , 2502 |
6 |
| 1 |
Diversity |
AAP 1100 |
3 |
| 1 |
Pre-thesis methods |
ARCH 5911 |
2 |
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______ |
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106 |
Required Departmental Electives:
| Semesters |
Requirement |
Credits |
| 2 |
History of Architecture |
6 |
| 1 |
Architectural Theory |
3 |
| 1 |
Building Technology |
3 |
| 3 |
Free Departmental Electives |
9 |
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______ |
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21 |
Required In-College Electives:
| Semesters |
Requirement |
Credits |
| 1 |
Art: any studio courses |
3 |
| 3 |
Free In-College Electives |
9 |
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_______ |
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12 |
Required University Electives:
| Semesters |
Requirement |
Credits |
| 1 |
First-Year-Writing Seminar (FWS) |
3 |
| 1 |
Mathematics/quantitative reasoning (MQR, SDS, SMR) |
3 |
| 1 |
Humanities (CA, HA, KCM, LA, SBA or ALC, ETM, GLC, HST, SCD, SSC) |
3 |
| 1 |
Additional Mathematics/quantitative reasoning (MQR, SDS, SMR) or physical/biological sciences (PBS, BIO, PHS) |
3 |
| 1 |
Free Out-of-Department Elective |
3 |
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______ |
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15 |
Note:
In addition to the above academic requirements, all Cornell Undergraduate students must successfully complete two Physical Education (PE) classes and successfully complete a basic swimming and water safety competency requirement.
Total Academic Credits: 154
B.Arch. Requirement Areas
In-Department Required Courses
Required Departmental Electives
B.Arch. students are required to successfully complete four departmental electives. This requirement can be satisfied with approved departmental elective courses of 3 or more credits. The required departmental electives must be taken for a letter grade.
History Electives :
Students are required to complete two history electives. This can be satisfied with successful completion of any ARCH course offered under the number ARCH 3819 - ARCH 3823 . Students with an average grade of B+ (3.3) or higher in ARCH 1801 , 2802 , and a 3000 level elective history course may substitute a 6000 level history elective for the second required 3000 level history course, subject to permission of the instructor of the 6000 level course.
Theory Elective :
Students are required to complete one theory elective. This can be satisfied with successful completion of any ARCH course offered under the numbers ARCH 1318 , 3308 - 3318 , and 4300 .
Building Technology Elective :
Students are required to complete one building technology elective. This can be satisfied with successful completion of any ARCH course offered under the numbers ARCH 1618 , 3618 , and 4601 - 4619 .
Free Departmental Electives:
B.Arch. students must take a minimum of 18 credits from any academic course offering under the ARCH subject code in addition to the required departmental electives in history, theory, and building technology. Free departmental electives can be completed for a letter or S/U grade.
In-College Required Courses
In-College Electives
B.Arch. students must take a minimum of 9 credits from any academic course offering under the following subject codes: AAP, ARCH , ART , CRP , DESIGN , and REAL. The in-college electives may be taken for a letter or S/U grade.
University (Out-of-College) Required Courses
First-Year Writing Seminar (FWS)
This requirement can be satisfied with any approved writing class totaling 3 credits by the end of the first year in the program. Enrollment in FWS courses is restricted to first and second year students. Approved writing courses include all First-Year Writing Seminars (FWS) and ENGL 2880 - Expository Writing .
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (MQR, SDS, SMR)
This requirement can be satisfied with any one approved MQR, SDS, or SMR course. See the list of course classification codes that can be applied toward the mathematics and quantitative reasoning requirement.
Humanities
This requirement can be satisfied with any one approved humanities course. Humanities courses are those designated under the categories of cultural analysis (CA), foreign language (FL), historical analysis (HA), knowledge, cognition, and moral reasoning (KCM), literature and the arts (LA), and social and behavioral analysis (SBA) or the categories of arts, literature, and culture (ALC), ethics and the mind (ETM), global citizenship (GLC), historical analysis (HST), social difference (SCD), and social sciences (SSC). If a course has been classified as a humanities course, the code will be included in its course description.
University Free Elective
In addition to the above requirement, B.Arch. students are required to complete a minimum of three additional out-of-college credits. The university free elective may be taken for a letter or S/U grade.
Physical Education & Swim Test
All undergraduate students must successfully complete two Physical Education (PE) classes and a basic swimming and water safety competency requirement. These requirements should be completed in the first two semesters of study. Students who transfer to Cornell from another institution are not held to the PE or swim test requirement.
B.Arch. Concentrations for Majors
The following concentrations in architecture are offered within the department for B.Arch. candidates only:
Architecture, culture, and society: 12 credits in this area at the 3000-level or higher.
Architectural science and technology: ARCH 1611 , 1612 , 2613 , 2614 , 2616 , 3615 plus 9 additional credits in this area at the 3000-level or higher.
History of architecture: ARCH 1801 , 2802 , required history of architecture department electives (6 credits), plus 10 additional credits in this area at the 3000-level or higher.
Theory of architecture: ARCH 2302 , 3302 , required architectural theory electives (3 credits), plus 9 additional credits in this area at the 3000-level or higher.
Visual representation in architecture: ARCH 1501 , 2502 , plus 12 credits in this area at the 3000-level or higher.
Note regarding independent study work: A maximum of 8 credits of independent study coursework can be applied toward concentration requirements. Courses cannot double count for more than one concentration, nor towards both a major requirement (other than the free departmental elective requirement) and a concentration.
Students wishing to receive recognition for a concentration must submit a completed Verification of Concentration form, which can be found online on the AAP Academic Forms page, to the Office of Student Services. For a course to count toward a concentration, the student must receive a grade of C or better.
B.Arch. Learning Outcomes
The following Student Performance Criteria (SPC), based on NAAB requirements, define the expectations for graduating B.Arch. students:
Realm A
Critical Thinking and Representation: Architects must have the ability to build abstract relationships and understand the impact of ideas based on research and analysis of multiple theoretical, social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental contexts. This ability includes facility with the wider range of media used to think about architecture including writing, investigative skills, speaking, drawing and model making. Students’ learning aspirations include:
- Being broadly educated
- Valuing lifelong inquisitiveness
- Communicating graphically in a range of media
- Recognizing the assessment of evidence
- Comprehending people, place, and context
- Recognizing the disparate needs of client, community, and society
Realm B
Integrated Building Practices, Technical Skills, and Knowledge: Architects are called upon to comprehend the technical aspects of design, systems, and materials and be able to apply that comprehension to their services. Additionally, they must appreciate their role in the implementation of design decisions and the impact of such decisions on the environment. Students learning aspirations include:
- Creating building designs with well-integrated systems
- Comprehending constructability
- Incorporating life safety systems
- Integrating accessibility
- Applying principles of sustainable design
Realm C
Leadership and Practice: Architects need to manage, advocate, and act legally, ethically, and critically for the good of the client, society, and the public. This includes collaboration, business, and leadership skills. Student learning aspirations include:
- Knowing societal and professional responsibilities
- Comprehending the business of building
- Collaborating and negotiating with clients and consultants in the design process
- Discerning the diverse roles of architects and those in related disciplines
- Integrating community service into the practice of architecture
Realm D
Integrated Architectural Solutions: Graduates from NAAB-accredited programs must be able to synthesize a wide range of variables into an integrated design solution. This realm demonstrates the integrative thinking that shapes complex design and technical solutions.
Student learning aspirations include:
- Synthesizing variables from diverse and complex systems into an integrated architectural solution
- Rationalizing environmental stewardship goals across multiple systems for an integrated solution
- Evaluating options and reconciling the implications of design decisions across systems and scales
B.Arch. Policies
Students are expected to follow all university, college, and program policies. Failure to comply with any policy or petition decision may result in review by the program committee.
1.0 Academic Standing
To be in good academic standing, a student must:
- Successfully complete a minimum of 12 academic credits each semester; and
- Earn a minimum semester grade point average (GPA) of 2.300; and
- Follow the prescribed B.Arch. curriculum and comply with all university, college, and program policies; and
- Earn no letter grade lower than C in design.
2.0 Sequence, Credit Hours, and Grading Basis
2.1 Students should make every effort to follow the semester-by-semester required curriculum outlined in this catalog in order to graduate with a B.Arch. degree in five years. Students are permitted to switch the position of elective courses within their program as long as the total credit hours within each semester remain unchanged. However, required non-elective courses must be taken in sequence during the semester indicated. To continue in the B.Arch. program, students deviating from the schedule of non-elective courses must have an adjusted curricular plan approved by petition. In particular, students who wish not to take a design course for any one semester, for any reason, must petition for permission to do so, including an adjusted curricular plan in their petition. In addition, students who wish to enroll in a required course during summer must petition for permission to do so. The petition form can be found online on the AAP Academic Forms page.
2.2 Students may not take more than 20 credit hours per semester in Ithaca, New York City, or Rome.
2.3 During any summer session, students may not take more than 12 credit hours.
2.4 The satisfactory-unsatisfactory grading option may only be used with free electives (departmental, college, or university); all other courses must be taken for letter grade.
3.0 Independent Study Courses and Credit
3.1 Students wishing to pursue an independent study (in-department or out-of-department) must be in good academic standing . Students may enroll in an independent study class for a maximum of three credits. In addition, a maximum of eight credits of independent study will be applied toward B.Arch. degree requirements. All independent study credit is applied toward free elective credit requirements only.
3.2 In-department independent study: Students wishing to pursue an architecture department independent study course must complete a Request for Independent Study-B.Arch. form, which can be found online on the AAP Academic Forms page, endorsed by the course supervisor (i.e. instructor) in the department and faculty advisor, and submit it to the Department of Architecture office in accordance with enrollment deadlines. In all cases, something to be reviewed must be produced. Credit will not be awarded for experience alone. Credit from independent study courses is applied as free departmental elective credit only; independent study credit cannot be applied toward required departmental elective requirements.
3.3 Out-of-department independent study: Students wishing to pursue an out-of-department independent study course must enroll according to the procedures of the offering department and in accordance with university enrollment deadlines. Students may enroll in an independent study class for a maximum of three credits. Credit from out-of-department independent study courses is applied as free out-of-department elective credit only.
4.0 Design Studio Courses
4.1 Advancing Grades in Studio
4.1.1 For all years, a minimum grade of C must be achieved for the student to advance in the design sequence. Design courses with university passing grades (D- or better), but below C, will be applied toward the free departmental elective requirement.
4.1.2 Students receiving less than a C in any sequence design studio except thesis (ARCH 5902 ) must repeat that studio and obtain a grade of C or better before proceeding with their design sequence. B.Arch. students who do not earn an advancing grade in ARCH 1101 will be design-free in the spring semester and must re-enroll in ARCH 1101 in the following fall. ARCH 1101 will not be offered during the summer.
4.1.3 Students receiving less than C in design studio may petition to be allowed to continue in the design sequence. The petition must be supported by a written positive recommendation from the faculty member who granted the non-advancing grade and approved by the design faculty; only then will the student be unconditionally allowed to continue.
4.1.4 B.Arch. students receiving less than C for ARCH 5902 must register for ARCH 5104 , taking an advanced studio (i.e., sitting in ARCH 4101 , ARCH 4102 , ARCH 5101 ) to complete their design sequence. ARCH 5104 may not be taken in a non-Ithaca-based summer program. As ARCH 5104 has two fewer credit hours than ARCH 5902 , students required to take ARCH 5104 may graduate with 2 credit hours less than otherwise required for total design sequence credit and for total credit hours, if an F was earned in ARCH 5902 .
4.1.5 A student may repeat any given semester of design twice* (for a total of three semesters). If, at the end of the third attempt, the student does not achieve a grade of C or better, the student is automatically denied permission to enroll in design, the effect of which will be to withdraw the student from the professional degree program. To continue studies at Cornell, the student would need to successfully internally transfer to another degree program.
*Exceptions: ARCH 5902 may not be repeated and ARCH 5104 may only be repeated once.
4.1.7 Students may not repeat a semester of design by enrolling in a summer non-Ithaca-based design studio. Design courses taken in such circumstances will be credited only as free departmental elective credit and not for design sequence credit.
4.2 Studio Venues and Options
4.2.1 ARCH 1101 , ARCH 1102 , ARCH 2101 , ARCH 2102 , ARCH 3101 , ARCH 3102 , and ARCH 5902 must be taken in Ithaca.
4.2.2 Summer Ithaca-based design studios are typically offered for all sequence design courses except ARCH 1101 , ARCH 1102 , ARCH 2102 , and ARCH 5902 . Only one semester of first- or second-year design (generally ARCH 2101 ) may be taken during the summer. Enrollment in summer studio requires an approved petition with an academic plan.
4.2.3 Summer non-Ithaca-based programs, when available, are offered as advanced studios (ARCH 4101 , ARCH 4102 , ARCH 5101 ). No more than one such summer non-Ithaca-based design studio can count for design sequence credit. Any design credits earned at a subsequent summer non-Ithaca-based design studio will be applied to free departmental elective credit. Third-year students in good-standing and with an average design studio grade of at least 3.0 may petition to take a non-Ithaca-based summer studio, enrolling in ARCH 3109 and getting sequence credit for ARCH 4101 after successfully completing their third-year core design studio requirements. Students with a non-advancing grade in their prior studio cannot take an off-campus summer studio for sequence credit (only for free departmental elective credit). In addition, all student participants are expected to enroll in no less than 12 credit hours; approved petition is required to enroll in more than 12 credits, up to a maximum of 15 credits. If enrolling in variable credit courses, 3 credit hours are recommended.
4.2.4 Rome: B.Arch. students are required to spend one semester of the fourth year (ARCH 4101 or 4102 ) at Cornell in Rome. Students may spend no more than one semester in Rome. Students are administratively assigned to a semester (Fall or Spring).
4.2.5 New York City: B.Arch. students are required to spend one semester of the fourth year (ARCH 4101 or 4102 ) at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center. Students may spend no more than one semester in NYC. Students are administratively assigned to a semester (Fall or Spring).
4.2.6 Design credits earned at any non-Cornell study abroad program will be applied as elective credit only.
4.3 Thesis Requirement
4.3.1 Thesis Prerequisites: The prerequisites for ARCH 5902 - Design X Thesis are ARCH 5101 , ARCH 5911 , and all required departmental non-elective courses.
4.3.2 Expanded Design Thesis: B.Arch. students who wish to pursue a yearlong investigation may apply to complete the expanded design thesis (ARCH 5903 and 5904 ). To be eligible, students must have completed ARCH 4102 and carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 and a minimum studio GPA of 3.8 To apply, students should submit a petition during their ARCH 4102 semester.
ARCH 5903 - Design IX Expanded Design Thesis will satisfy the ARCH 5101 requirement for B.Arch. candidates who must satisfactorily complete a thesis. This is part of a multi-course sequence and will receive an “R” grade (in progress).
ARCH 5904 - Design X Expanded Design Thesis will satisfy the requirement of B.Arch. candidates who must satisfactorily complete thesis.
4.3.3 Thesis Submission: Each student shall have an advisory faculty committee appointed by the department chair with the recommendations of the student and faculty. Advisors from outside the Department of Architecture may be added, at the student’s discretion, to serve as non-grading advisors.
A thesis statement is to be developed independently by the student, and a draft will be submitted at the end of the student’s ninth (ARCH 5101 ) semester. The final thesis statement and program will be developed and finalized with the advice and input of the student’s thesis advisor/s during the first three weeks of the thesis semester. This intensive period of engagement with and development of the thesis proposal under the guidance of your thesis advisors should provide for a productive and focused engagement with the thesis topic.
Prior to the final thesis review, students must complete a Thesis Presentation form indicating the specific content of work to be presented. A draft of this form should be discussed with the student’s committee at least one week prior to the final submission.
Presentation content indicated on the form must be validated by a committee representative at a designated time before the final review, after which time the material to be presented at the final review can be neither added to nor altered in any way. Late work will not be considered for review. Forms are collected by the department chair or a representative designated by the chair. Students may be asked to store physical presentation objects (e.g., drawings, models, or photographs of objects impractical to store) as well as files for any digital content in a secure location designated by the department.
The thesis may be excluded from review altogether if the material submitted is substantially incomplete, in which case the project will receive a mandatory grade of F.
Thesis students may receive assistance in the production of their final review material from a maximum of two current non-thesis students in the B.Arch. or M.Arch. programs; no other assistance will be allowed. All work performed by these assistants must be given proper credit at the final review, as well as in the thesis publication.
4.3.4 Thesis Grading: While critical evaluation is the primary focus of a final thesis review, the actual grading of a thesis project shall be the responsibility of the student’s thesis committee. Additional examining faculty in attendance at the review will be asked to submit recommendations for grades; these recommendations may be used by the thesis committee in determining the final grade.
4.3.5 Thesis Book: As a part of the thesis requirement, each student must submit a hardbound thesis book including representations of the final project for deposit in the Fine Arts Library. The book shall include a title page that lists the student’s full name, the title of the thesis project, the degree (i.e., B.Arch.), and the expected date of graduation (i.e., May, August, or January; plus year). This book must be approved by a member of the thesis committee (or, in the absence of a committee member, by the chair) before the student’s final grade is submitted to the registrar. Approval is noted on the title page (signature of faculty member and date of receipt). Larger pages may be folded, and all pages must be numbered.
4.4 Studio Attendance
All students are provided with workspace and are expected to be present during regular class hours for instruction and critique.
B.Arch. students will be administratively pre-enrolled in studio and other required courses. Students who have been administratively enrolled in a required class and do not attend by the add deadline (or earlier, depending on the faculty member’s grading policy) will need the explicit permission of the instructor to remain enrolled in the class.
5.0 Introduction to Architecture Courses
Students who successfully complete the Cornell University Summer Introduction to Architecture Program and subsequently enroll in Cornell’s B.Arch. program will automatically receive departmental free elective credit for the courses they have successfully completed.
6.0 Advanced Placement Courses
Advanced placement credit may be applied only as free out-of-department elective credit and may not be applied toward any required electives.
7.0 Transfer Credit
7.1 Transfer students are responsible for completing that portion of the curriculum which has not been covered by equivalent work. B.Arch. applicants who have had no previous work in architectural design must complete the 10-semester design sequence. Students currently pursuing a degree in architecture at another institution should be aware that they may lose standing upon a transfer to the B.Arch. program at Cornell due to the rigor, specificity, and sequence of the curriculum. Placement in the design sequence is based on review of a representative portfolio and determined at the time of admission. Generally, placement beyond ARCH 2102 is not approved.
7.2 The AAP Registrar reviews all transfer credit to ensure that it meets the minimum college and university transfer credit criteria. If so, transfer coursework will be automatically applied as free elective credit. Students wishing to receive credit toward a specific degree requirement must have the coursework reviewed by the designated Cornell faculty member in the appropriate subject area. Consult with the AAP Registrar regarding this review process. Please note that First-Year Writing Seminars and mathematics and quantitative reasoning coursework have their own review and approval processes. More information is available at the following links:
Questions about transfer credit should be directed to the AAP Registrar.
7.3 Transfer students must complete a minimum of 90 credits and six semesters in residence, taking 45 of the 90 credits (including four semesters of design) in the Department of Architecture. Incoming transfer students should meet with the AAP Registrar during orientation to ensure a timely transfer of credit.
7.4 Current students wishing to complete transfer credit during summer or winter sessions or while on an approved leave from Cornell should consult with the AAP Registrar prior to enrolling in courses to ensure compliance with department and college transfer credit policies.
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