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Architectural Studies - B.A.

If you want to explore your creativity and study the many ways architecture intersects with art, history, culture, theory, society, environment and urbanism, Kent State's Architectural Studies B.A. program is right for you. The program will introduce you to a wide array of design fields and prepare you for professional master's degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning/design, historic preservation and other exciting fields. Because of its focus on the language, logic and rhetoric of design, it will teach you to read, write, discuss and debate issues related to architecture, and to express your voice as an architectural critic.

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More About the Bachelor's Degree in Architecture

Program Layout

During the first two years, our students take courses in architectural history, art history, foreign language and critical thinking. They also take four thematic design studios that immerse them in design culture. These hands-on, project-based studios introduce them to making in the architectural design process as a means of creative inquiry. The studios focus on:

  • The principles and techniques of design in two and three dimensions;
  • Human perception of interior, architectural and urban space;
  • Exploration and innovation with architectural materials;
  • Use and interpretation of data systems as a means of generating design ideas;
  • The relationship between designed objects and places, and the cultures that produce them; and
  • The role of reading, writing, research and critique in the architectural design process.

During the first year students begin to consider their options for minors, double majors or dual degrees (such as the dual-degree option with Construction Management), which they declare by the end of the second year. Simultaneously, they learn about multiple design and design-related disciplines to help them determine which field they want to pursue at the master’s level. As long as they fulfill the requirements, ARCS students may study in the education abroad program in Florence (Italy) any semester during their second, third or fourth years.

The focus of ARCS shifts during the third and fourth years to developing the student’s understanding of the role of language, logic and rhetoric in the design process, and to completing their minors, double majors or dual degrees. They continue to hone their creative skills by investigating, challenging and rethinking the process by which designers create and represent two- and three-dimensional objects. Third- and fourth-year students take core ARCS courses that challenge and expand their views on topics relevant to architecture such as structures, sustainability, urbanism and media through the lenses of typology, debate, discourse and criticism. Throughout these courses they learn that reading and writing are essential components of good design. 

During the fourth year students take several upper-division architecture electives.  As they begin to identify master’s programs that suit their interests, CAED’s faculty and staff advise them in the process of applying for graduate school.

What's the difference between the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science?

Two Ways to Study Architecture  

Program Information for Architectural Studies - B.A.

Program Description

Program Description

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.

Admissions for Architectural Studies - B.A.

Admissions

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.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

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.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ARCH 10011GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY I (KFA) 3
ARCH 10012GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY II (KFA) 3
ARCH 4521320TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY 3
ARCS 10123PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF DESIGN 13
ARCS 20123FIELD AND OBJECT STUDIO 13
ARCS 20124SCALE AND PERCEPTION STUDIO 3
ARCS 20125SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS STUDIO 3
ARCS 20501EXPLORATIONS IN DESIGN DISCIPLINES 1
ARCS 30123MATERIALS AND PROCESS OF MAKING 23
ARCS 30124METHODS AND THEORIES OF REPRESENTATION 3
ARCS 30321STRUCTURAL TYPOLOGY 33
ARCS 30421ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVES 3
ARCS 40022URBAN DESIGN DISCOURSE (ELR) 3
ARCS 40114THEORY AND CRITICISM IN ARCHITECTURAL MEDIA (WIC) 43
Architecture (ARCH) or Interior Design (ID) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 512
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ARTH 22006ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA) 3
ARTH 22007ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) 3
PHIL 11009CRITICAL THINKING (KADL) 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 611-15
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities3
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Minor and Non-Architecture Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 121 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)24
Minimum Total Credit Hours:121
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
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.250 2.000
  • 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

Roadmap

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
ARCS 10123 PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF DESIGN 3
ARTH 22006 ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4-5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
ARCS 20123 FIELD AND OBJECT STUDIO 3
ARTH 22007 ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) 3
PHIL 11009 CRITICAL THINKING (KADL) 3
Foreign Language 4-5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
ARCH 10011 GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY I (KFA) 3
ARCS 20124 SCALE AND PERCEPTION STUDIO 3
Foreign Language 3-5
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
ARCH 10012 GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY II (KFA) 3
ARCS 20125 SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS STUDIO 3
ARCS 20501 EXPLORATIONS IN DESIGN DISCIPLINES 1
Non-Architecture Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Five
ARCS 30123 MATERIALS AND PROCESS OF MAKING 3
ARCS 30321 STRUCTURAL TYPOLOGY 3
Non-Architecture Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
ARCH 45213 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY 3
ARCS 30124 METHODS AND THEORIES OF REPRESENTATION 3
ARCS 30421 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVES 3
Non-Architecture Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
ARCS 40022 URBAN DESIGN DISCOURSE (ELR) 3
ARCS 40114 THEORY AND CRITICISM IN ARCHITECTURAL MEDIA (WIC) 3
Architecture (ARCH) or Interior Design (ID) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
Non-Architecture Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Architecture (ARCH) or Interior Design (ID) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
Non-Architecture Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:121

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

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

Other Helpful Information

What Do You Do With a BA in Architectural Studies?

After completing their bachelor’s degree, graduates of the BA in Architectural Studies pursue professional master’s degrees in architecture, historic preservation, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, museum/curatorial studies, urban design, urban planning and many other design and design-related fields.

Student pointing to an architecture project

Why Choose the BA in Architectural Studies?
  • Because ARCS will allow you to explore and hone your passions for design. It will give you knowledge to choose which design field interests you most. And it will prepare you for professional graduate education (a master’s degree) in that field.
  • Because ARCS will teach you to be a confident and well-informed voice, and it will equip you to critique, evaluate, question and reimagine the design of the built environment.
  • Because ARCS will train you up as a researcher and an intellectual who infuses the design process with critical thinking, sound logic and a willingness to explore untested and innovative ideas.
  • Because the program requires many more electives than most undergraduate programs.  ARCS students choose which electives best suit their interests, so you will quickly learn to be self-motivated and develop a deep sense of ownership over your design education.
  • Because in ARCS you will come to understand the importance of reading, writing, research, observation, discourse, debate and criticism as essential components of the design process.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Architectural Studies - B.A.

Examples of Possible Careers
  • Architectural criticism
  • Architectural history
  • Architecture
  • Archiving
  • Environmental conservation
  • Geography
  • Graphic design
  • Historic preservation
  • Industrial design
  • Interior architecture
  • Interior design
  • Landscape architecture
  • Museum curation
  • Product design
  • Urban design
  • Urban planning

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