x Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Degree

Bachelor of Architecture

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.

Admission as a First Year Student

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, American College Testing (ACT) assessment or other comparable test scores.

Admission with Advanced Placement

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.

Summer Transfer Studio

In the summer of 1993, the school initiated a seven-week summer design studio that 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. To find out if you qualify for this program, contact the school at (213) 740-2090.

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.

Advisement

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.

Design Studio Grade Point Average Requirement

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.

Transfer Limit for Design Studio Credit

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.

Pass/No Pass Courses

Architecture students are permitted to take a maximum of 24 units of non-architecture electives, exclusive of COMP 101 and 102, MATH 108 and PHYS 125aL, 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.

Acceleration

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.

Time Limits

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.

Five-Year Curriculum for the Bachelor of Architecture Degree

First Year, First Semester		Units

ARCH 102aL	Architectural Design I	4
ARCH 105aL	Fundamentals of Design Communication	2
ARCH 114	Introduction to Modern Architecture	2
COMP 101	Introduction to Expository Writing	4
MATH 108	Introductory College Mathematics (or elective)	4
		____
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units

ARCH 102bL	Architectural Design I	4
ARCH 105bL	Fundamentals of Design Communication	2
PHYS 125aL	Physics for Architects	4
COMP 102	Topics in Expository Writing	4
Elective		2-4
		____
		16-18

Second Year, First Semester		Units

ARCH 202aL	Architectural Design II	6
ARCH 211	Materials and Methods of Building Construction	3
ARCH 214a	History of Architecture	4
Elective		4
		____
		17

Second Year, Second Semester		Units

ARCH 202bL	Architectural Design II	6
ARCH 213	Introduction to the Design of Building Structures	3
ARCH 214b	History of Architecture	4
Elective		2-4
		____
		15-17

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
Elective		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
Elective		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		5
		____
		16

Fourth Year, Second Semester		Units

ARCH 402cL	Architectural Design IV	6
ARCH 521	Professional Practice: Project Documentation	2
Electives		8
		____
		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

Core Requirements

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, 105abL, 202abL, 302L, 114, 211, 214ab, 213, 215; MATH 108 (or equivalent); PHYS 125aL (or equivalent); and COMP 101 and 102 (or equivalent).

Allocation of Elective Units

A total of 59 units of electives (67 for advanced placement students) is included toward completion of the 160 units for the degree.

Professional Electives

A minimum of 10 units in architecture is required.

General Education Requirements

A minimum of 28 units of required General Education Committee approved courses. Eight of these units can be from the required ARCH 214ab History of Architecture. These courses are listed in the General Education section of this catalogue, page 395. The courses are designated by the letter "g" following the course numbers (e.g., ARCH 214ag) in the Courses of Instruction sections of this catalogue and in the Schedule of Classes.

One course from each of the following general education categories is required: Natural World (not physics); Western Cultures I or II; American Public Life or Empirical Approaches; Non-Western Cultures; Ethical Approaches; Literature; and the Arts. The required ARCH 214ab History of Architecture can fulfill the Western Cultures I or II or the Arts general education requirement.

In the case of transferred general education courses, a minimum of 2.67 units in each category is required. Transfer students may have satisfied all categories but be deficient in units. They may make up unit deficiencies by taking additional general education courses in any category.

Composition

Eight units of expository writing, COMP 101 (4) and 102 (4) (or equivalent).

Sciences

Eight units, including PHYS 125aL (or equivalent) (4) and MATH 108 (or equivalent).

Free Electives

An additional 13 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 125aL or equivalent).

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu