Portland State University encourages the study of architecture at the undergraduate level in the context of a broad and enriching liberal arts education. It is important to understand the place of a specialist or professional knowledge of architecture in relation to its wider cultural setting. Students studying for the undergraduate degree would include those seeking a professional education leading to graduate study and eventually licensure, those seeking careers in design and related fields, and those interested in a liberal arts education focused on architecture.
Degree Requirements
The B.A./B.S. major in Architecture requires the completion of a minimum of 100 credits in addition to the general University requirements for a degree. The required courses are as follows:
Courses
| Arch 100 | Introduction to Architecture | 4 |
| Arch 101 | Introduction to Environmental Design | 4 |
| Arch 120 | Visual Communication 1 | 4 |
| Arch 121 | Visual Communication 2 | 4 |
| Arch 230 | Architecture and Cultural History I | 4 |
| Arch 231 | Architecture and Cultural History II | 4 |
| Arch 232 | Architecture and Cultural History III | 4 |
| Arch 280 | Design Fundamentals Studio 1 | 6 |
| Arch 281 | Design Fundamentals Studio 2 | 6 |
| Arch 360 | Building Tectonics 1 | 4 |
| Arch 361 | Building Tectonics 2 | 4 |
| Arch 362 | Building Tectonics 3 | 4 |
| Arch 380 | Architectural Design Studio 1 | 6 |
| | Arch 381 and/or 382 Arch Design Studio 2 and/or 3 and/or Arch 384, 385 and/or Arch Design Focus Studio 1 and 2 | 12 |
| Arch 46x | Building Tectonics Elective | 4 |
| Arch 480 | Architectural Design Studio 4 | 6 |
| Arch 481 | Architectural Design Studio 5 | 6 |
| Arch 482 | Architectural Design Studio 6 | 6 |
| Arch 3xx/4xx | Architectural Upper-Division Elective | 8 |
Total Credit Hours: 100
Admission to the professional track and junior level Architecture Design Studios (380 sequence) is based on a competitive review of a student’s academic record, a statement of intent, and a portfolio of creative work. All students must obtain an adviser for academic planning of their program of study. At least one of the Architectural upper-division electives must be taken in the ‘Humanities’ subject area (43x numbered classes). Architecture courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling major requirements.
Students must obtain at least a B- grade in all 100- and 200-level required architecture classes for them to count towards the major. All other classes used to satisfy the major must be graded C- or higher. Students receiving a grade below these minimums in any architectural studio class, or having an outstanding Incomplete (I) in any sequential class, will not be permitted to progress to the next class in the sequence until the minimum grade or higher has been earned in that class, or the Incomplete has been replaced by the minimum allowable grade.
The School of Architecture reserves the right to retain permanently for archival or exhibition purposes any student work executed as part of a School of Architecture instructional program. In addition, the School reserves the right to document, reproduce, and publish images of any such student work in PSU publications, printed or electronic, for the purposes of research, publicity, and outreach, giving publication credit to the student.
Owning a laptop computer system will provide critical advantages in your progress through the Architecture program, especially the ability to work in any of our classrooms or studios. Therefore, all students studying Architecture are required to own a laptop computer that meets minimum system specifications published by the School, including software required for courses in our program. Contact the School office for complete information on our Student Laptop Program, or consult the school website.
Requirements for the major in Architecture with a concentration in architectural project management
This program is currently suspended and not accepting applications.
In addition to the general University requirements for a degree, the student who specializes in architectural project management is expected to meet the following requirements:
Courses
| BA 101 | Introduction to Business and World Affairs | 4 |
| BA 205 | Business Communications Using Technology | 4 |
| BA 211 | Fundamentals of Financial Accounting | 4 |
| Stat 243 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics I | 4 |
| Arch 100 | Introduction to Architecture | 4 |
| Arch 280 | Design Fundamentals Studio 1 | 6 |
| Arch 281 | Design Fundamentals Studio 2 | 6 |
| Arch 360 | Building Tectonics 1 | 4 |
| Arch 361 | Building Tectonics 2 | 4 |
| Arch 425 | Computational Design & Digital Making I | 4 |
| Arch 426 | Computational Design & Digital Making II | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 88