The Catholic University of America

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies:
Prof. Barry D. Yatt, FAIA, CSI
tel: 202-319-6038
e-mail

Sepanski model

CUA offers a four-year, 137 credit-hour preprofessional undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in Architecture) which can be followed by a 61 credit-hour Master of Architecture professional degree program. The undergraduate program is offered for those desiring a foundation in the field of architecture as preparation for continued education in a professional degree program, or for employment options in fields related to architecture. On its own, it does not qualify holders for architectural licensure.

Program Options
A joint degree program leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Bachelor of Civil Engineering is available to students who want to combine the study of architecture and engineering. There is also an honors program for students interested in more intensified version of their liberal electives. Architecture students may also minor in other fields. Students interested in any of these options should look elsewhere on the school website or contact the School of Architecture and Planning for specific information.

Typical Curriculum

Course Descriptions

Learning Communities
Starting in Fall 2009, all freshmen are required to participate in a Learning Community in which they will take ENG101 and PHIL201 in the fall, and TRS201 and PHIL202 in the spring. In addition, they will be required to take HUM101 in the fall. Instead of ENG101: Rhetoric and Composition, students may be placed in ENG105 (honors) or ENG103 (for those speaking English as a second language). Instead of HUM101, students may be allowed to substitute ENG102: Composition and Literature.

Students may receive advanced placement credit for ENG101 and/or ENG102. Students who receive D or less in ENG101 or ENG 102 will be required to repeat the course.

Mathematics Requirement
The mathematics requirement for the architecture program is one semester of MATH108: Elementary Functions. All incoming freshmen must take the math placement test.

Advanced Placement Course Credit
Students who take Advanced Placement courses as part of their high school curriculum may receive college credit for these courses provided they earn a score of 4 or 5 on the AP examination. Official test scores must be submitted to the School of Architecture and Planning before such credit can be given.

Transfer Students
The School of Architecture and Planning accepts transfer students at all levels, depending on the availability of studio space. Transfer students are accepted for starting in both fall and spring semesters. A custom curriculum and tracking sheet is developed for each transfer student, with credit given for courses already completed based on transcript/course review and studio placement based on portfolio review. Portfolios are required as part of the application process for these students. Undergraduate transfer applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.70. Undergraduate students interested in transferring to The Catholic University of America should contact the university's Office of Admissions for an application and other pertinent information. Graduate transfer applicants should contact the School of Architecture and Planning directly.

Transfer students must submit an official transcript showing grades for all courses for which credit is sought within one (1) semester (not including summer) of entering the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program.

Special Program for the Hearing Impaired
In concert with Gallaudet University, located in Washington, D.C., the School of Architecture and Planning offers a program in architecture for hearing mpaired students. Under this program students complete their mathematics and liberal arts and humanities courses at Gallaudet University, then transfer to The Catholic University of America to complete their architectural studies. Interested students should contact the Admissions Office of Gallaudet University.


GRADING AND PROGRESSION POLICIES

Sequenced courses, that must be taken in the order shown, include:
  1. Studio: ARCH101A > 102A > 201 > 202, followed by 301 and 302 in either order, followed by 401 and 402 in either order.
  2. History: ARCH135 > 136 > 235
  3. Structures: Both MATH108 (or 121) and PHYS101 (or 215) before ARCH321 > 322 > 421
  4. Environmental Systems: ARCH209 > 358 > 457

Grades, Probation, and Dismissal
  1. Students in the School of Architecture and Planning must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in order to be in good academic standing. And a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all courses is required for graduation.
  2. Students whose semester GPA or cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 are placed on academic probation the following semester to help them raise their grades. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 1.5 are dismissed from the university.
  3. A student on academic probation cannot enroll in any studio (ARCH101A, 102A, 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402), cannot take more than 13 credits, and cannot participate in extracurricular activities except with the express permission of the associate dean for undergraduate studies.
  4. A minimum grade of C- is required in all architecture courses. Students receiving grades of D or F must repeat such courses, and do so at CUA. If such a course is part of a sequence of courses, it must be repeated before advancing in the sequence.
  5. In order to advance to third-year studios, students must be in good academic standing and must have a grade average for the two second-year studios that is above 2.0. When it is 2.0 or below, the student must repeat the most recent studio until the average is above 2.0. So, for example, a student who receives a C- in ARCH201 can proceed to ARCH 202, but must receive a grade of at least B- in ARCH202 (for an average of 2.2) in order to continue into ARCH301. A student who receives a C- and a C+ in the two courses (for an average of 2.0) would not be allowed to proceed into ARCH301 or 302.
  6. Students who remain on academic probation for two consecutive semesters or have been on academic probation for any three semesters are subject to academic dismissal.
  7. A student who stops following the architecture curriculum is also subject to dismissal after two semesters if he or she does not transfer to another school within the university.
  8. Other conditions for dismissal are described in the university's Undergraduate Announcements.


OTHER INFORMATION

Advising
Once admitted to the School of Architecture and Planning, each student is assigned an academic adviser. Normally, the students remain with their assigned adviser for the duration of their program. Given sufficient reason, the student may be reassigned to another adviser at the discretion of the associate dean for undergraduate studies. All students are required to see their advisers at least once each semester before registering for the next semester's classes. Students are responsible for knowing the requirements of their specific programs and for keeping track of the progress in working toward their degrees. However, students may see, and are encouraged to see, their advisers at any time during the academic year regarding their academic program and status, career guidance, or other issues of concern.