Degree Requirements

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The College of Architecture offers course work leading to two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Architecture and the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. The requirements for both degrees are the same through the junior year. Students choose which degree program they wish to pursue. Further information about the particular requirements and curricular structures of the undergraduate degree programs is listed below.

Students in the College of Architecture select, in consultation with their advisors, a course of study that satisfies the formal degree requirements, addresses their interests, and best meets their overall goals.

Students begin with a design studio and take required courses in the College of Arts & Sciences in addition to electives across the university. To encourage students to focus their academic and professional interests, they are required to select one of five tracks in architecture.

For the Bachelor of Science degree, students continue to study architecture in depth through the senior year. For those in the Bachelor of Arts program, the fourth year offers the flexibility of studying outside of architecture or pursuing other electives.

Continuing for Graduate Study Years

Students receiving the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree can apply to two-year Master of Architecture programs. Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in architecture usually apply to three-year Master of Architecture programs. Please visit the Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design section of this Bulletin for more information.

College of Architecture Requirements

Students in the class of 2028 and beyond must fulfill the following degree requirements. For class of 2027 academic requirements, see the 2023-2024 Bulletin. For class of 2026 and prior classes, refer to the 2022-2023 Bulletin

Academic Requirements (18 units)

  1. College Writing (3 units): Every student must demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing the English language and must begin to develop mature skills in framing and revising arguments by completing course work as determined by the College Writing Program (CWP), with a grade of C- or better. Transfer students must fulfill the writing requirement by taking ​an approved writing course or by review of a writing portfolio. For more information, visit the College Writing Program website.
  2. Calculus I (3 units): All students must complete MATH 1510 Calculus I (Natural Sciences/Math) with a C- or better. Transfer credit cannot be used to fulfill the Calculus I requirement; the requirement can be fulfilled with Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit. 
  3. Physics I (3 units): Students must complete PHYSICS 1740 Physics I (Natural Sciences/Math) with a C- or better.
  4. Humanities (3 units): Humanities courses examine the human condition as it has been documented and expressed in both past and contemporary times. This area includes courses from literature (both in English and other languages), Classics, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, as well as some courses in the creative arts such as Dance, Drama, Music and Writing. Courses tagged HUM Humanities ArtSci IQ fulfill the humanities requirement.
  5. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units): These courses use qualitative and quantitative observation to explore the social environment, relationships with society and forms of human behavior. This area includes courses from Anthropology, Economics, Education, International and Area Studies, Political Science and Psychological & Brain Sciences as well as courses from other areas, including interdisciplinary studies. Courses tagged SSC Social and Behavioral Sciences ArtSci IQ fulfill the social and behavioral sciences requirement.
  6. Art History (3 units): Students must complete ARTARCH 1515 History of Western Art, Architecture & Design with a C- or better; this course may not be taken Pass/No Pass.

Major Required Courses: Bachelor of Science in Architecture*

ARCH 1000Practices in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design3
ARCH 1110Introduction to Design Processes I 4.5
ARCH 1120Introduction to Design Processes II4.5
ARCH 1210Representation I1.5
ARCH 1220Representation II1.5
ARCH 2110Architectural Design I 6
ARCH 2120Architectural Design II 6
ARCH 2210Architectural History I: Antiquity to Baroque3
ARCH 2220Architectural History II: Architecture Since 18803
ARCH 3110Architectural Design III6
ARCH 3120 Architectural Design IV or ARCH 3121 Architectural Design IV (Urban Design + Landscape Systems)6
ARCH 3310Environmental Systems I3
ARCH 3340Building Systems3
ARCH 4110 Architectural Design V or ARCH 4111 Architectural Design V (Florence) 6
ARCH 4120 Architectural Design VI or ARCH 4121 Architectural Design VI (Urban Design + Landscape Systems) 6
ARCH 4340Structures I3
ARCH 4350Structures II3
History/Theory Research & Writing Elective Courses tagged AR Research & Writing3
LANDARCH 2040Shared Ecologies and Design3
Open Electives**27
Architecture Track***Select three courses in a chosen track
Total Units102
*

A maximum of 15 non-Washington University units (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and transfer credit) is permitted.

**

A maximum of 9 units may be applied to physical education, lessons, and/or independent studies. School of Continuing & Professional Studies courses do not count toward degree requirements.

***

Track courses may fulfill Humanities and Social Sciences distribution requirements (tagged HUM Humanities ArtSci IQ or SSC Social and Behavioral Sciences ArtSci IQ); History/Theory Research and Writing elective requirements (AR Research & Writing); or open elective requirements. Track courses are identified with one of the following course tags: AR History & Theory Track, AR Ecologies & Sustainable Environments Track, AR Entrepreneurship & Practice Track, AR Fabrication & Visualization Track, or AR Socially Engaged Practice Track.

Major Required Courses: Bachelor of Arts in Architecture*

ARCH 1000Practices in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design3
ARCH 1110Introduction to Design Processes I 4.5
ARCH 1120Introduction to Design Processes II 4.5
ARCH 1210Representation I1.5
ARCH 1220Representation II1.5
ARCH 2110Architectural Design I6
ARCH 2120Architectural Design II 6
ARCH 2210Architectural History I: Antiquity to Baroque3
ARCH 2220Architectural History II: Architecture Since 18803
ARCH 3110Architectural Design III6
ARCH 3120Architectural Design IV or ARCH 3121 Architectural Design IV (Urban Design + Landscape Systems)6
ARCH 3340Building Systems3
ARCH 4190Senior Capstone in Architecture3
History/Theory Research & Writing ElectiveCourses tagged AR Research & Writing3
LANDARCH 2040Shared Ecologies and Design3
Open Electives**45
Architecture Track***Select three courses in a chosen track
Total Units102
*

A maximum of 15 non-Washington University units (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and transfer credit) is permitted. 

**

A maximum of 9 units may be applied to physical education, lessons, and/or independent studies. School of Continuing & Professional Studies courses do not count toward degree requirements.

***

Track courses may fulfill Humanities and Social Sciences distribution requirements (tagged HUM Humanities ArtSci IQ or SSC Social and Behavioral Sciences ArtSci IQ); History/Theory Research and Writing elective requirements (AR Research & Writing); or open elective requirements. Track courses are identified with one of the following course tags: AR History & Theory Track, AR Ecologies & Sustainable Environments Track, AR Entrepreneurship & Practice Track, AR Fabrication & Visualization Track, or AR Socially Engaged Practice Track.

Tracks in Architecture

All students must complete a track in architecture as part of their degree requirements. In consultation with their major advisor, students select a track during their third semester. Tracks consist of 9 units of coursework in a focused area of study. A minimum of 6 units of track courses must be taken in the Sam Fox School, with up to 3 units permitted from the College of Art. Up to 3 units taken outside the Sam Fox School can also count toward this requirement. Track courses may fulfill Humanities and Social Sciences distribution requirements (tagged HUM Humanities ArtSci IQ or SSC Social and Behavioral Sciences ArtSci IQ), History/Theory Research and Writing elective requirements (AR Research & Writing), or open elective requirements, and they may also be counted toward minors. 

Students choose one of the following five tracks:

Ecologies and Sustainable Environments 

Total Units Required: 9

  • College of Architecture coursework: 3-9 units
ARCH 3438Carbon Neutrality in Architectural Design3
ARCH 4478Radical Mapping3
LANDARCH 5330Landscape Ecology3
LANDARCH 5424Seeds3
LANDARCH 6360Landscape Architecture History & Theory 3
LANDARCH 6370Modern and Contemporary Landscape Architecture 3
URBDES 5420Ideas in Urbanism3
URBDES 5421Infrastructural Urbanism3
URBDES 5424Alternative Atlas: STL3
URBDES 6210Metropolitan Urbanism3
URBDES 6220Metropolitan Development3
URBDES 6230Metropolitan Sustainability3
URBDES 6401Advanced Seminar in Urban Sustainability I3
  • College of Art coursework: up to 3 units
ART 1155Eco Art3
  • Coursework outside the Sam Fox School: up to 3 units
    • Any course tagged AR Ecologies & Sustainable Environments Track
    • Any ENST (Environmental Studies) course listed at the 3000 level or above

Entrepreneurship and Practice 

Total Units Required: 9

  • College of Architecture coursework: 3-6 units
ARCH 3429In Detail: Observation, Drawing, & Discovery 3
ARCH 3451Portfolio Design 3
  • College of Art coursework: up to 3 units
DESIGN 1421Illustration Entrepreneur3
DESIGN 3550Branding & Identity3
FASHION 2410Business of Fashion3
  • Coursework outside the Sam Fox School: up to 3 units
    • Any course tagged AR Entrepreneurship & Practice Track

Fabrication and Visualization 

Total Units Required: 9

  • College of Architecture coursework: 3-9 units
ARCH 3434Body as Site: Jewelry Design as Architecture1.5
ARCH 3534Furniture Design 3
ARCH 4420Fabricated Drawings3
ARCH 4427Digital Ceramics3
ARCH 4459Precast Concrete Enclosures3
ARCH 4467Expanding Skin3
ARCH 4506Mixed-Reality Fabrication3
ARCH 4507Fields and Frames3
  • College of Art coursework: up to 3 units
ART 1519Compositions in Clay3
ART 2624Time-Based: Animation Tools and Methods3
ART 3628TBMA: Art Practice (Immersive Environments)3
DESIGN 1265Visual Principles for the Screen3
DESIGN 2506Digital Game Design3
DESIGN 3260UX Research Methods for Design 3
DESIGN 3408The Narrative Image: Form/Structure/Function3
FASHION 2220Introduction to Fashion Design3
  • Coursework outside the Sam Fox School: up to 3 units
    • Any course tagged AR Fabrication & Visualization Track
    • Any CSE (Computer Science and Engineering) course listed at the 3000 level or above
    • Any DRAMA course listed at the 3000 level or above
    • Any FILM (Film and Media Studies) course listed at the 3000 level or above
    • Any MEMS (Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science) course listed at the 3000 level or above

History and Theory 

Total Units Required: 9

  • College of Architecture coursework: 3-9 units
    • Any ARCH, LANDARCH, or URBDES course tagged AR History & Theory Track
  • College of Art coursework: up to 3 units
FASHION 3220Fashion History and Research3
  • Coursework outside the Sam Fox School: up to 3 units
    • Any course tagged AR History & Theory Track
    • Any ARTARCH (Art History and Archaeology) course listed at the 3000 level or above

Socially Engaged Practice

Total Units Required: 9

  • College of Architecture coursework: 3-9 units
ARCH 2090Design Process3
ARCH 3401Drawing on the City3
ARCH 3404Community Building3
ARCH 3424Urban Books3
ARCH 4475Community Design Sprints15
ARCH 4477Segregation By Design: A Historical Analysis of the Impact of Planning and Policy in St. Louis3
ARCH 4478Radical Mapping3
ARCH 4509Towards Common Ground3
URBDES 5403Public Space and City Life: Contemporary Discourses on Public Space3
URBDES 5412Everyday Urbanism: Global and Local Practices3
URBDES 5423Informal Cities: The Future of Global Urbanism3
URBDES 5424Alternative Atlas: STL3
URBDES 6150Informal Cities Workshop: Designing Urbanity: Collective Housing in Emergent Cities1
  • College of Art coursework: up to 3 units
ART 1152Engaging Community: Understanding the Basics1.5
DESIGN 2258Interaction Design: Understanding Health and Well-Being3
  • Coursework outside the Sam Fox School: up to 3 units
    • Any courses tagged AR Socially Engaged Practice Track
    • Any PSYCH (Psychological and Brain Sciences) course listed at the 3000 level or above
    • Any URST (Urban Studies) course listed at the 3000 level or above
    • Any WGSS (Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) course listed at the 3000 level or above

Regulations

  1. Students may take one non-required course on a Pass/No Pass basis each semester.
  2. Students may enroll for credit in only one supervised performance course during any semester. Students may earn a maximum of 9 units toward the degree in supervised performance and/or in group or individual performance courses, internships, and independent studies combined. School of Continuing & Professional Studies courses do not count toward degree requirements.

Combined Studies

Washington University offers students the option to study across disciplines and to take advantage of the wide range of courses available. Students may choose to major in architecture and minor in another subject in architecture or to major in architecture and choose a minor or second major in an area from a different undergraduate school.

Major requirements (i.e., any course required to be taken within the Sam Fox School) may not be double-counted for another degree, major, or minor unless specifically allowed by a Sam Fox School minor. Open/general electives and Arts & Sciences distribution requirements are permitted to double-count for another degree, major, or minor.

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