http://www.design.iastate.edu/architecture
The undergraduate program in architecture is an accredited five-year curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Architecture degree. The program provides opportunities for general education as well as preparation for professional practice and/or graduate study. An optional one-semester foreign study program is offered to fourth-year students. Other study abroad opportunities are also available for short-term and semester-long duration.
The undergraduate curriculum includes one year of the college's Core Design Program followed by a four-year professional program. Admission to the professional degree program is based on the applicant’s performance in the completed pre-professional curriculum; previous high school record (or transfer record where applicable); portfolio and essay evaluations; and on available departmental resources. Information on admission criteria is posted each year on the College of Design website.
Objectives of the Bachelor of Architecture program:
The department is committed to the study of architecture as a cultural discipline in which issues of practice, of the multiplicity of social formations in which buildings exist, and of environmental effects are integrated with building design through construction, space, material, form and use. Architecture arises from the aspirations that diverse individuals and groups have for their physical environment, and from the social enterprise of designing and fabricating the landscape we inhabit. It involves individual and multiple buildings, the spaces within them, and the exterior landscape.
Our program prepares students for careers in architecture and related disciplines, emphasizing a diverse and holistic approach whereby graduates obtain:
- Rigorous, research-driven, and creative design skills;
- A broad, inclusive, and nuanced appreciation for the historic and theoretical frameworks that inform practice today;
- An array of graphic, computational and presentation skills needed to both design and convey design intent;
- An understanding of contemporary technical and performance criteria used to model, analyze, and construct projects, so as to responsibly evaluate the technical and environmental impact of design decisions;
- A grounding in the critical, aesthetic, and ethical role of the profession and its relationship to public health, safety, well-being, and environmental stewardship.
Students completing their Bachelor’s degree may opt to include a wide range of minor option as part of their course of study. A number of minors related to design, including digital media, critical studies, urban studies, and sustainability, can be integrated within their regular course of study; for details, please refer to the College of Design website.
For students entering the professional program after completion of the Core Design Program, the department requires purchase on their own or through the college of a laptop/notebook computer and appropriate software. Information is provided to students about computer requirements at the time of acceptance to the program.
Curriculum in Architecture
The Department offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs:
A 168-credit undergraduate professional program, including the 30-credit Core Design Program, leading to the Bachelor of Architecture degree. (B. Arch.) A 102-credit graduate professional program leading to the Master of Architecture. Applicants holding B.S. or B.A. degrees in Architecture or other affiliated design fields may be given advanced standing in this program. (M.Arch.)
A 30-credit interdisciplinary graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Architecture. (M.S. Arch.)
Students who complete their Bachelor of Architecture Degree at Iowa State University may have 6 approved credit hours of their undergraduate study applied towards their Graduate Standing, permitting them to complete the M.S.Arch with 24 additional credit hours of study.
For more complete graduate program descriptions see Graduate Study under Architecture in the Courses and Programs section.
In addition to Graduate studies in Architecture, Bachelor of Architecture students may opt to pursue a one year program of Master’s studies from other departments or programs in the College and the University. For complete current graduate program descriptions (many of which can apply 6 transfer credits from undergrad study), please see the College website under Graduate Programs.
Program Accreditation
Iowa State University Department of Architecture offers programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, which requires the inclusion of the following statement:
“In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards.
Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.”
Iowa State University Department of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
Bachelor of Architecture (168 cr.)
Master of Architecture (102 cr.; prerequisite: undergraduate degree in a discipline other than architecture or a four-year pre-professional degree in architecture)
Total B. Arch. Requirement: 168 cr.
Only 65 cr from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 16 technical cr.; 9 P-NP cr of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.
International Perspective: 3 cr.
U.S. Diversity: 3 cr.
Communications: 7 cr.
(C or better grade in ENGL 150 and ENGL 250)
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
Humanities: 6 cr.
6 cr. from approved list.
Social Sciences: 6 cr.
6 cr. from approved list.
Math and Physical Sciences: 8 cr.
| MATH 145 | Applied Trigonometry | 3 |
| PHYS 111 | General Physics | 5 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Design Core 11.5-12 cr.
| DSN S 102 | Design Studio I | 4 |
| DSN S 115 | Design Collaborative Seminar | 1 |
| or DSN S 110 | Design Exchange Seminar I | |
| DSN S 131 | Drawing I | 4 |
| DSN S 183 | Design in Context | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Design Communications: 6 cr.
| ARCH 230 | Design Communications I | 3 |
| ARCH 231 | Advanced Design Representation | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Design: 48 cr.
| ARCH 201 | Architectural Design I | 6 |
| ARCH 202 | Architectural Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 301 | Architectural Design III | 6 |
| ARCH 302 | Architectural Design IV | 6 |
| ARCH 401 | Architectural Design V | 6 |
| ARCH 402 | Architectural Design VI | 6 |
| ARCH 403 | Architectural Design VII | 6 |
| DSN S 546 | Interdisciplinary Design Studio | 6 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Building Technologies: 21 cr.
| ARCH 345 | Building Science and Technology I | 2 |
| ARCH 345L | Building Science and Technology I Lab | 1 |
| ARCH 346 | Building Science and Technology II | 3 |
| ARCH 346L | Building Science and Technology II Lab | 2 |
| ARCH 347 | Building Science and Technology III | 3 |
| ARCH 347L | Building Science and Technology III Lab | 2 |
| ARCH 348 | Building Science and Technology IV | 3 |
| ARCH 348L | Building Science and Technology IV Lab | 2 |
| ARCH 445 | Building Science and Technology V | 2 |
| ARCH 445L | Building Science and Technology V Lab | 1 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Studies in History, Theory, and Culture: 18 cr.
| ARCH 220 | Contemporary Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 221 | History of Pre-Modern Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 322 | Histories and Theories of Modern Architecture | 3 |
| Nine credits from approved HTC Option list. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Behavioral Studies/Practice: 6 cr.
| ARCH 371 | Human Behavior and Environmental Theory | 3 |
| ARCH 482 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Professional Options: 9 cr.
6 cr. 300-500 level Arch; 3 cr. from Arch, Art, Art H, ArtID, ArtGr, ArtIS, C R P, Des, Dsn S, or L A, SusE, or Urb D.
Electives: 21 cr.
2 cr. Kin or Ath allowed; 4 cr. AFAS, M S, or N S allowed; 9 cr. Arch allowed (no P/NP).
Architecture, B.Arch.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DSN S 102 or 131 | 4 | DSN S 102 or 131 | 4 |
| DSN S 110 or 115 | 1 | DSN S 183 or ENGL 150 | 3 |
| DSN S 183 (or General Elective) | 3 | PHYS 111 | 5 |
| ENGL 150 or LIB 160 (or General Elective) | 1-3 | Social Science/Humanities Elective | 3 |
| MATH 145 | 3 | LIB 160 or ENGL 250* | 1-3 |
| Social Science/Humanities Elective | 3 | *LIB 160 is taken once. | |
| 15-17 | 16-18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCH 201 | 6 | ARCH 202 | 6 |
| ARCH 220 | 3 | ARCH 346 | 3 |
| ARCH 230 | 3 | ARCH 346L | 2 |
| ARCH 345 | 2 | ARCH 371 | 3 |
| ARCH 345L | 1 | ARCH 231 | 3 |
| ENGL 250* | 3 | ||
| *If not taken the first year. | |||
| 18 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCH 221 | 3 | ARCH 302 | 6 |
| ARCH 301 | 6 | ARCH 322 | 3 |
| ARCH 347 | 3 | ARCH 348 | 3 |
| ARCH 347L | 2 | ARCH 348L | 2 |
| Social Sciences/Humanities Elective | 3 | HTC Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCH 401 | 6 | ARCH 402 | 6 |
| ARCH 445 | 2 | HTC Elective | 3 |
| ARCH 445L | 1 | General Elective | 3 |
| ARCH 482 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| HTC Elective | 3 | ||
| Social Science/Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Fifth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARCH 403 | 6 | DSN S 546 | 6 |
| Professional Elective | 3 | Professional Elective | 3 |
| Professional Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
Total Credits: 168
Admission into the Bachelor of Architecture Program requires the completion of the Core Design Program. Admission depends upon available resources; admission criteria are posted on the College of Design website. Transfer students are considered on a case-by-case-basis. |
Graduate Study
The Department of Architecture offers two graduate degrees in architecture: a three-year accredited professional degree (M.Arch.) and a two-semester to three-semester research degree (M.S. in Arch.). Both degrees offer options for interdisciplinary study within the College of Design and across related fields within the university. Double-degree programs are offered with a number of other graduate programs of study within the college. Financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships is available competitively.
Master in Architecture
Our M.Arch. is an accredited professional degree in architecture designed for students with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than architecture as well as for students who hold a four-year pre-professional degree in architecture.
The M.Arch. program engages with architecture as a form of knowledge, practice and production situated in relation to contemporary concerns and issues. Students gain the knowledge, skills and experience with which to professionally practice architecture, while also developing a critical awareness of the discipline’s wider social, political, economic, environmental and cultural implications.
M.Arch. is accredited by the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) and leads to a professional Master of Architecture degree over three years including the first summer term. The curriculum commences with an intensive sequence of classes that establish the foundations for the study and practice of architecture. Equal emphasis is placed on each of the three study areas: studios in architectural design and media, laboratories and lectures on science and technology, and lectures and seminars on history and theory. Building on these foundations, students are supported in developing their own particular interests and agendas as they progress through the subsequent two years of study. This is facilitated through options in studying abroad, undertaking specialized studio options both within and outside of the department, and opportunities for independent study.
In addition to architecture, students previously admitted to the full three-year program have held undergraduate degrees in a broad range of fields, including art history, history, literature, interior design, economics, mathematics, computer science, anthropology, medicine and philosophy. This diverse range of previous study and experience is brought to bear on the study of architecture, collectively enriching the range and depth of our program.
While students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, must complete the full three years of the curriculum, students with undergraduate degrees in architecture or other related design fields may, on consideration, be given advanced standing in the program. Advanced standing students may waive up to the whole first year.
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
Studio Courses: 39 cr.
| ARCH 505 | Architectural Design and Media I: Mapping, Programming, Building | 5 |
| ARCH 506 | Architectural Design and Media II: Materiality and Representation | 5 |
| ARCH 507 | Architectural Design and Media III: Design in Detail | 5 |
| ARCH 601 | Sustainable Building Design | 6 |
| ARCH 602 | Communities, Architecture and the Environment | 6 |
| ARCH 603 | Integrative Design | 6 |
| ARCH 604 | Design Studio Options | 6 |
Technology and Practice: 26 cr.
| ARCH 545 | Building Science and Technology I | 2 |
| ARCH 545L | Building Science and Technology I Lab | 3 |
| ARCH 546 | Building Science and Technology II | 3 |
| ARCH 546L | Building Science and Technology II Lab | 2 |
| ARCH 547 | Building Science and Technology III | 3 |
| ARCH 547L | Building Science and Technology III Lab | 1 |
| ARCH 548 | Building Science and Technology IV | 3 |
| ARCH 548L | Building Science and Technology IV Lab | 1 |
| ARCH 581 | Making and Material Practice | 5 |
| ARCH 582 | Professional Practice | 3 |
History and Theory: 16 cr.
| ARCH 595 | Seminar on the Built Environment I: History | 5 |
| ARCH 596 | Seminar on the Built Environment II: Landscape and Society | 5 |
| ARCH 597 | Seminar on the Built Environment III: Theory | 3 |
| ARCH 598 | Seminar on the Built Environment IV: Topical Study | 3 |
Electives: 21 cr.
Total Credits: 102
Master of Science in Architecture
M.S. in Arch. is a 30-credit research degree with a required graduate thesis. As a research degree, this program is not subject to NAAB accreditation.
M.S. in Arch. is open for applicants who hold a professional degree in architecture or other related design fields. Applicants are required to submit a research proposal that lies within one of the study areas listed on the program's webpage. The degree is also open for applicants with non-professional degrees in various fields depending on the research proposed by the applicant.
Master of Science In Architecture (M.s.)
History and Theory: 6 cr.
| ARCH 597 | Seminar on the Built Environment III: Theory | 3 |
| ARCH 598 | Seminar on the Built Environment IV: Topical Study | 3 |
Thesis: 9 cr.
| ARCH 699 | Research | 9 |
Area of Study: 9 cr.
Electives: 6 cr.
Total Credits: 30
Dual degree
Double degree programs are offered with a number of graduate programs in other college departments. Information about our programs and how to apply can be obtained from the department’s web page at: https://www.design.iastate.edu/architecture/
Financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships is available.
Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(1-15) Cr. 6. F.
Prereq: Completion of the pre-professional program and admission into the professional program in Architecture.
Introduction to architectural design including design process, drawing conventions, methods of design analysis, and model making using both analog and digital tools. Studio projects focus on formal and volumetric principles of pattern and composition, investigations of site conditions, and understanding of scale. Field trips to relevant architectural sites.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. F.
Prereq: Completion of the pre-professional program and admission into the professional program in Architecture
Introduction to architectural design including design process, drawing conventions, methods of design analysis, and model making using both analog and digital tools. Studio projects focus on formal and volumetric principles of pattern and composition, investigations of site conditions, and understanding of scale. Field trips to relevant architectural sites.
(1-15) Cr. 6. S.
Prereq: ARCH 201; MATH 145; PHYS 111
Continuation of fundamental architectural design exploration. Studio projects focus on the generation of ideas based on experience and systematic analysis of tectonics. Emphasis on design development through detail, materiality, and spatial relationships. Students work in groups and individually. Representational methods expand on architectural conventions through experimentation. Field trips to relevant architectural sites.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. S.
Prereq: ARCH 201, MATH 145; and PHYS 111
Continuation of fundamental architectural design exploration. Studio projects focus on the generation of ideas based on experience and systematic analysis of tectonics. Emphasis on design development through detail, materiality, and spatial relationships. Students work in groups and individually. Representational methods expand on architectural conventions through experimentation. Field trips to relevant architectural sites.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Survey of global architectural ideas and practices from 1990 to the present. Emphasis will be given to recent movements and architectural manifestations, as well as close examinations of socio-cultural conditions for contemporary practice.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Survey of pre-modern western architectural ideas and practices in their social, cultural, and representational contexts. Comparisons with global examples. Ancient through 1750.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(2-2) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Admission to the professional program in architecture
Investigations of various design media and their applications to design. Exercises to develop representational skills and perceptual sensitivity.
Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered irregularly.S.
Prereq: ARCH 230; Junior, Senior or graduate standing
Advanced investigations of various design media and their applications to design. Emphasis on careful consideration of media, mixed-media strategies and development of craft.
(1-15) Cr. 6. F.
Prereq: ARCH 202
Consideration of landscape as a constructed, cultural artifact. Projects address the perceptual aspects and strategies of situation and location; examination of environmental phenomena and patterns of use and settlement as revealed and affected by the architectural artifact. Development of a critical design process is stressed.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. F.
Prereq: ARCH 202
Consideration of landscape as a constructed, cultural artifact. Projects address the perceptual aspects and strategies of situation and location; examination of environmental phenomena and patterns of use and settlement as revealed and affected by the architectural artifact. Development of a critical design process is stressed.
(1-15) Cr. 6. S.
Prereq: ARCH 301 and minimum 2.0 GPA in previous studio courses
Design for housing in an urban context that demonstrates a synthetic understanding of diverse scales of use and occupation as shaped by user requirements, site conditions, and principles for inclusive design. Consideration of regulatory requirements and measurable environmental impacts of the proposal on its site.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. S.
Prereq: ARCH 301 and minimum 2.0 GPA in previous studio courses
Design for housing in an urban context that demonstrates a synthetic understanding of diverse scales of use and occupation as shaped by user requirements, site conditions, and principles for inclusive design. Consideration of regulatory requirements and measurable environmental impacts of the proposal on its site.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Study of the development of the built environment and urban condition in the United States from the colonial period to today. Primary attention is given to urban spatial organization, built form, technological change, regulatory and funding patterns, and social categories such as class, race, and gender. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Sophomore Classification
Survey of global architectural ideas, theories and practices from 1750 to 1990. Emphasis on the mutually formative relationship between architecture and the social, cultural, economic, and political forces, nationally and globally, in which it is produced.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(2-2) Cr. 3.
Exploration of current and potential applications of computing in architectural design. Projects engage digital design methods, data and media workflows.
(1-4) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
This course deals with three dimensional problems in visual invention, organization, and expression emphasizing creative manipulation of tools, materials, and techniques as means for three-dimensional thinking. Projects cover the additive (modeling), subtractive (carving), substitutional (casting) as well as constructive techniques.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 545). (2-0) Cr. 2. F.
Prereq: Undergraduate: Admission to the professional program in architecture; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 345L; graduate: Admission to the M. Arch. program and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 505 and ARCH 595; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 545L
First course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: environmental forces and systems (solar orientation, climate, daylighting, natural ventilation, human comfort and occupancy patterns), materials and assemblies (drawing conventions, building codes, and physical properties of materials) and fundamental structural principles (forces/loads, equilibrium, and stability). Readings and project presentations.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 546). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Undergraduate: ARCH 345, ARCH 345L, MATH 145 and PHYS 111; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 346L. Graduate: ARCH 505, ARCH 545, ARCH 545L, and ARCH 595; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 506, ARCH 546L and ARCH 596.
Second course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: environmental systems (heat transfer in the building envelope, passive heating and cooling, daylighting, thermal comfort, analytical guidelines and building energy calculation methods), materials & assemblies (building envelope systems, accessibility, egress, and material properties), and structural systems (structural system selection/comparison, and design and analysis of “form-active” compression and tension structures). Readings and project presentations.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 547). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Undergraduate: ARCH 346, ARCH 346L; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 347L. Graduate: ARCH 506, ARCH 546, ARCH 546L, and ARCH 596 or advanced standing in the M.Arch program; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 601 and ARCH 547L.
Third course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: multistory building framing, assembly, and enclosure systems, sizing and selecting structural framing components (foundations, columns, beams, etc.), and an environmental design process that demonstrates the ability to integrate climate into the control of thermal, luminous, ventilative and acoustic environments. Introduction to plumbing and rain water collection systems.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 548). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Undergraduate: ARCH 347, ARCH 347L; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 348L. Graduate: ARCH 547, ARCH 547L and ARCH 601; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 548L.
Fourth course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: ability to demonstrate active environmental HVAC control systems design, use and design of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire safety, transportation, and conveying systems and subsystems, constructed building assemblies and details (building envelope details for waterproofing and enclosure, advanced material properties, costs, and serviceability), and structural design for multi-story structures (design and documenting various framing patterns, integration with other building systems, and lateral stability strategies for wind and seismic).
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Completion of the pre-professional program and admission into the professional program in architecture
Exploration of theories that describe social structure and order and the manner in which individuals and societies organize themselves and structure their environment.
(1-15) Cr. 6. F.
Prereq: ARCH 302
Projects showing students' ability to integrate knowledge of sound building design into a comprehensive architectural proposal that reflects sustainable design principles. Consideration of site, structure, building envelope, environmental controls, life safety, and methods to measure building performance. Projects typically are closely connected to the physical, environmental, and social context of their sites.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. F.
Prereq: ARCH 302
Projects showing students' ability to integrate knowledge of sound building design into a comprehensive architectural proposal that reflects sustainable design principles. Consideration of site, structure, building envelope, environmental controls, life safety, and methods to measure building performance. Projects typically are closely connected to the physical, environmental, and social context of their sites.
(1-15) Cr. 6. S.
Prereq: ARCH 401 and minimum 2.0 GPA in previous studio courses
An examination of the relationship between architecture and the city. Studio projects stress analysis and interpretation of the diverse forces and conditions that impact and inform architecture in the urban environment. Urban design project. Study abroad option.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. S.
Prereq: 401 and minimum 2.0 GPA in previous studio courses
An examination of the relationship between architecture and the city. Studio projects stress analysis and interpretation of the diverse forces and conditions that impact and inform architecture in the urban environment. Urban design project. Study abroad option.
(1-15) Cr. 6. F.
Prereq: ARCH 402
Advanced studio as incubator for examining progressive agendas within or beyond the discipline of architecture. Innovative research that is academically rigorous, critically informed, speculative, and design-led is encouraged. Projects and creative outputs vary per studio instructor.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. F.
Prereq: ARCH 402
Advanced studio as incubator for examining progressive agendas within or beyond the discipline of architecture. Innovative research that is academically rigorous, critically informed, speculative, and design-led is encouraged. Projects and creative outputs vary per studio instructor.
(1-15) Cr. 6. S.
Prereq: ARCH 403
Advanced forum for architectural research and/or design. Choice of thematic studios or student initiated research and design. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged. DSN S 446 or DSN S 546, for 6 cr. each time taken, can be substituted for this class and be taken up to a maximum of 12 credits.
(1-15) Cr. 6-7. S.
Prereq: ARCH 403
Advanced forum for architectural research and/or design. Choice of thematic studios or student initiated research and design. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged. DSN S 446 or DSN S 546, for 6 cr. each time taken, can be substituted for this class and be taken up to a maximum of 12 credits.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 517). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: For ARCH 417, Junior or Senior Classification, for ARCH 517, Graduate classification
History, theory, and principles of construction from ancient times through today. Analytic project or term paper and weekly readings with discussion questions. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of American architecture and urban design considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 420 may be applied to degree program.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of medieval architecture and urban design considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 422 may be applied to degree program.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of renaissance to mid-eighteenth century architecture and urban design considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 423 may be applied to degree program.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of nineteenth century architecture and urban design considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture requirements.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 424 may be applied to degree program.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of twentieth century architecture and urban design considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture requirements.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 425 may be applied to degree program.
(Cross-listed with AM IN). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of Native American/American Indian architecture, landscape architecture and planning considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 426 may be applied to degree program.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Dual-listed with ARCH 527). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: For ARCH 427, Senior classification, for ARCH 527, Graduate classification
The history and theoretical concept of Chinese built environment with emphasis on the morphology of built form and its relationship to art, landscape design, and urban structure. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory and principles of Italian architecture and urban design considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
(1-6) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits. F.S.
Exploration of 2- and 3-dimensional representations. Emphasis on on-site freehand sketching, perspective and orthographic drawing, rendering of shadows and textures, and use of diverse media.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Exploration of the computer as a design and communication tool. Emphasis on lighting and rendering techniques.
(1-4) Cr. 3.
Specialized investigations of the computer as a design tool. Development of computer software and workflows for architectural and environmental problem solving.
(2-2) Cr. 3. Repeatable. F.S.
Special topics in design media applications.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Emphasis on use of the camera and lighting in photographing drawings and interior and exterior building environments.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 539). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ARCH 220, ARCH 221, and ARCH 322 or senior classification or graduate standing.
Seminar discussion of critical readings and theories surrounding computational design; This course surveys the history and development of digital computing and its use in design from early thought experiments, to computer-aided design systems, to present day artificial intelligences and robotics. The potentials and consequences of emerging computational design systems are discussed.
(2-0) Cr. 2. F.
Prereq: ARCH 348, ARCH 348L; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 445L.
Final course in a sequence of architectural building technology courses comprising environmental systems, materials/assembly, and building structures topics. Using both lectures and labs, the three interrelated modules each emphasize a particular building technology subject with an overall focus on synthesizing and integrating building technologies together in sustainable design strategies. Topics include: integration of active environmental control and service systems into the design of larger scale buildings, the development of construction details for building shell and interiors, and the design and analysis of various long-span structural systems.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 582). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Junior classification and ARCH 371
Emphasis on the circumstances and opportunities of the professional practice of architecture: practice as profession, process, organization, business, and evolving models of practice.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
An investigation of the history of Italian design in its contemporary form as part of International study abroad program in Rome. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Cr. 1-9. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on required form
Independent investigation.
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:
(0-10) Cr. 5. F.
Prereq: Admission to the M Arch program. Concurrent enrollment in ARCH 545, ARCH 545L and ARCH 595.
An introduction to comprehensive architectural design projects that focuses on three interrelated design skills: mapping, programming and building. Projects establish a framework for designing buildings that considers multiple factors such as environmental forces, construction methods, building codes, urban regulations, social relationships, and cultural values.
(0-10) Cr. 5. S.
Prereq: ARCH 505, ARCH 545, ARCH 545L, ARCH 595 and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 546, ARCH 546L, and ARCH 596
Small-scale architectural design projects that investigate design representation through analogue and digital means. The projects explore different representation strategies to help students develop an understanding of the particular modes of architectural representation that advance the designer's knowledge of space as a complex interaction between materials with inherent physical characteristics, mobile socializing bodies, and changing environmental cycles.
(0-10) Cr. 5. SS.
Prereq: ARCH 506, ARCH 546, ARCH 546L, ARCH 596 and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 581
Design projects that emphasize the multi-faceted role of the architectural detail in the design process through first, understanding the historical specificity of building construction and detailing; second, utilizing working drawing as a mode of communication; and third, designing with details.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 417). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: For ARCH 417, Junior or Senior Classification, for ARCH 517, Graduate classification
History, theory, and principles of construction from ancient times through today. Analytic project or term paper and weekly readings with discussion questions. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Junior classification
Urban theory and history as manifested in popular films and videos, both fiction and documentary. Term projects require students to make short videos. (Experience with video-making not necessary.) Credits counts towards fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior Classification
The principles of complex adaptive systems theory are studied and then applied towards the design of resilient and responsive built environments. Topics cover a broad spectrum, including urban informalities, tactical approaches, the capacity of digital infrastructures to coordinate distributed human practices, and emergent phenomena. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior classification
Seminar on critical analysis of meaning and form in architecture and human-made environment in various cultural contexts examined from historical and theoretical perspectives. Analytic term paper and weekly readings with discussion questions. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 427). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: For ARCH 427, Senior classification, for ARCH 527, Graduate classification
The history and theoretical concept of Chinese built environment with emphasis on the morphology of built form and its relationship to art, landscape design, and urban structure. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 2-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 times.
(3-0) Cr. 2-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 times.
(3-0) Cr. 2-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 times.
(3-0) Cr. 2-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 times.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Studies and activities showing fabrication as a means of speculation and discourse about materiality. Focus is given to the concepts and values embedded in materials and how we build at various scales.
(1-4) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.
Emphasis on advanced, exploratory approaches to design computing. Projects highlight experimentation and integration of multiple media types.
(1-4) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: ARCH 335 or Graduate classification
Advanced investigation of sculptural expression with emphasis on individual projects.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 439). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ARCH 220, ARCH 221, and ARCH 322 or senior classification or graduate standing.
Seminar discussion of critical readings and theories surrounding computational design; This course surveys the history and development of digital computing and its use in design from early thought experiments, to computer-aided design systems, to present day artificial intelligences and robotics. The potentials and consequences of emerging computational design systems are discussed.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Exploration of theories, methodologies, and apparatuses of projection as a spatial and material practice. Readings and discussions accompany assignments for projection through drawing, fabrication, and performance.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 345). (2-0) Cr. 2. F.
Prereq: Undergraduate: Admission to the professional program in architecture; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 345L; graduate: Admission to the M. Arch. program and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 505 and ARCH 595; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 545L
First course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: environmental forces and systems (solar orientation, climate, daylighting, natural ventilation, human comfort and occupancy patterns), materials and assemblies (drawing conventions, building codes, and physical properties of materials) and fundamental structural principles (forces/loads, equilibrium, and stability). Readings and project presentations.
(0-6) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Admission to the M. Arch. program and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 505 and ARCH 595; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 545.
Laboratory to accompany ARCH 545 and must be taken concurrently. Integrating building technologies into architectural designs through experiments and exercises in laboratory format. Readings and project presentations.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 346). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Undergraduate: ARCH 345, ARCH 345L, MATH 145 and PHYS 111; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 346L. Graduate: ARCH 505, ARCH 545, ARCH 545L, and ARCH 595; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 506, ARCH 546L and ARCH 596.
Second course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: environmental systems (heat transfer in the building envelope, passive heating and cooling, daylighting, thermal comfort, analytical guidelines and building energy calculation methods), materials & assemblies (building envelope systems, accessibility, egress, and material properties), and structural systems (structural system selection/comparison, and design and analysis of “form-active” compression and tension structures). Readings and project presentations.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 347). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Undergraduate: ARCH 346, ARCH 346L; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 347L. Graduate: ARCH 506, ARCH 546, ARCH 546L, and ARCH 596 or advanced standing in the M.Arch program; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 601 and ARCH 547L.
Third course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: multistory building framing, assembly, and enclosure systems, sizing and selecting structural framing components (foundations, columns, beams, etc.), and an environmental design process that demonstrates the ability to integrate climate into the control of thermal, luminous, ventilative and acoustic environments. Introduction to plumbing and rain water collection systems.
(0-2) Cr. 1. F.
Prereq: ARCH 506, ARCH 546, ARCH 546L, and ARCH 596 or advanced standing in the M.Arch program; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 547 and ARCH 601.
Laboratory to accompany ARCH 547 and must be taken concurrently. Integrating building technologies into architectural designs through experiments and exercises in laboratory format.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 348). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Undergraduate: ARCH 347, ARCH 347L; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 348L. Graduate: ARCH 547, ARCH 547L and ARCH 601; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 548L.
Fourth course in a sequence focused on architectural building technologies. Lectures and labs cover: ability to demonstrate active environmental HVAC control systems design, use and design of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire safety, transportation, and conveying systems and subsystems, constructed building assemblies and details (building envelope details for waterproofing and enclosure, advanced material properties, costs, and serviceability), and structural design for multi-story structures (design and documenting various framing patterns, integration with other building systems, and lateral stability strategies for wind and seismic).
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior classification
Issues of sustainability as related to living patterns and city design, population, pollution and use and availability of natural resources for the built environment. Issues of green and sustainable architecture as related to critical thinking about methods of building material selection and systems, the environment of the United States and the world, and examples of green or sustainable building designs.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Senior classification
Construction standards and procedures for preserving, restoring, reconstructing, and rehabilitating existing buildings following the guidelines of the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Senior classification
The history and theory of the Historic Preservation movement including an overview of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; the National Register of the Historic Places; the National Park Service; federal programs, funding sources, preservation law, national landmarks, and historic distracts. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
(Cross-listed with GERON). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior classification
Principles and procedures of inclusive design in response to the varying ability level of users. Assessment and analysis of existing buildings and sites with respect to standards and details of accessibility for all people, including visually impaired, mentally impaired, and mobility restricted users. Design is neither a prerequisite nor a required part of the course. Enrollment open to students majoring in related disciplines. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior classification
Current urban design theory and its application to urban problems. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Cr. 1-12. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits. SS.
Special topics in environmental design, architectural history and contemporary practice. Travel to relevant countries. General cultural and historical studies, topical projects and individual inquiry. Courses may be taught by departmental faculty or faculty from approved Iowa State Study Abroad programs. See current offerings for detailed syllabus.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Dual-listed with ARCH 482). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Junior classification and ARCH 371
Emphasis on the circumstances and opportunities of the professional practice of architecture: practice as profession, process, organization, business, and evolving models of practice.
Cr. 1-5. Repeatable.
Prereq: Written approval of instructor and department chair on approved form
Investigation of architectural issues having a specialized nature.
(5-0) Cr. 5. F.
Prereq: Admission to the M. Arch. program and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 505, ARCH 545, and ARCH 545L
Introduction to historical canons and traditions of architecture and urbanism. Discussion of the relationship between historical inquiry and contemporary practice. Students learn skills in critical thinking, visual analysis, and research methods. Course sessions develop thematically with interdisciplinary readings, group discussions, student presentations, and research projects.
(5-0) Cr. 5. S.
Prereq: ARCH 505, ARCH 545, ARCH 545L, ARCH 595 and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 506, ARCH 546, and ARCH 546L
Introduction to landscape as artifact and multi-disciplinary knowledge-base for design thinking. Literatures and methods of environmental psychology, cultural geography, landscape and architectural history and theory, site and circulation design as intersection of built infrastructural, natural, and social systems. Emphasis on sensory perception, and human movement; investigations of climate, environmental conditions, and values toward consumption and sustainability in everyday experience of the built environment.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior classification
Multidisciplinary overview of contemporary theories concerned with the production of the built environment. Particular attention to urbanism as a discourse that relates social interactions and power structures to material space. Credit counts toward fulfillment of History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: Graduate or Senior classification
A research seminar which considers a topic within contemporary discourses on the built environment outside of Europe and North America. The topic will be studied from multiple perspectives highlighting the historical and theoretical relationships between architecture, global cultures, geography, landscape, and urban planning. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture requirements.
Courses for graduate students:
(0-12) Cr. 6. F.
Prereq: ARCH 507, ARCH 546, ARCH 546L, and ARCH 596 and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 547 and ARCH 547L
Design projects that are developed through integrative design strategies that explore the relationship between buildings and environmental forces to maximize non-wasteful, efficient use of resources such as energy, water and building materials. Projects will include investigations of the impact of solar energy, airflow, building materials, passive and active systems and wall sections on spatial quality and form making. Design decisions will be quantitatively validated through energy modeling and performance simulation.
(0-12) Cr. 6. S.
Prereq: ARCH 601, ARCH 547 & ARCH 547L, ARCH 597 and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 548 & ARCH 548L
Design projects that explore the relationships between architectural, cultural, and environmental landscapes. Emphasis on regional sites, socio-economic conditions, and sustainable design and planning practices at multiple scales. Projects stress engagement with local circumstances and stakeholders; systemic interconnections and strategies; and the application of interdisciplinary research.
(0-12) Cr. 6. F.
Prereq: ARCH 602, ARCH 548 & ARCH 548L
Rigorous examination of architecture's relationship with culture and technology. Studio projects stress the interpretation of contextual and historical considerations while demonstrating broad integration and consideration of environmental stewardship, technical documentation, accessibility, site conditions, life safety, environmental systems, structural systems, and building envelope systems and assemblies. This course fulfills the Graduate College Creative Component Requirement.
(1-15) Cr. 6. Repeatable.
Prereq: Admission to the M. S. in Arch. program
Independent architectural design projects commensurate with student interests requiring approval of Architecture Graduate Committee.
Cr. R. Repeatable. F.S.
Prereq: Admission to the M. Arch. or M. S. in Arch. programs
Special topics and guest speakers.
(1-18) Cr. 3-9. Repeatable.
Research.