BARC.ARCH.150 - BArch in Architecture
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2025 - 2026 | Curriculum | 5-year program
Through a program that builds on itself, students learn to think critically; to produce architecture through both reflection and invention; to build using a variety of materials; to understand the technical aspects of architecture; to communicate ideas through drawing, model making, writing and speaking; and to be socially and ethically engaged in society. After exposure to the fundamentals of the field—design, material performance, digital and manual representation, and architectural history—students move on to solidify work by focusing on architectural, urban design and environmental issues, engaging in advanced topics in architectural history and responding to complex architectural design problems.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the BArch program are able to:
use critical thinking to build abstract relationships and understand the impact of ideas.
use and experiment with the representational techniques of the discipline.
investigate architectural form using spatial principles and material properties.
comprehend technical aspects of building practices, systems and materials and apply this knowledge to architectural solutions.
synthesize a range of complex variables into an integrated design solution.
understand principles for the practice of architecture, including advocacy, ethical actions and project management.
develop a creative process and frame theoretical questions through making.
conduct advanced research, including gathering and assessing information and establishing research methods.
First year | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
15 | studio elective | 3 | 12 | |||
Sophomore | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
ARCH 2101 - The Making of Design Principles | 6 | Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio elective | 3 | ARCH 2102 - Architectural Design | 6 | |
ARCH 2141 - Architectural Projection | 3 | ARCH 2142 - Architectural Analysis | 3 | |||
ARCH 2252 / LAEL 2252 - Phenomena | 3 | ARCH 2253 - Architectural Anatomy | 3 | |||
LAEL 1022 - Modern Architecture | 3 | LAEL 1005 - World Architecture | 3 | |||
total credits | 15 | 3 | total credits | 15 | ||
Junior | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
ARCH 2108 - Urban Ecologies | 6 | Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio elective | 3 | ARCH 21ST - Advanced Studio or ARCH 22ST - Advanced Topic Studio (SEI) | 6 or 3 | |
ARCH 2254 - Structural Design | 3 | ARCH 2255 - Enclosure Design | 3 | |||
ARCH 2256 - Environmental Design | 3 | Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio electives | 6 or 9 | |||
total credits | 12 | 3 | total credits | 15 | ||
SUMMER | ||||||
ARCH 2199 - Professional Internship | 3 | |||||
Senior | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
ARCH 21ST - Advanced Studio or ARCH 22ST - Advanced Topic Studio (SEI) | 6 or 3 | Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio elective | 3 | ARCH 21ST - Advanced Studio or ARCH 22ST - Advanced Topic Studio (SEI) | 6 or 3 | |
Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio electives | 6 or 9 | Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio electives | 6 or 9 | |||
total credits | 12 | 3 | Total Credits | 12 | ||
Fifth year | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
ARCH 2196 - Thesis Seminar | 3 | ARCH 2197 - Thesis Discursive Workshops | 3 | ARCH 2198 - Thesis Project | 6 | |
ARCH 2278 - Building Assembly and Systems Design | 3 | ARCH 2191 - Principles of Professional Practice | 3 | |||
Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio electives | 6 | Liberal Arts, major, non-major or open studio elective | 3 | |||
total credits | 12 | 3 | total credits | 12 |
notes:
LIBERAL ARTS - 39 TOTAL CREDITS, 30 TAKEN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR including HPSS S301. See Liberal Arts Division for specific requirements. LAEL 1005 World Architecture and LAEL 1022 Modern Architecture are required of Architecture majors; LAEL 1022 fulfills a THAD elective for Architecture majors
MAJOR ELECTIVE - 3 CREDITS in Architecture
NON-MAJOR ELECTIVES - 12 CREDITS from studio subjects outside of Architecture
OPEN ELECTIVE - 3 CREDITS in a studio course within or outside of Architecture
Two(2) ARCH 21ST Advanced Studio and one (1) ARCH 22ST Advanced Topic Studio are required during the junior and senior year. Students planning on taking an alternative curriculum path from the recommended curriculum path (shown above) must notify the Senior Academic Specialist during the pre-registration period of the prior year. Once a student is assigned to ARCH 21ST - Advanced Studio during the pre-registration period, the student may not drop it, even during the add/drop period
ARCH 2199 Professional Internship is the required summer internship course. It may be completed in any summer prior to entering the final year. Total hours required are 280. This internship can count for NCARB Architectural Experience Program AX-P. The internship hours for ARCH 2199 can be used towards architecture licensure through the NCARB Internship. Student’s intent upon becoming registered architects in the USA after graduation should enroll in the AXP as soon as possible. AXP is the internship program required by all registration jurisdictions. The work experience accomplished during ARCH 2199, the department’s minimum Internship experience (280 hours) can be recorded as acceptable experience in the AXP (3,740 hours) and thus accelerate one’s pace towards architectural licensure. Visit the NCARB website for more information.
Students who engage in an internship before admission to RISD may be able to fulfill the internship credit. If you believe this applies to you, please submit the following to the Architecture Department office:
280 hours of internship experience prior to being at RISD
A signed letter from your employer verifying that you successfully completed the 280 internship hours
ARCH 8960 Professional Internship is an optional internship, which may be taken during the summer or in Wintersession. Depending on the nature of the work, the internship may count for major elective credit or for non-major elective credit. Total hours required are 180.
RISD Global organizes several study abroad options for students. Architecture students are encouraged to plan to do their study abroad exchanges during the fourth year (either the fall or spring semester). Students should take the following steps, one year prior to study, to plan for the semester abroad: meet with academic advisor and meet with Global Office advisor, create a course plan to meet department requirements while abroad and notify department administration of intent to study abroad by contacting the Senior Academic Specialist. Notification should include the intended school, and what courses you will be taking to substitute for RISD courses. Applications for study abroad should be submitted to Global according to the Global office deadlines.
Students entering the Department of Architecture must participate in its Academic Laptop Program, purchasing hardware, software, and upgrades. Students should direct questions to the Computer Technician in the Architecture Department.
National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) Accreditation
In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. 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 educational 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.
Rhode Island School of Design department of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program(s). The next accreditation visit for all programs will be in 2031.
BArch (150 credits; entering the department 2025 and after)
BArch (156 credits; entering the department 2024 and before)
MArch (pre-professional degree + 69 credits)
MArch (non-accredited undergraduate degree + 111 credits)