About This Program
If you want to explore your creativity and study the many ways architecture intersects with art, history, culture, theory, society, environment and urbanism, Kent State's Architectural Studies B.A. program is right for you. The program will introduce you to a wide array of design fields and prepare you for professional master's degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning/design, historic preservation and other exciting fields. Because of its focus on the language, logic and rhetoric of design, it will teach you to read, write, discuss and debate issues related to architecture, and to express your voice as an architectural critic. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Architects, except landscape and naval
- 0.8% little or no change
- 129,900 number of jobs
- $82,320 potential earnings
Architectural and engineering managers
- 2.6% slower than the average
- 198,100 number of jobs
- $149,530 potential earnings
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- 5.1% faster than the average
- 8,500 number of jobs
- $90,880 potential earnings
Historians
- 2.6% slower than the average
- 3,500 number of jobs
- $63,100 potential earnings
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid Semester One |
ARCS 10123 | PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF DESIGN | 3 |
ARTH 22006 | ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA) | 3 |
UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
Foreign Language | 4-5 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 |
Semester Two |
ARCS 20123 | FIELD AND OBJECT STUDIO | 3 |
ARTH 22007 | ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) | 3 |
PHIL 11009 | CRITICAL THINKING (KADL) | 3 |
Foreign Language | 4-5 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 |
Semester Three |
ARCH 10011 | GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY I (KFA) | 3 |
ARCS 20124 | SCALE AND PERCEPTION STUDIO | 3 |
Foreign Language | 3-5 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester Four |
ARCH 10012 | GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY II (KFA) | 3 |
ARCS 20125 | SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS STUDIO | 3 |
ARCS 20501 | EXPLORATIONS IN DESIGN DISCIPLINES | 1 |
Non-Architecture Elective | 3 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 |
Semester Five |
ARCS 30123 | MATERIALS AND PROCESS OF MAKING | 3 |
ARCS 30321 | STRUCTURAL TYPOLOGY | 3 |
Non-Architecture Electives | 6 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester Six |
ARCH 45213 | 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY | 3 |
ARCS 30124 | METHODS AND THEORIES OF REPRESENTATION | 3 |
ARCS 30421 | ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVES | 3 |
Non-Architecture Electives | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester Seven |
ARCS 40022 | URBAN DESIGN DISCOURSE (ELR) | 3 |
ARCS 40114 | THEORY AND CRITICISM IN ARCHITECTURAL MEDIA (WIC) | 3 |
Architecture (ARCH) or Interior Design (ID) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) | 6 |
Non-Architecture Elective | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester Eight |
Architecture (ARCH) or Interior Design (ID) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) | 6 |
Non-Architecture Electives | 6 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 121 |
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the language, logic and rhetoric of design and ability to deploy this understanding in design projects, research, analysis and critique.
- Demonstrate abilities in design thinking, visual thinking, critical thinking and design discourse.
- Demonstrate skills in research and apply these skills to the design of the built environment.
- Recognize the value of cultural diversity and a broad range of historical traditions.
- Demonstrate understanding of the interconnectedness of the allied design disciplines and the ability to articulate relationships between these professions and other areas of study.
- Appreciate a wide range of contrasting perspectives on sustainability, recognize the relationship between these perspectives and the design of the built environment and advocate for specific positions.
- Utilize and interpret literature and data related to environments and their design.
- Demonstrate leadership skills in cross-disciplinary settings.
Full Description
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Architectural Studies builds a broad foundation for professional master’s degrees in architecture and other design disciplines. By focusing on historical and contemporary design thinking, the program links design to art, culture, society, environment and urbanism. The degree prepares students to be innovative, active, well-rounded, critical and informed designers and introduces students to architectural design culture while emphasizing the history and theory of architecture and art. The program includes design studios, lecture/studio hybrid courses and seminars that focus on architectural history, theory and criticism; urban issues; and sustainability.
Students are required to complete elective credits outside of the Architectural Studies major, which allows students to customize their undergraduate experience to suit their own career and educational goals, expand their understanding of design and explore the ways it is connected to other fields. Students may use these electives to pursue minors, double majors and dual degrees in other areas of interest, such as a streamlined dual degree with the B.S. degree in Construction Management.
Students may take advantage of the semester-long study abroad program in Florence, Italy, during any semester after successful completion of at least 6 credit hours of Architectural Studies (ARCS) coursework and 30 total credit hours at Kent State University. The Florence program is open to all Architectural Studies students who have made satisfactory progress toward completion of their undergraduate program.
Students may apply early to the M.L.A I degree in Landscape Architecture and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.