B.A. in Environmental Design
The School of Architecture offers a four year Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design undergraduate program which, when combined with our three-semester graduate program, leads to a fully accredited Master of Architecture degree. The Master of Architecture degree is a first-professional degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Our graduates will have the technical, historical, social/cultural, theoretical, and environmental knowledge to be successful in their field.
- Our graduates will be able to create architectural projects that integrate multiple factors in different settings and scales of development and that respond to diverse stakeholders and users.
- Our graduates will be able to communicate effectively in graphic, written and verbal form and engage in constructive peer-to-peer discussions, reviews and critiques.
- Our graduates will understand and be able to apply theoretical thinking, professional ethics, regulations and fundamental business processes in their design decisions.
Curriculum in Environmental Design
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 121IA - Introduction to Design | 3 | |
| ARCH 151RA - Design Fundamentals I | 4 | |
| M 151Q - Precalculus or M 171Q - Calculus I | 4 | |
| University Core | 6 | |
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I or PHSX 220 - Physics I with Calculus | 4 | |
| ARCH 152IA - Design Fundamentals II | 4 | |
| ARCH 113 - Introduction to Architecture Professional Practice & Career | 1 | |
| ARCH 161 - Introduction to Architectural Graphics | 1 | |
| University Core | 4 | |
| Year Total: | 17 | 14 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 253 - Architectural Design I | 5 | |
| ARCH 261 - Architectural Graphics I | 3 | |
| ARCH 322IA - World Architecture I | 3 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| ARCH 241 - Building Construction I | 3 | |
| ARCH 262 - Arch Graphics II | 3 | |
| ARCH 254 - Architectural Design II | 5 | |
| ARCH 323IA - World Architecture II | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 14 | 14 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 331 - Environmental Controls I | 4 | |
| ARCH 363 - Architectural Graphics III | 3 | |
| ARCH 343 - Architectural Structures I | 4 | |
| ARCH 355 - Architectural Design III | 5 | |
| ARCH 332 - Environmental Controls II | 4 | |
| ARCH 340 - Building Construction II | 4 | |
| ARCH 344 - Architectural Structures II | 4 | |
| ARCH 356 - Architectural Design IV | 5 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 17 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 431 - Leadership in Architecture (Online Course) | 3 | |
| Choose one of the Following Option Studios | 5 | |
ARCH 450 - Community Design Center (5 credits) | ||
ARCH 458 - Arch Design VI (5 credits) | ||
ARCH 498 - Architecture Residency Design Studio (6 credits) | ||
| University Core and Electives | 9 | |
| ARCH 413 - Professional Practice | 3 | |
| ARCH 457 - Architectural Design V | 5 | |
| ARCH 452 - Research Methods in Arch | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 17 | 17 |
| Total Program Credits: | 126 | |
A minimum of 126 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
The School of Architecture reserves the right to retain student work for exhibition and instructional purposes.
Admission to the Environmental Design Program
Admission to the first year of the Environmental Design Program is open. Students in the first year of the program will be assigned a major code of Pre-Environmental Design. At the end of the spring semester of the first year of the Environmental Design Program, students will undergo a substantive portfolio review to assess their preparedness for the subsequent three years of the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design degree program. All portfolio reviews will be undertaken by the Second Year Admissions Committee. Total enrollment in the program shall be limited by the teaching resources and space capacities of the School of Architecture. Upon successful formal admission to the 2nd year of the program a student's major code will be changed to Environmental Design.
To continue into the second year of the environmental design program first year Pre-Environmental Design students must:
- Have satisfactorily completed all required course work of the first year of the Environmental Design Program which includes: ARCH 121IA Intro to Design, ARCH 151RA Design Fundamentals I, ARCH 152IA Design Fundamentals II, ARCH 113 Introduction to Architecture Professional Practice and Career, ARCH 161 Introduction to Architectural Graphics, Math requirement or approved equivalent of either Precalculus (M 151Q) or Calculus (M 171Q) and College Physics I (PHSX 205) or Physics I with Calculus (PHSX 220) requirement or approved equivalent.
- Be in good scholastic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
- Have received at least a 3.0 Architecture Studio GPA (ARCH 151RA Design Fundamentals I & ARCH 152IA Design Fundamentals II)
- Have a design portfolio that indicates creative potential. The design portfolio will be evaluated by faculty in the School of Architecture to assess a student’s preparedness for the subsequent three years of the program. Transfer students from other architecture or environmental design programs must have, prior to acceptance to an advanced design year placement, an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or above and a high quality, creative portfolio.
- Transfer students planning to attend the fall semester must submit their application and portfolio to the Environmental Design Program by May 1. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis only.
Formal Admission Process for the Environmental Design Program:
- Application instructions and portfolio information will be provide to Pre-Environmental Design students each spring semester by approximately March 31st each year. The completed application form, plus portfolio of design and graphic work, are to be submitted to the School of Architecture by May 1.
- First year students are required to submit a portfolio including examples of their design and graphic work.
- An applicant who has previously undergone the portfolio review and was found to not be prepared for the subsequent years of the Environmental Design program must re-apply for the portfolio review in the regular manner.
- Students will be notified via email regarding their formal admission status no later that June 15th each year.
- Pre-Environmental Design students who are found to not be prepared for the subsequent years of the program have the right to meet with the School of Architecture Director for a review of their materials.
Students who are found to not be prepared for the subsequent years of the Environmental Design program may not take ARCH 253, ARCH 254, ARCH 261, or ARCH 262 or any upper division courses in the curriculum. Former students who have withdrawn after being admitted to the program must be in good scholastic standing for re-admission and will be readmitted on a space available basis only. Former students must contact the School in writing, stating their intent to return, at least two months prior to their return so that a decision can be made regarding space availability.
Architecture Residency Internship Program
This is an optional enrichment program for students who, for a short period in their education, would benefit at least as much from professional experience as academic experience. The goals of the program are those of the required architecture courses plus those which can be sought only in the office context, such as familiarization with the relationship of all aspects of professional practice.
Students must obtain their own employment in an architecture firm for a continuous period of not less than 6 months.
Students must apply to the program by June 15th of their 3rd year. The Architecture Residency Internship will take place during the Summer and Fall of the student's fourth year in Environmental Design curriculum. The Residency Internship Studio Coordinator reviews all applications and makes decisions concerning acceptance into the program. The criteria for admission are:
- A minimum 2.75 overall cumulative grade point average and a minimum 3.0 in all architecture courses.
- Completion of all required courses as tabulated through the third year.
- A approved Residency Internship Contract signed by employing firm, Internship Coordinator, Academic Advisor and student. Complete Internship Contract must be turned in to Academic Advisor at the latest by June 15th each year for the upcoming Fall semester.
Foreign Study Program
This is an optional enrichment program which allows qualified students to participate in an intensive semester of foreign study. Students pay the additional costs of travel, lodging, and administration related to this program in addition to normal tuition and fees. The program is typically offered Summer semester, subject to funding constraints and student demand, and is organized and directed by a faculty member(s) from the School of Architecture.
The criteria for participation in the Foreign Study Program are as follows:
- A high degree of self-motivation and self-discipline as demonstrated by performance in required course work.
- A minimum 3.0 overall cumulative grade point average and a minimum 3.0 in all architecture courses.
- Completion of ARCH 121IA, ARCH 322IA and ARCH 323IA.
- Completion of all required courses as tabulated through the third year.
A program application must be submitted by December 15th of the third year of the Environmental Design program. A cash deposit will be required at this time.
Standard of Work in Architecture Courses
Any student receiving two consecutive grades of C- or lower in any design sequence course will be required to repeat the last course in which a C- or lower was received.
Financial
Costs for an architectural education are similar to, though somewhat higher than other programs in the university. An academic exposure to both rural and urban settings through class field trips, the integration of computer technology, networking, digital fabrication, printing as well as other program enhancements are an important part of an architect's education. In order to meet this need and help defer costs of the field trips, computer integration, lecture series and program enhancements, a Program Fee is assessed each semester of enrollment to students designated as Pre-Environmental Design, Environmental Design and Architecture major code, which reflects the student's degree status in the program. For current Program Fee costs, students may contact the School of Architecture.
Students are required to purchase their own personal notebook computer, which meets the specifications of the School of Architecture, during the second year of the Environmental Design undergraduate program. The computer will be an essential tool for use throughout the Professional Program.
Beyond normal tuition, fees, room, board, and supplies, an architectural student requires drawing equipment and materials for drawing and models during the school year. This can be expected to add at least another $600 per year to the cost. Inquiries for financial aid or assistance should be sent directly to the Office of Financial Aid Services at Montana State University. The School of Architecture does have a supply and material share resource room available for all students.