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Architecture

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Architecture courses

Director of undergraduate studies: Bimal Mendis, 328 RDH, 432-8325, bimal.mendis@yale.edu

MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE TEACHING IN YALE COLLEGE

Professors   D. Michelle Addington, Kent Bloomer (Adjunct), Turner Brooks (Adjunct), Peggy Deamer, Keller Easterling, Alexander Garvin (Adjunct), Steven Harris (Adjunct), Dolores Hayden, Alan Plattus, Alexander Purves (Emeritus)

Associate Professors   Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen, Emmanuel Petit

Assistant Professors   Kyoung Sun Moon, Elihu Rubin (Visiting)

Lecturers   Victor Agran, Karla Britton, Ariane Lourie Harrison, Amy Lelyveld, Joshua Rowley, Daniel Sherer

Critics   Katherine Davies, Andrei Harwell, Adam Hopfner, Joyce Hsiang, Bimal Mendis, Thomas Zook

Application to the Architecture major   Yale College students must apply to enter the major during the spring term of their sophomore year, after taking ARCH 150, 154, and 249. An application to the major must be submitted to the office of the director of undergraduate studies no later than 4 p.m. on March 28, 2013, in Room 328 RDH (third floor). All applications are reviewed by a faculty committee. Applications must include the following information: name, address, telephone number, courses related to architecture already taken, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample from Yale College. Portfolios representative of course work for ARCH 150, 154, and 249 must also be submitted for review as part of the application process by May 1, 2013. Applicants must stipulate their first, second, and third choices for the three concentrations in the major. The concentrations, described below, are design; history, theory, and criticism; and urban studies. Although qualified students and students who have fulfilled the prerequisites may be admitted into the Architecture major, they will not necessarily be admitted to their first-choice concentration. Applicants will be notified in writing regarding acceptance to the major by May 31, 2013. The major is usually limited to twenty students in the junior year and twenty students in the senior year, with a maximum of sixteen students in the design concentration for each year. Students have an opportunity to petition the director of undergraduate studies at the end of either the fall or spring term of their junior year if they wish to change concentrations. The director of undergraduate studies will notify students of the result of such a petition.

Introduction to architecture   Introductory courses are ARCH 150, 154, and 249. They are open to all Yale College students except freshmen, and are required for those interested in the Architecture major prior to application. Freshmen may consider courses such as a freshman seminar, ARCH 260, 261, or STCY 176.

The standard major   The purpose of the undergraduate major is to include the study of architecture within a comprehensive liberal arts education, drawing from the broader academic and professional environment of the Yale School of Architecture. The curriculum includes work in design, in history, theory, and criticism of architecture, and in urban studies, and leads to a bachelor of arts degree.

The design concentration introduces complex processes involved in solving spatial and programmatic problems. Creative work is grounded in the study of history and culture, and in the analysis of social conditions influencing architecture. Teaching formats include lectures, studio workshops, and individual presentations that culminate in a senior project design studio. The history, theory, and criticism concentration is intended to establish a broad historical and intellectual framework for the study of architecture. An interdisciplinary approach is encouraged through additional courses taken in various fields of humanities and social sciences. Normally these interdisciplinary courses address subjects closely linked to architectural history, theory, and criticism. Such courses may include archaeology, history of religion, aesthetics, philosophy, or visual culture. Permission of the director of undergraduate studies is required if the courses fall outside the specified course of studies. During their senior year students complete a written senior essay on a topic approved by the faculty. History, theory, and criticism majors are also urged to study a foreign language. The urban studies concentration encourages a broad, interdisciplinary investigation of the complex forces that shape the urban physical environment. The sequence of courses culminates in a senior essay that builds on course work, and either develops analysis and planning proposals for a specific site or furthers an individual research agenda.

Requirements of the major   Students majoring in Architecture are required to take fifteen course credits. Majors are expected to take three prerequisites in their sophomore year, complete a core of five course credits by their junior year, and base their studies in one of three areas of concentration: (1) design, (2) history, theory, and criticism, or (3) urban studies.

The courses for all concentrations include three prerequisites: ARCH 150, 154, and 249. The core of five course credits required for all three concentrations include the studio courses ARCH 250 and 251 (to be taken during the junior year after the student is accepted into the major) and the history of architecture surveys ARCH 260 and 261 (to be completed by the end of the junior year). The electives are categorized under four broad subject areas: history and theory of architecture, urbanism and landscape, materials and technology, and structures and computation.

For the design concentration, the following additional courses are required:

  1. ARCH 450, Senior Studio
  2. ARCH 494 (the senior requirement)
  3. One elective in history and theory of architecture chosen from the following: ARCH 341, 431, or other relevant course in History of Art approved by the director of undergraduate studies
  4. One elective in urbanism and landscape chosen from the following: ARCH 340, 344, 345, 351; STCY 176; or other relevant course in American Studies, Ethics, Politics, and Economics, Environmental Studies, or Political Science approved by the director of undergraduate studies
  5. One elective in materials and technology chosen from the following: ARCH 163, or other relevant course in Environmental Studies approved by the director of undergraduate studies
  6. One elective in structures and computation chosen from the following: ARCH 161, an approved calculus or physics course, or other relevant course approved by the director of undergraduate studies. Elementary calculus is strongly recommended as preparation for graduate studies in Architecture

For the history, theory, and criticism concentration, the following additional courses are required:

  1. ARCH 490 and 491 (the senior requirement)
  2. Four electives in history and theory of architecture, chosen from the following: ARCH 341, 431, or other relevant courses in History of Art approved by the director of undergraduate studies
  3. One elective in urbanism and landscape chosen from the following: ARCH 340, 344, 345, 351; STCY 176; or other relevant course in American Studies, Ethics, Politics, and Economics, Environmental Studies, or Political Science approved by the director of undergraduate studies

For the urban studies concentration, the following additional courses are required:

  1. ARCH 495 and 491 (the senior requirement)
  2. Four electives in urbanism and landscape chosen from the following: ARCH 340, 344, 345, 351; STCY 176; or other relevant courses approved by the director of undergraduate studies in American Studies, Ethics, Politics, and Economics, Environmental Studies, or Political Science
  3. One elective in history and theory of architecture chosen from the following: ARCH 341, 431, or other relevant course in History of Art approved by the director of undergraduate studies

Digital media orientation   All Architecture students are required to complete orientation sessions in digital media workshop and materials laboratory. Students enrolled in ARCH 249 are required to complete these sessions at the beginning of the spring term of the sophomore year. Access to digital media equipment will not be allowed until the required orientation sessions have been completed. Questions should be addressed to the director of undergraduate studies or the director of digital media, John Eberhart (432-9655, john.eberhart@yale.edu).

Library orientation   The Architecture program requires all students to complete a ninety-minute introductory library research session. Students enrolled in ARCH 249 must take this session at the beginning of the spring term of the sophomore year. Failure to complete the required orientation will preclude completion of the major. Students may offer no substitutions for this orientation. Students should register with the Haas Family Arts Library Public Services Librarian, Lindsay King (436-8052, lindsay.king@yale.edu). Questions should be addressed to the director of undergraduate studies.

Shop orientation   The Architecture program requires all majors to complete a three-hour woodshop and materials lab orientation session. Students enrolled in ARCH 249 must take this session during the first week of the spring term of the sophomore year. Access to the woodshop and materials lab will not be allowed until the orientation has been completed. Questions should be addressed to the director of undergraduate studies or to the shop coordinator, Josh Rowley (432-7234, josh.rowley@yale.edu).

Senior requirement   Seniors in the design track take the senior project design studio (ARCH 494). Seniors in the history, theory, and criticism track take ARCH 490, the senior research colloquium, and 491, the senior project. Seniors in the urban studies track take ARCH 495, the senior research colloquium in urban studies, and 491, the senior project. Proposals for senior projects and essays are submitted in the fall term for review and approval by the senior project coordinator, and then distributed to faculty members for review before the faculty members agree to become senior advisers. Senior essays and projects (ARCH 491) are due to the office of the director of undergraduate studies by Friday, April 19, 2013. In the spring term, all seniors must submit a portfolio of their work to the office of the director of undergraduate studies by Wednesday, May 1, 2013. For all majors, this portfolio must be representative of the student's design work including prerequisites and the senior project. History, theory, and criticism majors and urban studies majors must also include a copy of the senior essay and other appropriate texts.

 

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

Prerequisites   ARCH 150, 154, 249

Number of courses   15 course credits (incl prereqs and senior req)

Specific courses required   All concentrations—ARCH 250, 251, 260, 261; Design—ARCH 450

Distribution of courses   Design—1 elective in history and theory of architecture, 1 elective in urbanism and landscape, 1 elective in materials and technology, 1 elective in structures and computation, all approved by DUS; History, theory, and criticism—4 electives in history and theory of architecture, 1 elective in urbanism and landscape, all approved by DUS; Urban studies—4 electives in urbanism and landscape, 1 elective in history and theory of architecture, all approved by DUS

Other   Orientation sessions in digital media, library, and shop

Senior requirement   All concentrations—portfolio representative of design work, including prerequisites and the senior requirement; Design—ARCH 494; History, theory, and criticism—ARCH 490 and 491; Urban studies—ARCH 495 and 491