Undergraduate Catalog: School of Architecture

Mission Statement || Goals || Programs || Facilties || Accreditation || Admission & Matriculation Requirements || Transfer Students || Study Abroad

Degree Tracks:  Architecture | B.E.D.A. | B. Arch. | M. Arch. || Interior Architecture/Design | B.FA./I.A. | M.A./I.A.

Dean: Gregory K. Hunt, B.A., M.Arch., F.A.I.A.
Program Director – Architecture: James Eckler, B.Design, M.Arch, MSAS.
Program Director – Interior Architecture: Maria MacDonald, B.F.A., B.I.A., M.A.
Stephen Garrison, B.F.A., M.F.A.
Joseph Gluba, B.Arch., M.Arch.
Matthew Mindrup, B.Arch., B.Phil., M.Arch., Ph.D.

Mission Statement

Founded in 2009, Marywood’s School of Architecture is the University’s newest professional school and the first school of architecture established in northeast Pennsylvania. The School was established to further the University’s mission of service and excellence in education by preparing its graduates to make significant contributions to improving the quality of our built and natural environment. The cornerstone of our various degree tracks is the firm belief that all design professionals must address the earth’s diminishing natural resources, build sustainably, and confront our present and future environmental challenges with creative effectiveness. Above all, we strive to educate individuals that will assume leadership roles in the creation of inspiring, socially-responsible, and sustainable interiors, buildings and communities for all citizens.

Goals

Architects and interior architects shape the physical environments in which we live, work, worship, play, and shop. They design physical worlds that directly impact people at many different scales and in many different context—interiors, houses, buildings, plazas, and streetscapes, as well as consumer products, graphics, and digital environments. As licensed practitioners, they are entrusted with the health, safety, and welfare of those they serve. Architecture, then, is a profession that is explicitly bound to social responsibility and societal well-being.

Consistent with the University’s tradition of educating students to live responsibly in an interdependent world, Marywood University’s School of Architecture has been created to produce a new generation of architects—environmental stewards who will assume major responsibility for the built environment of the region, the nation, and the world.

Students pursuing their studies at the School of Architecture are educated to both understand and respect the important leadership roles they will assume as design professionals. At the undergraduate and graduate levels, our curricula are designed to reinforce this social responsibility. For our graduates to deal effectively with the many future challenges they will inevitably confront, our programs include study of the importance of the intellectual, cultural, and historical antecedents of the disciplines and their application to the needs of contemporary society.

The School offers curricula that are both values-based and professional in their objectives and content. While students are exposed to courses necessary in their individual disciplines, their programs of study also include a core curriculum of Liberal Arts courses to provide a well-rounded professional education. These core courses augment the student’s professional studies and collectively furnish a broader context in which to better understand its societal role.

Programs

Designers must be educated to think critically, to assess holistically, to synthesize comprehensively, and design with environmental responsibility. The School’s programs—in both Architecture and Interior Architecture/Design—recognize that architecture, both as a discipline and as a profession, engages the realms of art and science. Buildings and physical spaces created by architects involve design and aesthetics, along with laws of gravity and requirements of constructability. Architects create unique and inventive realities that emphasize spatial organization, proportion, and beauty, as well as materials, budgets, codes, and structural/environmental systems.

The School of Architecture grants degrees in Environmental Design, Architecture, and Interior Architecture/Design.

Facilities

The School of Architecture occupies a spacious, newly-renovated facility located in the heart of the campus next to the University’s highly acclaimed art facilities. The close proximity of these places of creative exploration encourages cross-disciplinary learning and discovery. The facility that houses the School of Architecture has been designed to showcase a number of sustainable design principles, including passive cooling, daylight harvesting, roof water capture/reuse, and the use of a green roof. It features a primary circulation spine connecting two sides of the campus, two levels of studios, and a three-story high Commons with clerestories harvesting abundant natural light throughout the day. The Commons serves as the building’s agora (in ancient Greece, the place of public assembly)—an open, shared, central space for exchange among all faculty and students. Here, learning is dynamic and often un-programmed—a flexible place for formal and informal design critiques, serendipitous encounters, collective discussions, debates, displays, and exhibitions.

Each student has an individual work space designed to accommodate a laptop computer, drawing board, personal storage cabinet, and integral tack board space. Additional facilities include a fully-equipped wood shop, plaster-casting room, central printers and plotters, a CAD LAB, flexibly-furnished classroom space, and a small reference library adjacent to the design studios.

The Design Studio—Center of Holistic Learning

Architecture education must seek, generate, transfer, and question knowledge with breadth and imagination. The fundamental place of learning is the design studio—long considered the armature of an architect’s education. It is the place of creative exploration, of research and discovery, and of the testing of ideas, theories, and concepts. Through a sequence of studio projects, students develop means of critical thinking and a design process that enables them to effectively address various design issues—from problem-solving and aesthetics to building assemblies and environmental systems.

The School’s curricula favor the notion of quilted knowledge—the idea that learn most effectively when concepts are woven with their meaningful applications. Consequently, classroom learning and studio learning will be integrated in interdependent patterns of knowledge.

Accreditation

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) grants candidacy status to new programs that have developed viable plans for achieving initial accreditation. Candidacy status indicates that a program should be accredited within six (6) years of achieving candidacy, if its plan is properly implemented.

The School of Architecture has applied to the NAAB for candidacy status related to the accreditation of its B.Arch. professional degree program. Once the first class of B.Arch. students graduates, their work and the School, will be assessed by the NAAB, and a decision on accreditation of the program will be rendered. Once program accreditation is granted, those students receiving their B.Arch. degree prior to the completed accreditation process will receive their accredited degree retroac­tively.

The B.F.A. in Interior Architecture/Design degree is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and has begun the accreditation process with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Program Admission and Matriculation Requirements

For entering freshmen, a minimum SAT score (Math and Critical Reading) of 1000 and a QPA of 3.0 (on a 4 scale) are generally required for admission to B.E.D.A., B.Arch. or M.Arch. degree tracks in Architecture. A portfolio of creative work may be submitted, but is not required.

A minimum QPA of 2.50 is required in any of these degree tracks for any student to be in good academic standing.

Transfer Students

Students who wish to transfer into the Architecture or Interior Architecture degree track from other programs within Marywood or from other institutions must have a 3.00 overall QPA on a minimum of 12 credits. If accepted, the student must complete a “Change of Major” form available from the Office of Academic Records.

Students holding associate degrees who wish to enter the Architecture or Interior Architecture degree tracks must have a 3.00 overall QPA or a minimum of 12 credits in one of these two disciplines.

Study Abroad Program

Given the importance of the first-hand experience of cities, buildings, landscapes, and interiors in various geographic locales, the School of Architecture intends to initiate an optional, semester-long Study Abroad program for its students in the spring of 2012. This program will occur in the Spring Semester of the Third Year and the curriculum has been organized accordingly.

The program will involve residency in a major city (Florence or Venice) as well as field trips to selected sites. Interior Architecture students currently study with SACI in Florence.

Degree Tracks: Architecture

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency responsible authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional degree. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The School of Architecture offers three degree tracks in Architecture for those entering as freshmen:

• a four-year, undergraduate, pre-professional Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture degree (B.E.D.A.)
• a five-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree (B.Arch.)
• and a six-year professional Master of Architecture degree (M.Arch.)

The first four years of each of these degree programs include design studios and courses in the liberal arts, structures and building technology, architectural history, and digital design courses, as well as electives.

In the fall semester of the fourth year, students must choose which degree track they wish to pursue. Individuals successfully completing the four-year pre­professional degree track may choose to graduate with the B.E.D.A. degree. Those gradu­ating with this pre-­professional degree are well prepared to work in an architecture office or to enter any number of allied professions.

Students electing to enter either of the professional degree tracks (B.Arch. or M.Arch.) must submit a project portfolio of their studio design work from each of the previous three years of and have achieved a minimum QPA of 2.5. Students whose design portfolio and academic record demonstrate that they are prepared to meet the rigors of advanced professional study will be admitted to one of the two professional tracks. Those qualified for the B.Arch. professional degree track must satisfactorily complete an additional two semesters (30 credits), earning a total of 166 credits. Fifth-year design studios focus on the development of strategies for technology transfer from other fields (such as biomimicry) and investigations of high-performance building components. Graduates of the five-year degree professional are expected to pass the LEED Accreditation Exam prior to graduation.

Qualified students entering the M.Arch. degree track complete the four-year, 136-credit curriculum, receive the B.E.D.A. degree, and take an additional four semesters (54 credits) before receiving the M.Arch. degree (160 credits).

Track 1: Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture (B.E.D.A.)

First-year curriculum: 31 credits
Fall 1

ARCH 110	Foundation Design I	4
ARCH 111	Introduction to the Designed Environment	1
MATH 150	Architectural Mathematics	3
RST 112	Modern Belief	3
ENGL 160	Writing Skills	3
UNIV 100	Living Responsibly in an Interdependent World	1
Total: 15 Credits

Spring 1

ARCH 120	Foundation Design II 4 ARCH 122 Design Thinking	2
PHYS 140	Physics for Architects	3
PHIL 113	Introduction to Philosophy	3
ENGL 180	Introduction to World Literature	3
Total: 15 Credits

Second-year curriculum: 36 credits
Fall 2

ARCH 210	Design Studio III	6
ARCH 211	Statics and Strength of Materials	3
ENVS 109	Technology, Environment and Society	3
ARCH 212	Digital Media I	3
ARCH 213	History of Architecture I	3
Total: 18 credits

Spring 2

ARCH 220	Design Studio IV	6
HIST 101	Global History of the Twentieth Century	3
ARCH 222	Digital Media II	3
ARCH 223	History of Architecture II	3
ARCH 224	Theories of Architecture	3
Total: 18 credits

Third-year curriculum: 36 credits
Fall 3

ARCH 310	Design Studio V	6
ARCH 312	Structures I	3
SOC 315	Theories in Urbanization	3
**LANG	Foreign Language	3
ENGL XXX	Literature	3
Total: 18 credits

Spring 3

ARCH 320	Design Studio VI	6
ARCH 322	Structures II	3
*GE	General Elective	3
***LANG	Foreign Language	3
*FA	Fine Arts	3
Total: 18 credits

Fourth-year curriculum: 33 credits
Fall 4

ARCH 410	Design Studio VII	6
ARCH 411	Environmental Systems I	3
ARCH 412	Anatomy of Buildings	3
HIST XXX	History	3
****PHIL XXX	Philosophy	3
Total: 18 Credits

Spring 4

ARCH 420	Design Studio VIII (Comprehensive Studio)	6
ARCH 421	Environmental Systems II	3
ARCH 422	Building Assemblies	3
RST XXX	Religion	3
Total: 15 Credits

Total credits: 136

*Recommended: ECON 100 (Basic Economics); ART 218 (Art in the Modern Era); FA 100 (Music, Art and the Contemporary World); FA 102 (Sound and Symbol in the Arts); ENGL 349 (Nature Studies)
**Students electing the Foreign Studies Option in the fall semester of their third year should take ITAL 101 (Elementary Italian)
***Students electing the Foreign Studies Option in the spring semester of their third year will take ITAL 102(A) in Italy.
****Choose from: PHIL 215 (Critical Thinking); PHIL 315 (Ethics); or PHIL 325 (Philosophy of Art)

Track 2: Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch.)

First-year curriculum: 31 credits Total
Fall 1

ARCH 101	Foundation Design I	4
MATH 150	Architectural Mathematics	3
RST 112	Modern Belief	3
ENGL 160	Writing Skills	3
ARCH 111	Introduction to the Designed Environment	1
UNIV 100	Living Responsibly in an Interdependent World	1
Total: 15 Credits

Spring 1

ARCH 120	Foundation Design II	4
ARCH 122	Design Thinking	2
PHYS 140	Physics for Architects	3
ENGL 180	Introduction to World Literature	3
PHIL 113	Introduction to Philosophy	3
Total: 15 Credits

Second-year curriculum: 36 credits
Fall 2

ARCH 210	Design Studio III	6
ARCH 211	Statics and Strength of Materials	3
ENVS 109	Technology, Environment and Society	3
ARCH 212	Digital Media I	3
ARCH 213	History of Architecture I	3
Total: 18 credits

Spring 2

ARCH 220	Design Studio IV	6
HIST 101	Global History of the Twentieth Century	3
ARCH 222	Digital Media II	3
ARCH 223	History of Architecture II	3
ARCH 224	Theories of Architecture	3
Total: 18 credits

Third-year curriculum: 36 credits
Fall 3

ARCH 310	Design Studio V	6
ARCH 312	Structures I	3
SOC 315	Theories in Urbanization	3
**LANG I	Foreign Language	3
ENGL XXX	Literature	3
Total: 18 credits

Spring 3

ARCH 320	Design Studio VI	6
ARCH 322	Structures II	3
*GE	General Elective	3
***LANG II	Foreign Language	3
FA	Fine Arts	3
Total: 18 credits

Fourth-year curriculum: 33 credits
Fall 4

ARCH 410	Design Studio VII	6
ARCH 411	Environmental Systems I	3
ARCH 412	Anatomy of Buildings	3
HIST XXX	History	3
****PHIL XXX	Philosophy	3
Total: 18 Credits

Spring 4

ARCH 420	Design Studio VIII (Comprehensive Studio)	6
ARCH 421	Environmental Systems II	3
ARCH 422	Building Assemblies	3
RST XXX	Religion	3
Total: 15 Credits

Fifth-year curriculum: 30 credits
Fall 5

ARCH 450	Design Studio IXA	6
ARCH 451	Art & Craft of Building	3
ARCH 453	History and Theories of Urban Form	3
ARCH 452	LEED Accreditation	3
Total: 15 Credits

Spring 5

ARCH 460	Design Studio XA	6
GE XXX	General Elective	3
ARCH 462	Professional Practice	3
GE XXX	General Elective	3
Total: 15 Credits

Total Credits: 165

*Recommended: ECON 100 (Basic Economics); ART 218 (Art in the Modern Era); FA 100 (Music, Art and the Contemporary World); FA 102 (Sound and Symbol in the Arts); ENGL 349 (Nature Studies)
**Students electing the Foreign Studies Option in the fall semester of their third year should take ITAL 101 (Elementary Italian)
***Students electing the Foreign Studies Option in the spring semester of their third year will take ITAL 102(A) in Italy.
****Choose from: PHIL 215 (Critical Thinking); PHIL 315 (Ethics); or PHIL 325 (Philosophy of Art)

Track 3: Master of Architecture (M. Arch.)

Those students entering as freshmen complete the 135 credits of the B.E.D.A. program, are awarded the B.E.D.A degree and then earn the M.Arch. upon satisfactory completion of an additional 54 credits. In addition to a comprehensive Design Thesis exploring a self-formulated architectural, urban design, or technical issue/proposition, students in this degree track study the importance of environmental law, policy, and management in the shaping our future.

For further information on the M.Arch. professional degree track, please see the Graduate Catalog.

Degree Tracks: Interior Architecture/Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts–Interior Architecture/Design (B.FA./I.A.)
Master of Arts–Interior Architecture/Design (M.A./I.A.)

While the architect typically focuses on building form and external profiles, relationships between buildings and landscape, and interior spatial organization and sequence, the interior architect/designer deals focuses solely on the interior spaces of buildings. Interior architects/designers create the specific character of spaces for human use and enjoyment. In this capacity, interior designers must understand the important role of materials, colors, textures, and light in the creation of interior spaces that respond to the physical, social, psychological, and cultural needs of building users. Working with scales that range from that of the object (furniture and light fixtures) to that of the complex whole (ordering systems and spatial sequence), interior architects require a knowledge of the experiential, the tectonic, the technical, and the theoretical.

Because of the commonalities between the disciplines of architecture and interior architecture, students in the interior architecture program share similar professional core courses with students in architecture during the first two years of study, including the foundation design sequence and courses in digital media and the history of architecture.

As societies continue to re-examine their stock of existing buildings, the skills of interior architects/designers become increasingly important to clients seeking building conservation, preservation, and adaptive re-use.

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Interior Architecture/Design (B.FA./I.A.)**

First-year curriculum: 30 credits
Fall 1

ARCH 110	Foundation Design I	4
IARC 111	Introduction to the Designed Environment	1
UNIV 100	Living Responsibly in an Interdependent World	1
RST 112	Modern Belief	3
ENGL 160	Writing Skills	3
MATH 150	Architectural Mathematics	3
Total: 15 Credits

Spring 1

ARCH 120	Foundation Design II	4
ARCH 122	Design Thinking	2
PHIL 113	Introduction to Philosophy	3
ENGL 180	Introduction to World Literature	3
PSY 211	General Psychology	3
Total: 15 Credits

Second-year curriculum: 35 credits
Fall 2

IARC 210A	Design Studio III	5
ARCH 212	Digital Media I	3
ARCH 213	History of Architecture I	3
ENVS 109	Technology, Environment, and Society	3
PHIL XXX	Philosophy	3
Total: 17 credits

Spring 2

IARC 220A	Interior Architecture Studio IV	5
ARCH 222	Digital Media II	3
ARCH 223	History of Architecture II	3
ENGL XXX	English above 300	3
PSY 325	Sensation and Perception	3
Total: 17 credits

Third-year curriculum: 34 credits
Fall 3

IARC 310A	Interior Architecture Studio V	6
IARC 312/ART 437	History of Furniture	3
IARC 313/ART 310 C	Building Structures and Systems	3
LANG XXX	Foreign language I	3
HIST 101	Global History of the 20th Century	3
Total: 18 credits

Spring 3

IARC 320A	Interior Architecture Studio VI	6
IARC 322A	Materials and Methods	3
IARC 324	History of Interior Architecture	3
LANG XXX	Foreign Language II	3
GE	General Elective	3
Total: 18 credits

Fourth-year curriculum: 34 credits
Fall 4

IARC 410A	Design Studio VII	5
IARC 415	Lighting Fundamentals	3
RST XXX	Religious Studies	3
ART 218	Art in the Modern ERA	3
GE	General Elective	3
Total: 17 Credits

Spring 4

IARC 420A	Design Studio VIII	6
IARC 422	Professional Practice for Interior Architects	3
HIST XXX	History	3
PE	Program Elective	3
GE	General Elective	3
IARC 421/ART 455	Professional Contribution	0
Total: 18 Credits

Total Credits: 135

Master of Arts – Interior Architecture/Design (M.A./I.A.)

Marywood’s graduate program in Interior Architecture/Design prepares students for the profession by engaging them in an array of specialized courses ranging from design, aesthetics, history, and advanced digital media, to lighting, detailing, and sustainability. Each student pursues a comprehensive, two-­semester Thesis Project that concentrates on new and appropriate uses for abandoned buildings in our region. Ultimately, the purpose of the Thesis is to investigate new design ideas that can lead to the revitalization of both our downtowns and our neighborhoods.

For information on the M.A./I.A. degree, please consult the Graduate Catalog.

Architecture Courses