School of Architecture - Undergraduate
www.arc.miami.edu
The School of Architecture offers a five-year, accredited
professional program leading to the Bachelor of Architecture
degree. The Bachelor of Architecture fulfills the educational
requirements for professional registration. It offers specialized
architectural study through upper-level studios and architecture
electives, as well as opportunities for the study of liberal
arts through the elective sequence leading to a minor.
MISSION
• Prepare students for professional leadership and
lifelong learning in architecture, urbanism and related fields.
• Preserve and develop knowledge for the profession
through research and practice.
• Share knowledge locally and internationally through
community service.
• Promote building and community design goals of environmental
responsibility, social equity and economic sustainability.
ACCREDITATION
The school is a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools
of Architecture and the Association of Collegiate Schools
of Planning, and is fully accredited by the National Architectural
Accreditation Board, who asks each school to include the following
paragraph on professional degrees in all literature:
In the United States, most state registration boards
require a degree from an accredited professional degree program
as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural
Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency 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 6-year, 3-year, or 2-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 education. However,
the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized
as an accredited degree.
The School of Architecture’s location in Coral Gables
within the Miami metropolitan area provides an outstanding
laboratory for research and advanced study; the challenges
of conservation and development are intense in one of the
nation’s fastest growing urban areas. These challenges
result in an increasing demand for skilled professionals.
Students have the opportunity to work with the faculty in
the exploration of theoretical issues and in the resolution
of practical problems. The School of Architecture values and
sustains a creative, open and supportive environment, emphasizing
personalized instruction in small classes and studio courses.
RESOURCES
The school’s resources, including a state-of-the-art
computer laboratory, are enhanced by the interdisciplinary
opportunities offered by the other schools and colleges of
the University of Miami. A distinguished faculty is joined
each semester by internationally renowned visiting scholars
and designers.
Other programs that offer academic opportunities
for undergraduate architecture students include: the Historic
Preservation Certificate, the Suburb and Town Design, the
BSAE/MARCH and the BARCH/MBA.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Applications for incoming freshmen are processed and reviewed
by the Office of Admission. Enrollment in the School of Architecture
is selective and highly competitive. Application to the Bachelor
of Architecture program is requested by February 1st. Early
application is encouraged.
Admission decisions are based on the following factors: portfolio,
secondary school record, SAT/ACT score, counselor’s
evaluation and the student essay.
The academic accomplishments of each transfer student will
be evaluated on an individual basis. A 3.0 G.P.A. is required
for transfer admission. A portfolio is required for advanced
placement in the design sequence of the Bachelor of Architecture
Program. Application deadline for the School of Architecture
program is March 1st.
All transfer students requesting advanced placement in design
must provide a portfolio of previous academic design and graphic
work and three academic recommendations. Students accepted
into third year design will be required to complete a transitional
design course (ARC 301) during the summer prior to enrollment.
The courses MTH 109 and PHY 103, or their equivalent be completed
before admission into ARC 305.
Students in the School of Architecture are responsible for
planning their own programs and for meeting degree requirements.
It is the student’s responsibility to understand and
fully comply with all the provisions set forth in this Bulletin
and written changes to their program of study. Students are
provided assistance by advisors and faculty members. Written
requests for variation from program or school requirements
are reviewed by a faculty committee.
The School of Architecture will review each students record
at the end of each semester. When a students semester or cumulative
average is less than stated below, or progress toward degree
completion is unsatisfactory, the student will be placed on
academic probation or warning in accordance with School of
Architecture policies and procedures. Students on probation
are not permitted to enroll in more than 13 semester hours,
shall meet on a monthly basis with their academic advisor,
and may have a STOP placed upon their future enrollment until
grades for work-in-progress are reviewed. First semester freshmen
who have a semester grade-point average below 2.0 shall be
placed on probation.
Students must complete all Architecture Design studios with
a grade of C- or higher. Students receiving two consecutive
C- grades in architecture design studios will have to repeat
the later course. Students receiving a grade of D+ or
lower in an architecture design studio must repeat the studio
and will be restricted to a 15 credit semester load. The student
will meet with an academic advisor on a monthly basis and
will be reviewed prior to continuation.
A student in the School of Architecture whose CGPA or progress
toward degree completion falls below the level of the minimum
standards of the University of Miami may be dismissed. In
the School of Architecture this includes a student who receives
three grades of D+ or lower in design courses.
Class attendance is mandatory for all architecture courses;
three unexcused absences constitutes grounds for dismissal
from the course and/or a failing grade. Students are required
to be present for an entire design review, therefore, students
arriving late or departing early from class will be considered
absent. Excused absences require written notification and
are granted by the instructor.
A required architecture course in which a student receives
a failing grade must be repeated during the first subsequent
semester in which the course is offered. Incompletes can be
given only for reasons of serious illness or exceptional hardship.
The University may retain selected student work and may place
it in the architecture archives for exhibition, publication,
or other use as the University deems appropriate. Each student
in architecture is encouraged to maintain a design portfolio
of every project undertaken throughout the five-year program.
A form is available from the Office of Academic Services
and should be completed and approved PRIOR to off-campus enrollment.
Students are encouraged to provide complete documentation
for each course request form. Each student requesting transfer
credit must supply the University of Miami registrar with
certified transcripts. Additionally, each student should review
transfer evaluations to be certain that all courses are correctly
evaluated for credit. The proper transmission and transfer
of credits is the responsibility of the individual student.
The last 45 credits towards the degree must be completed at
the University of Miami.
The School reserves the right to change academic requirements.
Undergraduate students entering their third year and all
graduate students are required to purchase their own computers
for use in the design studio. The School of Architecture computing
resources are accessible via a wireless network with an approved
device and subject to School and University policy. System
requirements are published on the School
of Architecture website.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
The following courses are part of the required curriculum
for all students pursuing the Bachelor of Architecture degree:
English Composition:
ENG 106 - English Composition II
Mathematics:
MTH 109 - Introductory Calculus
Writing across the curriculum (minimum 15 credits
required):
All required History of Architecture and Architecture Theory
courses in the B.Arch. curriculum
Arts (6 credits required):
ARC 101 - Architecture Design I
ARC 111 Drawing I
Humanities (6 credits required):
ARC 121 - Architecture and Culture
ARC 267 History of Architecture I: Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance
Natural World (Natural Sciences) (6 credits required):
PHY 103 - General Physics, and another course from the University’s
approved master list of Natural Science courses taken as a
non-architecture elective.
People and Society (Social Sciences) (6 credits
required):
Any History course
The Architecture curriculum requires a minor outside the
School of Architecture, to be taken as non-architecture elective
courses. The minor may not be satisfied with architecture
elective courses. Many programs at the University award minors
for twelve or more credits of study. Students are advised
to consult the Bulletin and the chair of the appropriate department
for details.
DEGREE PROGRAMS
Tabular listing of the course requirements for the Bachelor
of Architecture degree. Specific procedures and policies are
detailed in the student handbook available from the Office
of Academic Services.
The School reserves the right to retain all student projects
done in for academic credit. MTH 109 AND ENG 105 are entry-level
courses. Courses taken to achieve entry-level status cannot
be considered towards the total credits required for the B.Arch.
Degree.
ELECTIVES
The program requires four types of electives:
Architecture electives (7 courses):
Investigations in areas of architectural interest beyond the
core requirements
Professional practice elective (1 course):
Focused examination of a topic related to practice
Non-Architecture electives (2-3 courses):
Explorations of general University offerings
Minor (4-5 courses):
Concentrated study in an area outside of architecture
A minor or its equivalent is required for all students. Areas
are selected in consultation with faculty advisors.
ARCHITECTURE MINOR
A minor in architecture is available to non-architecture
majors as an option in the undergraduate architecture program.
The purpose of the minor is to provide a general understanding
and appreciation of the discipline of architecture. The minor
does not satisfy professional requirements in architecture
but does offer an introductory basis for further study at
the undergraduate or graduate level. The program requires
12 credit hours in architecture courses.
Four architecture electives from the following list of courses
may be taken to complete the requirements for the minor:
ARC 121, 122, 141, 191, 223, 267, 268, 294, 323, 371, 372,
373, 374, 390, 475, 476, 521, 551, 554, 590
HONORS
Henry Adams Medal
Awarded in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects
to the highest-ranking graduating student for scholarship
and excellence in a professional architecture program.
Henry Adams Certificate
Awarded in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects
to the second highest-ranking graduating student for scholarship
and excellence in a professional architecture program.
Other honors, distinctions, and awards are presented annually
for excellent student performance.
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