Dec 26, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Architectural Design, B.F.A.


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Coordinator: Jori Erdman
Phone: (540) 568-3318
Emailerdmanja@jmu.edu

 

The B.F.A. in architectural design educates future design leaders. It is an intensive program focused on rigorous design processes. Architectural design is approached holistically– emphasizing investigations into the nature of materials and objects, interior space, ergonomics, history and theory, programmatic invention, functional poetics, and collaboration across disciplines. The curriculum instills purpose, craft, technological competencies and versatile thinking.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the B.F.A. in architectural design is selective and competitive for a limited number of reserved seats in upper-division (300-400 level) architectural design courses. Declaration of architectural design as a major and completion of lower-division (100-200) prerequisite art courses does not guarantee admission into the program. Admission to upper-division ARCD courses is based on completion of all prerequisite art courses and merit as determined by faculty review of portfolios submitted in satisfaction of the course ARCD 208. Portfolio Review .

ARCD 208  is a 0 credit, pass/fail course that functions as a prerequisite to enrollment in 300-400 level architectural design courses. Students should enroll in ARCD 208  during the semester in which they are enrolled in ARCD 202 . ARCD 208  portfolios are reviewed during the spring semester (February) prior to pre-registration. Students should contact the area coordinator of architectural design to determine the exact time and location for the ARCD 208  portfolio review.

Any art major may take ARCD 200  and ARCD 202 , but is restricted from taking any 300-400 level architectural design course until ARCD 208  has been taken and passed.

Accepted students who receive a passing grade for ARCD 208  will be able to register for ARCD upper-division courses for the following semester. Students not accepted will have one opportunity to reapply the following spring semester or may choose to continue in another major within the SADAH 

Degree Requirements


Required Courses


  • General Education  courses 41 Credit Hours 1
  • University electives 1 Credit Hours
  • Major requirements (listed below) 78 Credit Hours

Footnotes


1 The General Education program  contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Total: 120 Credit Hours


Major Requirements


This major requires 78 credit hours in art, art history and art-related courses; 45 must focus on architectural design.

Required Courses


Art, Design and Art History Electives: 9 Credit Hours


Studio art, design and art history electives may include courses from general fine arts, graphic design, industrial design, art education, architectural design, internships and art history with a minimum of three credits at the 300-400 level excluding courses taken in the required major, ARTH 490 , ARTH 495  and ARTH 499 .

Total: 78 Credit Hours


Recommended Schedule for Majors


First Year


Total: 30 Credit Hours


Total: 36 Credit Hours


Total: 30 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


Total: 27 Credit Hours


Footnotes


1 ARCD 496  is typically completed during the summer.

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