Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Architecture and Environmental Design, B.S.


The Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Environmental Design (AREN) is a four year pre-professional degree program that prepares students for careers in Architecture and Environmental Design professions. The program is based on the understanding that the skills required for designing the built environment come from a broad education that draws on science, technology, humanities and the arts.

The curriculum provides a balanced course of study, which includes courses in graphic skills, technology, history, and theories of the built environment as well as courses throughout the university. The core of the program are the design studio courses where students synthesize what they have learned in the exploration of hypothetical and real life design projects. AREN graduates are prepared for entry level positions in architecture and related design fields and applying for advancement to 3=2 patheays to professional degree programs, including the SA+P graduate programs in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and City and Regional Planning.

Mission

The Architecture and Environmental Design; B.S. program supports the mission of Morgan State University and the School of Architecture and Planning to:

  1. Provide access to the architecture and environmental design professions for African American and minority students.
  2. Engage in continued research and provide academic service and curriculum focused on the sustainable redevelopment of Baltimore and the surrounding region.

Program Overview

The program requires 120 credits for the completion of the pre-professional Bachelor of Science degree and provides coursework and preparation for students interested in pursuing professional degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and City and Regional Planning at Morgan State University and other graduate schools nationally. The program distributes the University General Education (GER) across four years of study.

  • The freshman year provides the introduction to communication skills and design concepts required for the beginning design student.
  • The sophomore year engages students in a range of design project types and continues to build the student’s knowledge of history and technology related to the built environment.
  • The junior year focuses specifically on project types and issues affecting the Baltimore region both in studio courses and related lecture courses
  • The senior year provides the opportunity for students to focus on any of the areas in design taught within the School of Architecture and Planning including Construction Management, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and City and Regional Planning.

3+2 Programs

The School of Architecture and Planning offers an accelerated 5-year (B.S. plus Masters) option for the following graduate programs:

Master in Architecture
Master in City and Regional Planning
Master in Landscape Architecture

Students must apply to this competitive program in the spring of the third (Junior) year in the B.S. program. The admission criteria is based on cumulative GPA, portfolio, letter of intent, and letters of recommendation. Students completing one of the 3+2 programs, will earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These degree programs are accredited and prepare students to pursue a career as an architect, planner, or landscape architect.

Policies


Change of Major

Students considering changing their major to Architecture and Environmental Design must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students with less than 2.0 may be considered upon review of the student’s academic plan developed with the School’s Retention Coordinator.

Educational Purpose

The purpose of the pre-professional program is to prepare students to continue into graduate programs or entry level positions in the design and construction fields. Each student is given the opportunity to develop their technical ability, intellectual preparedness and professional outlook, and is expected to display the motivation and rigor towards their studies that will be required of them in future professional environments. Faculty will facilitate the course of study and serve as mentors to their students.

Attendance

Attending classes is a basic responsibility of every Morgan student who is enrolled in courses in the program. Attendance in class is evidence of minimum engagement with the material of the course needed to matriculate and master the content at hand. Because the curriculum of the program is delivered to students in a variety of learning environments, it is important that each instructor has authority over the precise terms of their own attendance policy as outlined in each course syllabus. The following points are to be considered the SA+P’s collective policy to be referenced in all syllabi, or unless otherwise outlined with individual faculty variation within a particular course syllabus:

The general attendance policy is to allow a student to miss the equivalent of one week of class sessions (three classes if the course meets three times/week, etc.) without directly affecting the student’s grade and ability to complete the course. If additional absences are required for a personal illness/family emergency, pre-approved academic reason/religious observance, the situation should be discussed and evaluated with the faculty member and appropriate Chair on a case-by-case basis. For each absence over that allowed number, the student’s letter grade can be lowered up to one full letter grade. This policy or any variation of it should be stated clearly in the syllabus of the course.

Student Engagement

The Architecture and Environmental Design professions are characterized by active civic and professional engagement. As a student in Morgan’s B.S. in Architecture and Environmental Design program you will be expected to participate beyond the classroom in the activities of the program, the school and the local professional community. Participation is encouraged and may be required by individual faculty, included in course syllabi and calculated as part of a course grade.

Required Materials

The classroom environment represents a significant investment of time and resources on behalf of both students and faculty. Accordingly, students are expected to be prepared with appropriate tools, supplies and texts as required to perform their work. A lack of appropriate tools, supplies and resources will not excuse incomplete or missing work. Difficulty obtaining the required materials should immediately be discussed with your instructor.

One Studio per Semester

Students are permitted to take a maximum of one 6-credit studio per semester.

Grade Dispute Policy

Grade disputes within the program will follow the procedure set forth by the School of Architecture and Planning. Students will have fifteen (15) working days from the date the final course grade is posted in WEBSIS to raise a grade dispute.

Course Repeat Policy

Courses with “D” or “F” grades may be repeated twice without written permission. To repeat a course more than twice requires written permission from the student’s program director.

Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Architecture and Environmental Design Degree


  1. Students must complete all University General Education, Supporting Courses, and Core requirements.
  2. Students must satisfactorily earn a minimum of 78 credits in the major and a minimum of 120 credits total.
  3. Students must earn a cumulative average of 2.0 or better.
  4. Students must earn a 2.0 or better in their major courses with no outstanding grades below “C” (which includes all required supporting courses).
  5. Students must earn the final thirty (30) credits of their degree at Morgan.

A minimum of 120 credit hours are required to graduate with a B.S. in Architecture and Environmental Design.  These credits are distributed as follows:

General Education and University Requirements    42

Required Courses for the Architecture and Environmental Design Major    78

Total Credits    120

General Education and University Requirements 42 credits


Required Courses for Architecture and Environmental Design Major 78 credits


Total Credits 120


*denotes a department required supporting/major course which may fulfill a general education requirement and must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher

Please see General Education Requirements Distribution Areas  for courses that satisfy General Education Requirements where not specified by the department

1  ARCH History and Theory Electives are two (2) courses chosen from the list of History and Theory Electives listed below

2 ARCH Technology Electives are two (2) courses chosen from the list of Technology Electives listed below

3 ARCH Fourth Year Studio courses are two (2) courses chosen from the list of Fourth Year Studio Options listed below.  **Note** two (2) 400 level pre-approved ARCH electives (History/Theory or Technology) may fulfill the fourth (4th) year studio        requirement.  Students will submit a course substitution form for pre-approval from the Department Chair and School Dean.  The Office of the Registrar makes the final approval.  

4 ARCH Electives are any courses in ARCH, CMGT, CREP, INTD, ENST, LAAR, URBD or advisor approved courses

- AREN students planning to register for ARCH 401   or considering applying for the 3+2 Masters in Architecture program must register for the following Technology Elective courses:  ARCH 311  and ARCH 312  in their third year

- AREN students planning to pursue a professional degree in Landscape Architecture by applying for the 3+2 Masters in Landscape Architecture program must register for the following Technology Elective course:  ARCH 305  or ARCH 321  in their third year

- AREN students planning to pursue a professional degree in City and Regional Planning by applying for the 3+2 Masters in City and Regional Planning program must register for the following Technology Elective:  ARCH 322  in their third year

Technology Electives


Notes


1  Special Topic Courses:  ARCH 418 ARCH 428 ARCH 429 , and ARCH 445  are repeatable up to nine (9) credits or three attempts.

2  ARCH 428  and ARCH 429  during Summer sessions can be used to fulfill ARCH 402  with approval from the Department Chair.