The undergraduate curriculum in Architecture at Texas A&M University is offered through the Department of Architecture. The four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degree prepares students for challenging careers in industries supporting the built environments. The program produces graduates who are prepared to influence society with informed and visionary designs—designs that ensure sustainability by responding to cultural, social, economic and ecological factors.
Students interested in professional registration as an architect must complete a National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) accredited Master of Architecture program in addition to the four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree.
Although the four-year BS degree at Texas A&M University is a pre-professional degree and is not accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), those who have completed this pre-professional degree can apply to an accredited Master of Architecture program, which is offered at Texas A&M University.
In the United States, most state architectural registration boards require, as the prerequisites for licensure, a degree from a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited professional degree program, the fulfillment of the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s (NCARB) Internship Development Program (IDP), and the successful completion of NCARB’s Architectural Licensing Examination (ARE). The 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 (BArch), the Master of Architecture (MArch), and the Doctor of Architecture (DArch). Students should consult the Texas A&M Master of Architecture, NAAB and NCARB websites for additional information.
Transfer and change of major students (students currently enrolled in another major at Texas A&M University) who are admitted to the Department of Architecture are classified as lower level (ARCL). Transfer students who meet all the criteria for admittance to upper-level studies may immediately apply for admittance to upper level.
Transfer students who have completed at least 24 graded transferable hours, and change of major students who have completed at least 12 graded transferable hours are encouraged to participate in a 10-week summer module offered by the Department of Architecture. The summer module is designed to provide an intensive first-year design studio sequence along with support coursework that will enable change of major and transfer students to qualify for sophomore design studios the following semester. This summer module can enable Transfer and Change of Major students to complete the four-year degree in a more efficient and timely manner.
Transfer students accepted into the Bachelor of Science degree program must submit a portfolio to the Department of Architecture to receive credit for drawing and design studio classes taken at another university or college, unless the course is listed as an equivalent under the Texas common course numbering system. The review of the portfolio will ensure appropriate studio placement. Additional information may be found on the Department of Architecture website.
Credits 4. 1 Lecture Hour. 8 Lab Hours. Architectural design principles; development of skills in perception, thought and craft as they apply to the formation of two- and three-dimensional relationships; design attitudes and environmental awareness. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ARCH 115 and concurrent enrollment; major in Architecture.
Credits 5. 1 Lecture Hour. 12 Lab Hours. Approaches to problem identification and problem solving emphasizing human, physical and cultural factors influencing architectural design; understanding of space, materiality and tectonics in a human body scale; development of drawing methods with emphasis on analytical drawing; reinforcement of visual and verbal communication as applied to design processes. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ARCH 105 and ARCH 115; major in Architecture.
Credits 3. 1 Lecture Hour. 4 Lab Hours. (ARCH 1307) Design Communication Foundations I. Introduction to and practice of tools, methods, techniques available for graphic communication; graphic communication and the design process; observation and other forms of free-hand drawing and drawing systems that develop representational and descriptive capabilities. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better and concurrent enrollment in ARCH 105; major in Architecture.
Credits 4. 1 Lecture Hour. 9 Lab Hours. Issues and methods in designing environments for human habitation and well-being; projects addressing site, functional planning, spatial ordering, form generation through a recognition of the synthesis of space, structure, use and context; reinforcement of appropriate graphic and model building techniques. Prerequisites: ARCH 105, ARCH 108, ARCH 115.
Credits 5. 2 Lecture Hours. 9 Lab Hours. Fundamental issues of innovative design processes and creation explored through the creative use of past, present and future materials, tools, and technologies; with an emphasis upon the research of materials, methods, scale, craft and technique as instruments of design, fabrication, and production. Prerequisites: ARCH 205; ARCH 105, ARCH 108, ARCH 115.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Social and behavioral factors in the built and natural environment; environmental perception and spatial cognition; social-environmental processes such as privacy and crowding; setting-oriented discussion on residences, education, and the workplace; the psychology of nature and natural resource management; social design and social science contribution to architectural design.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. A comprehensive introduction to sustainability concepts, techniques and applications at all levels of the built environment, history of contemporary development of sustainable architecture from 1960 to the present; design strategies, environmental technologies and social factors for reducing building energy needs and carbon foot prints; global applications of sustainable approaches.
Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Software and processes for computation design in architecture; image editing and creation, vector drawing, 3D modeling, parametric modeling, rendering techniques and simulation.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction to museums, cultural heritage and collections care; best practices for non-profit institutions, public engagement and the collection, preservation and exhibition of material culture; emphasis on archaeological, ethnographic, and historical collections, or other collections of cultural significance. Cross Listing: MUST 221/ARCH 221.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration and evaluation of the cross-disciplinary work of historic preservation; emphasis on the significance of historic places to societal well-being and conservation alternatives for historic and cultural environments; review of preservation projects and treatments; guest presentations and case studies from practicing professionals and researchers in a variety of fields.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. (ARCH 1301) Survey of World Architecture History I. A survey of world architecture and the human-designed and built environment from prehistory to the 13th century.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. (ARCH 1302) Survey of World Architecture History II. A survey of world architecture and the human-designed and built environment from the 13th to the 19th century.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction of cultural theory and the environment; theories, special concepts and ideas relevant to the built and virtual environments with primary focus on the last fifty years; theory, theory building, and application to buildings and urban design; formation of ideas and critical ways of assessing the environment.
Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour. Presentations by and discussions with professionals representing specialty areas related to environmental design through the Department of Architecture Lecture Series. May be taken four times for credit. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in the College of Architecture. May be repeated 2 times for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor and department head.
Credits 5. 2 Lecture Hours. 9 Lab Hours. Integration of architectural theories and philosophy with environmental design systems; study of theoretical approaches to graphic and analytical thinking, problem identification and design dissemination through various media, case studies and problem resolution; conditions and forces associated with a variety of building types and the generation design solutions. Prerequisites: Admission to upper level in environmental design; ARCH 249 and ARCH 250.
Credits 3. 1 Lecture Hour. 4 Lab Hours. Digital fabrication for architecture including software, numerically controlled tools, translation applications and management strategies for digital fabrication workflows; production of building components from three dimensional datasets of virtual architecture proposals. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; ARCH 216 or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 1 Lecture Hour. 4 Lab Hours. A non-mathematical investigation of structural systems and components with respect to behavior; selection of the most appropriate structural system for various building typologies. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Study of roof, wall, glazing and screen systems of significant works in contemporary architecture and the strategies behind their making; focus on innovative materials, surface effects, and performance aspects. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification in environmental design.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Study of significant works of contemporary architecture and materials and strategies used in their making; focus on innovative materials, systems, and partnerships necessary to realize the design. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification in environmental design or approval of instructor or ARCH classification.
Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Physical principles that govern statics and strength of materials through the design of architectural structures from a holistic view, in the context of architectural ideas and examples; introduction to construction, behavior of materials, and design considerations for simple and complex structural assemblies; computer applications. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification in environmental design; MATH 142 or equivalent; PHYS 201.
Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. Theory and applications of building energy use, envelope design, shading analysis, heating and cooling systems, lighting design; building water supply, plumbing and drainage systems; electrical, acoustical, fire and lightning protection; life safety; transportation systems and construction materials; calculations, equipment selection, and component sizing as they relate to building design. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification in environmental design; PHYS 201.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Chronological development of civilization and building technology from prehistoric cultures to present; classic and modern materials, structural devices past and present, machine-produced products, prefabrication, construction methodology and servicing.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Global exploration of how architecture and the built environment express culture and identity; theoretical and practical approaches to cultural heritage and conservation. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
Credits 3. 1 Lecture Hour. 4 Lab Hours. Techniques for recording historic buildings and sites; measuring and drawing to Historic American Building Survey Standards; field experience in photography, laser scanning, photogrammetry, hand measuring, field notes and record drawing preparation. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Development of modern and contemporary architecture in the 20th and 21st centuries; materials, structure, social and economic changes as well as architectural theory. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. History of product design in Europe and America including the relationship between designer and object, the relationship of design, industry and media over time and design criticism; focus on material/technical and typological approaches, comparative method and content analysis in context of original environment and social history. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 1 Lecture Hour. 4 Lab Hours. Contemporary topics in architectural design-build practices including high impact interdisciplinary learning experiences developed through a project-based learning model with a focus on the planning, design, pre-construction, construction and project delivery; team-based approach with those outside of the architecture discipline to design, plan and complete project documents, estimates and undertake the construction activities necessary to make a fully functioning community service project. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour. Presentations by and discussions with professionals representing specialty areas related to architectural fabrication and product design. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Fundamental critical and creative thinking skills needed to participate in and create the future; study of how design can impact the physical environment and society. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 5. 2 Lecture Hours. 9 Lab Hours. A comprehensive design studio focused on the integration of design theory with functionally sustainable environmental and structural systems; consideration of a project from site analysis and programming through design detailing. Prerequisites: Admission to upper level in environmental design; ARCH 305, ARCH 331, ARCH 335; CARC 301 or ARCH 494; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 431 and ARCH 435.
Credits 5. 2 Lecture Hours. 9 Lab Hours. Topical approaches to design, emphasizing theory and practice of architecture or related disciplines, such as urban design, interior design, health care design, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; admission to upper level in environmental design; ARCH 305, ARCH 331 and ARCH 335; CARC 301 or ARCH 494; students may with approval of the department enroll in the course during the summer term prior to taking ARCH 405, ARCH 431 and ARCH 435 if they are within 20 credit hours of graduation prior to the beginning of the following fall semester.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Investigation of design elements shaping the urban environment; emphasis placed on contemporary precedents in architecture, landscape and urbanism to evaluate design complexity on multiple levels: social, political, environmental, economic, cultural and geographic. Prerequisite: Admission to upper level division in BED or BS-URPN.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Understanding the various design decisions impacting sustainability and energy efficiency; includes participation in an "academic" LEED-NC rating project; interdisciplinary team approach with a design studio architect to perform the LEED-NC rating on the architect's building; application of reference material, standards, and USGBC material. Prerequisite: Junior and senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of stylistic, structural and theoretical advancements in ancient architecture, with case studies from the Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Prerequisite: ARCH 249 or ARTS 149; junior or senior classification or approval of degree coordinator or instructor.
Credits 2. 1 Lecture Hour. 2 Lab Hours. Selection and economics of structural systems in the context of integrating structural systems into a building through good design; analysis and design of wood, steel, concrete, and composite systems and members in relation to building design. Prerequisites: Admission to upper level in environmental design; ARCH 305, ARCH 331, ARCH 335; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 405 and ARCH 435.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Theory and practice of lighting design as an art and science; aperture design for sunlight control; selecting and locating luminaries to enhance interior and exterior surfaces and spaces. Prerequisite: ARCH 335 or junior or senior classification in EDAS.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Interrelationships of architecture, painting and sculpture in the ancient world including Egypt, Mesopotamia, Crete, Greece and Rome. Prerequisite: ARCH 249 or ARTS 149; junior or senior classification or approval of degree coordinator or instructor.
Credits 2. 1 Lecture Hour. 2 Lab Hours. Understanding how to integrate sustainable environmental systems into a building through good design; lectures support studio; systems faculty participate in studio critiques throughout the project.Prerequisites: Admission to upper level in environmental design; ARCH 305, ARCH 331, ARCH 335; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 405 and ARCH 431.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. A critical study of monumental church-building in Europe during the later Middle Ages (ca. 1140–1500 C.E.); investigation of works of architecture, sculpture and painting in relation to issues of craft, ritual and power; exploration of the afterlives of the Gothic style in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Prerequisite: ARCH 250 or ARTS 150; junior or senior classification or approval of degree coordinator or instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of the diverse architectural traditions of the world’s major religions with an emphasis on issues of place-making, representation, ritual, identity, and culture, past and present. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. The investigation of the history of architecture, the arts and society, and major creative individuals from the late sixteenth to the early eighteenth centuries. Prerequisite: ARCH 250 or ARTS 150; junior or senior classification or approval of degree coordinator or instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Art and architecture of the prehistoric Aegean, ca. 6000-1100-B.C.E.; focus on the built environment, material culture and visual arts of early civilization in the Aegean basin; evidence for regional and vernacular architectural traditions; expressions of power, ideology and social identity through monumental architectural and elite arts of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of instructor or degree coordinator.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Investigation of indigenous, vernacular and historical American architecture from 1500 to 1920; evolution of construction technologies, changing building forms and finish treatments; identification of historic architectural styles and their influence on 21st century American architecture. Prerequisites: ARCH 250 or ARCH 350; junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Emerging strategies in the architecture and construction industry, with an emphasis on understanding the changing structure of the industry and the management of both firms and projects. Prerequisite: Senior classification or approval of degree coordinator.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Career opportunities in the profession of architecture; investigations into the composition of architectural practice today and the wide range of specialties represented in architectural firms; interviews with select representative individuals. Prerequisite: Admission to upper level in environmental design, construction science or landscape architecture.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Issues and relationships within the business, legal and political environment; introduction to the concepts of architectural specifications and the AIA standard conditions of the construction contract; forms of construction, bidding and contract documents. For undergraduate students pursuing a professional degree and a career in architecture. Prerequisite: Senior classification in environmental design.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Issues and relationships within the cultural, business, legal and political environments of global practice; differences in the construction contract, bidding and various forms of construction. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Analysis and design of architectural interiors; historical and professional perspectives incorporating programming, space planning and organization; specification and selection of furnishings and materials to satisfy user needs in residential, commercial and institutional settings. Prerequisites: Admission to upper level in environmental design; concurrent enrollment in ARCH 405, ARCH 431 and ARCH 435 not allowed.
Credits 1 to 6. 1 to 6 Other Hours. Fieldwork related to practice of historic preservation and cultural heritage management; methods of documentation, analysis, planning and treatment; emphasis on identification and evaluation of multidisciplinary approaches to historic preservation and heritage conservation in global contexts; topics vary each semester. May be taken for credit up to six hours. Prerequisites: ARCH 246, ARCH 346, or ARCH 347; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour. Presentations by and discussions with professionals representing specialty areas related to environmental design; career and academic objectives. May be repeated for up to 4 credit hours. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
Credits 6. 12 Other Hours. Practical experience in an office of design allied professionals; 10- week internship with a minimum of 400 hours continuous employment; departmental pre-approval through the departmental internship coordinator required; post evaluation conducted following the internship. May not be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; approval of the environmental design internship coordinator.
Credits 1 to 5. 1 to 5 Other Hours. Special projects in architecture. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Admission to upper level in environmental design; approval of instructor and degree coordinator.
Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. 0 to 4 Lab Hours. Special topics in an identified area of architecture. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification; approval of instructor and degree coordinator.
Credits 0 to 6. 0 to 6 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in the College of Architecture. May be repeated 2 times for credit. Prerequisite: Admission to upper level in environmental design; approval of instructor and department head.
Credits 9. 18 Other Hours. Practical experience in an office of design allied professionals; fifteen week internship with a minimum of 600 hours of continuous employment; departmental pre-approval through the departmental internship coordinator required; post evaluation conducted following the internship. To be taken only as a requirement for the study away semester. May not be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; admission to upper level in environmental design; CARC 481; approval of the environmental design internship coordinator.
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. (ARCH 1311) Design Process. Fundamental design processes, issues and theories relevant to design resolution and the creation of new ideas; creative thought processes from the formation of ideas through incubation to final product and future impact on the physical environment and society.
Aimar, Fabrizio, Assistant Professor of Practice
Architecture
DAR, Polytechnic University of Turin, 2022
MAR, Polytechnic University of Turin, 2008
Aitani, Koichiro, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Kyushu University, 2015
MAR, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1997
Ali, Ahmed K, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 2012
Baaske, Benjamin, Instructional Assistant Professor
Architecture
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2022
MAR, Texas A&M Universitiy, 2017
MAR, Texas A&M University, 2017
Baltazar, Juan Carlos, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2006
Beltran, Liliana O, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1997
Billingsley, Andrew, Assistant Lecturer
Architecture
MS, Texas A&M University, 2020
Borges Gonzalez, Alejandro, Associate Professor
Architecture
MAR, Cornell University, 1994
Caffey, Stephen M, Instructional Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, The University of Texas - Austin, 2008
Calvesbert, Tyrene, Lecturer
Architecture
MUP, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, 2019
Campagnol Abuabara, Gabriela, Instructional Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, University of Sao Paulo - USP, 2008
Clayton, Mark J, Professor
Architecture
PHD, Stanford University, 1998
MAR, University of California at Los Angeles, 1987
Culp III, Charles H, Professor
Architecture
PHD, Iowa State University, 1976
De Lima Vaz Xavier, Davi, Assistant Professor of Practice
Architecture
BAR, University of Brazil, 2010
Dudley, Drew, Associate Professor of Practice
Architecture
MEN, Texas A&M University, 2012
Ennemoser, Benjamin, Assistant Professor
Architecture
MAR, University of Innsbruck, 2014
Erminy Castillo, Marcel, Professor of Practice
Architecture
BAR, Central University of Venezuela, 1987
Faulkner, Matthew T, Assistant Professor of the Practice
Architecture
MAR, Texas A&M University, 2006
Gessner, Thomas, Associate Professor of Practice
Architecture
BEN, Texas A&M University, 1997
Gibbs, Brian C, Assistant Professor of the Practice
Architecture
MAR, Texas A&M University, 2006
Glowacki, Kevin T, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Bryn Mawr College, 1991
Haberl, Jeff, Professor
Architecture
PHD, University of Colorado, 1986
Hawkins, Andrew G, Assistant Professor of the Practice
Architecture
MAR, University of Oregon, 1999
He, Weiling, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005
Holliday III, Ray W, Assistant Professor of the Practice
Architecture
MLA, Texas A&M University, 2000
MAR, Texas A&M University, 1992
Holliday, Shelley D, Associate Professor of the Practice
Architecture
MEN, Texas A&M University, 2001
Jafarifiroozabadi, Roxana, Assistant Professor
Architecture
DOC, Clemson University, 2021
MAR, University of Tehran, 2016
Jain, Priya, Associate Professor
Architecture
MAR, The University of Arizona, 2007
Key, Sora, Assistant Professor
Architecture
PHD, Carnegie Mellon University, 2012
MAR, University of Washington, 2000
Klein, Nancy L, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Bryn Mawr College, 1991
Lopez, Marcelo F., Assistant Professor
Architecture
MS, Columbia University, New York, 2013
Loureiro, Livia, Lecturer
Architecture
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2020
Lu, Zhipeng, Assistant Professor
Architecture
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2009
Luhan, Gregory, Professor
Architecture
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2016
MAR, Princeton University, 1998
Massin, Peter, Associate Professor of Practice
Architecture
DAR, Universität Innsbruck, 2021
MAR, Universität Innsbruck, 2010
Obrien, Michael J, Professor
Architecture
MAR, Virginia Tech, 1982
Pentecost III, Aubrey R, Professor of the Practice
Architecture
DrPH, University of Texas, School of Public Health, 1982
Stewart, Zachary D, Associate Professor
Architecture
PHD, Columbia University, 2015
Tate, James Michael, Assistant Professor
Architecture
MAR, Yale University, 2007
Tripp, Andrew Reed, Assistant Professor
Architecture
PHD, University of Pennsylvania, 2017
Vanegas, Jorge A, Professor
Architecture
PHD, Stanford University, 1988
Warden, Robert R, Professor
Architecture
MAR, Texas A&M University, 1986
Yan, Wei, Professor
Architecture
MAR, University of California at Berkeley, 2004
Zhu, Xuemei, Professor
Architecture
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2008
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