Architectural Studies BS / Design MS

Major: Architectural Studies and Design
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 229.0
Co-op Options: No-Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Five years)
 

About the Program

An Accelerated 5 year (4+1) BS/MS program Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (ARCS) and Design MS. The two programs are in the same department and create a valuable professional pathway between design-based disciplines. Students in the ARCS/DSRE BS/MS Path will have the opportunity to explore evidence-based design (EBD) and decision-making. In this option, students will be exposed to best practices in EBD, which is often defined as design decision-making driven by research and evidence (Puccinelli, 2010). This BS/MS option seeks to give students a valuable research enhancement to their professional trajectories early in their careers. 

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree offers an introduction to architecture while affording students the flexibility to customize their education based on their interest in the realm of design and the built environment. The program encompasses foundation courses in the applied and social sciences, the humanities, and a range of architecture courses where students gain an understanding of the discipline. Introductory-level design studios are the foundation of the curriculum, and challenge students to apply knowledge acquired from these disciplines to consequential design problems.

As an art, a technical craft, and an ethical practice, architecture is the culturally responsible design and production of buildings that are functional, sustainable, inspiring, and responsive to their physical and social contexts. Students have the opportunity to reinforce their skills in the field by opting to participate in Drexel’s signature co-op program to work full-time in an architecture or design firm or related fields, either locally, nationally, or internationally. The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies program prepares students for architecture and architecture-related employment. While this program is not NAAB-accredited and does not directly prepare for architectural licensure and registration, the pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree offers a strong foundation in architecture for future graduate studies in Architecture if desired. It is also the ideal foundation to explore other related disciplines while pursuing an individualized path of interdisciplinary coursework, or to continue their architectural design studies with additional studio courses.

About the MS Design Program
 

The Drexel MS Design is an innovative, interdisciplinary, and distinguished evidence-based design program that will help you become a design leader in the 21st-century workplace.

Students work across multiple sectors in service design, market research, and product development to learn an evidence-based approach with a set of core design competencies taught in this program. We have studio and seminar options available to suit your experience needs. Created to serve students across all design disciplines, creatives, and those looking to make a career change, our program is a self-tailored yet structured and guided design program. This engagement-oriented program includes extensive coursework in social interest design, design-led strategy, and future-oriented technologies, preparing you to be an integral part of a development team in the design industry. Students in the program produce evidence-based thesis projects that are published through ProQuest at the completion of their degree.

This 48-credit STEM-designated program can be taken either full or part-time, we offer a range of coursework to suit all schedules, including those with full-time work commitments. With over forty successful Alumni, our diverse range of current and past self-developed student topics include circular design, assistive technologies, mental health services, shelter systems, artificial intelligence, blockchain for human uses, services for sustainable living, and healthy service, space, and product development. The program includes making, research, fabrication, collaboration, and human-centered design thinking. 

Additional Information

For more information, visit the Architecture Program website.

Admission Requirements

• The admission requirements will be similar to those admitted to the Architecture Program; 1250+/- SAT scores and 3.3+/- high school GPA.
• Applicants should submit eight to 12 pieces of work in a variety of media that demonstrate a balance of technique and concept. Portfolio guidelines for the B.S. Architectural Studies will follow the current Westphal College description.
• Writing Supplement.

Transcripts: Provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Standardized Test Scores: GRE/MAT test scores are accepted and appreciated, but not required. TOEFL scores are required for international applicants or applicants who earned a degree outside the U.S. (minimum scores: 100/577/233). Scores will be reviewed based on section scores and total scores. IELTS scores may be submitted in lieu of TOEFL scores.

Essay: Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a degree from Drexel; your short-term and long-term career plans; and how your background, experience, interest, and/or values, when combined with a Drexel degree, will enable you to pursue these goals successfully.

Résumé: Please submit a resume electronically

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required. To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information on your application. We advise that you follow up with your recommenders to ensure they received your recommendation request — they may need to check their junk mail folder. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit letters by your application deadline and follow up with recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.

MS Desgn

Academic Experience: You must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in your major.

Essay: Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing the MsDes degree from Drexel; your short-term and long-term career plans; and how your background, experience, interest, and/or values, when combined with a Drexel degree, will enable you to pursue these goals successfully. Submitted to Program Director.

Résumé: Please submit a resume electronically. Submitted to Program Director.

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required. Submitted to Program Director. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit letters by your application deadline and follow up with recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.

Degree Requirements

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Students not participating in co-op will take one additional credit of ARCH Elective instead of COOP 101.

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or other course with advisor approval

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Select 15.0 credits from 500-600 level courses, including I599, I699, T580, T680, in AS-I, CRTV, DIGM, DSRE, ENTP, ENVS, EPI, FASH, IDM, INFO, PBHL, RMER

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

COOP Plan of Study

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

No COOP Plan of Study