Bachelor of Science Major in Architecture
(4 years – 120 credits)

Athabasca University and Architecture Canada, Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (RAIC), have formed a partnership dedicated to offering a high quality online architecture program. This is Canada’s first online architecture program and it is a component of the renewal of the RAIC Syllabus which constitutes an alternative path to professional licensure as an architect in Canada. The RAIC Syllabus consists of studio, work experience and academic components taken while working under the supervision of a licensed Canadian architect.

The academic components of the Syllabus program are shared between first, a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSc Arch) and second, a Graduate Diploma in Architecture (GDA). Together, the studio and work experience (offered by RAIC) and the academic components (offered by Athabasca University) fulfill the requirements of the RAIC Syllabus Professional Diploma in Architecture.

The BSc Arch program, which has a strong focus on environmental and community sustainability, will also be beneficial for public and private careers in urban and construction planning and design, as well as studies of the built environment.

The BSc Arch program has open admission, however students who have an approved diploma or credentials in architecture may apply for the Post Diploma route and will be awarded 30 credits towards the BSc Architecture (PD). Students may receive additional credits pending review of course content completed through the diploma program.

Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their program.

Students with a Recognized Degree

Students who hold a recognized first degree, outside of the field of Architecture, and who are interested on the BSc Arch program and/or courses, have two options:

1. Register as a non-program student and take courses of interest to them.
2. Enrol in the BSc Arch program at which time those students with an existing undergraduate degree will be admitted to the second undergraduate degree. These students' previous courses can be considered for credit up to 50 per cent of their AU degree requirements. The second degree must include 60 credits that were not part of the first degree, at least 30 of which must be completed at AU. Preparatory (100 level) courses cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a second undergraduate degree.

Program Plans

Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, Mapping Your Future. Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.

Program Requirements

Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.

Program Structure
Total credits in the program	120
Minimum Senior level (300/400) credits required	75
Science and Arts breadth and senior-level requirements are fulfilled by a combination of specific Science, Arts, and Architecture courses (many of which are disciplinary in nature and cover both requirements). As a result, the BSc Arch requirements replace the breadth and depth of the BSc requirement.
Residency Requirement. A minimum of 30 credits at the senior (300/400) level must be obtained through AU.	30
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through AU in order to be considered.	24
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits	30

Core Course Requirements (39 credits)

Note: To better meet Architecture needs, a few requirements vary from the general BSc requirements and are replaced with similar, discipline-related courses.

Students in the BSc Architecture degree major must complete the following core course requirements as they are specific to this major.

1. A total of 18 credits from:
APST 230	Materials, Properties and Applications	(3)
PHYS 200	Introductory Physics I	(3)
PHYS 201	Introductory Physics II	(3)
	or
PHYS 202	Introductory Physics III
APST 240	Introduction to Structures	(3)
APST 340	Advanced Structures	(3)
APST 350	Applied Architectural Sciences	(3)

2. 6 credits in Mathematics from:
MATH 209	Finite Math	(3)
MATH 215	Introduction to Statistics	(3)
	or
MATH 216	Computer-Orientated Approach to Statistics

3. Computing course
COMP 210	Introduction to Information Systems and Computer Applications	(3)

4. The following courses:
PHIL 252	Critical Thinking	(3)
PHIL 333	Professional Ethics	(3)
	or
PHIL 371	Ethics: Science, Technology and the Environment
PSYC 432	Psychology and the Built Environment	(3)
ENGL 255	Introductory Composition (see English Writing Skills Requirement below)	(3)

Architectural Major Courses (75 credits)
Design Workshop Courses (36 credits): Note: The courses below with "RAIC" course codes are offered to Syllabus students through RAIC.
ADST 200	Foundations of Design I	(3)
	and
ADST 205	Foundations of Design II	(3)
	or
RAIC 200	Foundations of Design (6 credit course)
ADST 300	Foundations of Architectural Design: Elements	(6)
	or
RAIC 300	Foundations of Architectural Design – Elements
ADST 350	Foundations of Architectural Design: Simple Habitat	(6)
	or
RAIC 350	Foundations of Architectural Design – Simple Habitat
ADST 400	Foundations of Architectural Design – Collective Habitat	(6)
	or
RAIC 400	Foundations of Architectural Design – Collective Habitat
ADST 450	Architectural Design: Cultural, Recreational and Institutional	(6)
	or
RAIC 450	Architectural Design – Cultural, Recreational and Institutional
ADST 490	Architectural Design, Workplace	(6)
	or
RAIC 490	Architectural Design, Workplace

Applied Communication Courses (9 credits):
APST 215	Introduction to Graphic Representation	(3)
APST 220	3D Modelling, Digital Representation and Presentation	(3)
APST 255	Computer Aided Design	(3)

Architectural Theory (15 credits):
ARCH 330	Architectural Design Theory Fundamentals	(3)
ARCH 340	History and Theory of Modernism	(3)
ARCH 350	Landscape	(3)
ARCH 400	Urbanism	(3)
ARCH 420	Contemporary Architectural Theory and Research	(3)

Architectural History (9 credits):
ARCH 200	History of Ideas in Architecture I	(3)
ARCH 300	History of Ideas in Architecture II	(3)
ARCH 320	History of Canadian Architecture	(3)

Advanced Architectural Technologies (6 credits):
APST 470	Building Envelope and Assemblies	(3)
APST 480	Mechanical Equipment of Buildings	(3)

Architectural Elective Courses (6 credits):
Any 300 or 400 level Science courses		(3)
Any 300 or 400 level courses in ORGB		(3)
	and/or
MKTG

Specific Architectural Program Regulations

Given the professional nature of the BSc Architecture program, the following regulations supersede some of the general policies governing academic studies at Athabasca University:

1. Athabasca University will not grant transfer credit for science courses that were completed more than 10 years ago. Computer Science (COMP) and Computer Management Information Systems (CMIS) courses older than 5 years will be staledated if students are not currently working in the field of Architecture.
2. To be awarded a BSc Architecture degree, a minimum grade point average of 2.3 is required in all Athabasca University courses used towards the degree.
3. Upon graduation in the BSc Architecture degree students may subsequently complete the Graduate Diploma in Architecture in order to apply for the RAIC Professional Diploma in Architecture.

English Writing Skills Requirement

The English Writing Skills Requirement (ENGL 255) will be waived (students must replace the three credits to satisfy the credit requirement) if you satisfy one of the following:

• have a grade of B- (70 per cent) or better in an AU English course above the preparatory (100) level;
• or received transfer credit for a university-level English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.