UPDATE: Students declaring a concentration in Fall 2021 or later are required to obtain a minimum grade of 'B' in each required concentration course in order to graduate with the degree concentration. This requirement does not apply to students who have declared a concentration in previous semesters.

In addition to our main bachelor of architecture degree, we offer three optional concentrations that capitalize on our faculty’s expertise and our specialized research labs. Students who declare a concentration focus on either Digital Craft, Urban Works, or History/Theory/Experiments during their final two years of coursework. A portion of their advanced studios and seminars directly tie to ongoing initiatives in the Digital Craft Lab, Urban Works Agency, or Experimental History Project. These architecture labs are deeply engaged with research, material innovation, and experimental practices.

The concentration in Digital Craft allows students to focus their advanced coursework on digital fabrication and advanced methods of digital design and visualization. Students choose from advanced studios and elective seminars in architectural computation, which directly tie to ongoing projects in the Digital Craft Lab (DCL). The DCL often collaborates with artists, engineers, scientists, and designers on prototypes that support material innovation and responsible entrepreneurship.

Concentration requirements:

• Advanced Studios with Digital Craft Focus: 12 units required
  • Choose two ARCHT-5070 Advanced Studios (6 units each)
    • Studios must be labeled with DM/DC in title (ex: UR: ARCHT-5070 DM/DC: Advanced Studio)
• Design Media Electives: 6 units required
  • Choose two ARCHT-5700 Design Media Electives (3 units each)
    • Qualified seminars are labeled 'DM'.
      

Concentrations requirements chart

The concentration in Urban Works allows students to focus their advanced coursework on some of the most pressing issues of our time, including climate change, water management, housing affordability, and the politics of energy. Students choose from advanced studios and elective seminars in urbanism, which directly tie to ongoing projects in the Urban Works Agency (UWA). The UWA often collaborates with interdisciplinary partners to produce original research and design projects that shape the spaces and protocols of the built environment.

Concentration requirements:

• Advanced Studios with Urban Focus: 12 units required
  • Choose two ARCHT-5070 Advanced Studios (6 units each)
    • Studios must be labeled with UR in title (ex: UR: ARCHT-5070 UR: Advanced Studio)
• Urban Electives: 6 units required
  • Choose two ARCHT-5800 Urban Electives (3 units each)
    • Qualified seminars are labeled 'UR'.

Concentration requirements chart

The concentration in History/Theory/Experiments allows students to focus advanced coursework on experimental practices of architectural and urban history and theory. Students choose from advanced elective seminars that directly tie to ongoing projects in the Experimental History Project (HTX), a lab that researches new historical and theoretical methods of inquiry into the built environment. Recent HTX exhibitions and symposia have explored reconstructing immaterial aspects of historical architecture, such as sound and smell; methods for digitally scanning artifacts and spaces; and augmented reality, in addition to other digital applications, for bringing architectural history to life.

Concentration requirements:

• History/Theory Electives: 9 units required
  • Take three ARCHT-5500 History/Theory Electives (3 units each)

Concentration requirements chart

Interested students should declare their interest via the Declaration of Interest: B.Arch Concentrations form. Submitting this form prompts review by the Program Chair and Program Manager. If your request is approved, you will be notified via email. Student Records will then add the concentration you've selected to your degree audit.

IMPORTANT:

You are expected to review your degree audit and create a graduation plan before declaring a concentration. In most cases, declaring a concentration should not add to your degree requirements or result in a delay of graduation. Students will need to take one DM, UR, or HT Elective in place of an Open Elective. Students who have already fulfilled the Open Elective may need to take an additional course, which could delay graduation and/or increase tuition costs. Please plan accordingly and meet with Academic Advising regularly to avoid this.

Financial aid may not be available for additional time required to complete a concentration. It is up to you to ensure that you are properly registering for courses each semester. Regular check-ins with Academic Advising are recommended.