SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

In order to receive any bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University all students must earn a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit (or equivalency) in courses making up the University Core Curriculum. This core curriculum consists of the following: 6 semester hours of English Composition, 15 semester hours of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 9 semester hours of Humanities/Fine Arts, and 6 semester hours of Social/Behavioral Sciences. Specific courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum will vary by academic major. For students in the School of Architecture to meet the University Core Curriculum requirements, they must successfully complete the following: EN 1103 and EN 1113 (English Composition), MA 1313 and MA 1613 (Mathematics), PH 1113, PH 1123, and ARC 2713 (Natural Sciences), ARC 2313 and ARC 3313 (Humanities), one approved Fine Arts elective, and two approved Social/Behavioral Science electives. Refer to the Core Curriculum requirements in the MSU Bulletin for a list of approved Fine Arts and Social/Behavioral Sciences courses. In addition, students must show proficiency in public speaking (design studios), computer literacy (ARC 2546), and advanced writing skills (ARC 4313).

S/ARC CURRICULUM

The School of Architecture’s five-year undergraduate curriculum prepares students in a rapidly changing world for the comprehensive practice of architecture. Through diverse coursework, it provides them with a broad-based liberal-arts education, including a consciousness of ethical standards and social responsibility. The curriculum emphasizes design excellence, ideological diversity, intellectual rigor, individual development, and the techniques of building. All aspects of the curriculum are synthesized in the design-studio sequence, which attempts to balance theory and practice.

The curriculum is divided into three parts comprising four areas of study. Part one includes the first year and is defined as the pre-professional program. Part two includes the second, third, and fourth years that compose the professional core; and part three consists of the fifth year and provides the transition to professional practice. The four areas of study are represented by History/Theory which addresses architectural history, philosophy, current architectural ideas and directions; Management which consists of the tools necessary to direct the processes of architecture, areas of economics, real estate, finance, promotion, land development, law, and office practice; Design which is concerned with the understanding of form, shape, and space responsive to human needs and programs, together with development of architectural communication skills; and Technology which provides basic knowledge in physical systems of structures, materials, construction and service systems of plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning. The fifth year is a unique experience and is located in downtown Jackson, Miss. It offers the student an opportunity to develop depth and expertise. The city provides a major resource for design activities and acts as a laboratory for continued study. Professionals involved in all areas of the built environment contribute to teaching, and weekly field trips are scheduled to building and manufacturing sites. Research and design projects are focused on the city. This unique experience provides a transition from the academic foundation to the professional realities of architecture. At the completion of the fifth year, and having successfully completed 152 semester hours, students receive the professional degree of Bachelor of Architecture.

In an effort to recognize that students may enter the university at different points in their lives, the School of Architecture offers two curricula for navigating through the program: the B/ARC and the Pre/ARC. The B/ARC curriculum is followed by students admitted into the fall freshman design studio while students transferring into the summer design studio follow the Pre/ARC curriculum.

Building Construction Science Program

The Building Construction Science degree program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in construction or construction-related fields. The program establishes an interdisciplinary curriculum that builds upon expertise existing within the School of Architecture and the Colleges of Engineering and Business and Industry to provide a knowledge base in business, engineering, and construction sciences. The curriculum foundational areas are based on a problem-based learning (PBL) pedagogy adopted from the architectural studio. The studio-based teaching puts a focus on the use of case studies, precedents, and integration of multiple subject areas. This integration of a broader scope of architectural, engineering, construction, and business practices is a different approach than a traditional construction technology pedagogy that separates subject areas into distinct courses.

The Building Construction Science curriculum includes a general education foundation of mathematics, science, and business. Course development is built upon the strengths of the three colleges that are collaborating in the effort. The curriculum relies most heavily on the School of Architecture and the Colleges of Engineering and Business and Industry to provide the bulk of the coursework. The existing course work in these colleges forms the foundation for this degree program, with the goal of developing a program that is unique due to the fact that it is based upon these existing programs. This allows Building Construction Science majors to be integrated in some of their classes with Architecture, Business and Industry, and Engineering students.

The Building Construction Science degree has construction-specific courses including construction systems, building technology, structures, materials and methods of construction, estimating, scheduling, safety, project management, and construction law. A number of these courses currently exist within the three colleges. Both the engineering and the architecture curriculums at Mississippi State involve hands-on making using both materials and material constructions. This curriculum is designed to continue in that vein, and meets the criteria for American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) accreditation. We will seek full accreditation as soon as the requirement of one graduating class has been met. When the program receives accreditation all students in the classes that have graduated will be considered as having graduated from an accredited program.

The new program will have scholarships available for both freshman and transfer students. We expect to have the guidelines completed and approved by June 1, 2007. These scholarships will be available for the Fall 2007 term. There will be a scholarship application form that will be mailed to all the applicants and to any interested parties.