Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Architecture
OVERVIEW
The undergraduate architecture program is for students who want to learn to design individual and complex groups of buildings, deepen their knowledge of architectural history, and explore the built environment all through the lens of the urban landscape that is New York City. This full-time course of study leads to the Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch – first professional degree) in five years. A student may elect to obtain the B.S. in Architectural Studies after four years of study with consultation and guidance from advisors and faculty. An individual who obtains the 4-year B.S. in Architectural Studies degree is not eligible to obtain a B. Arch degree from City College.
How to Apply
First Year
Fall Term 1
ARCH 11100: Core Studio 1
AES 11300: Visual Studies 1
FIQWS: Literary Freshman Inquiry Writing Seminar
MATH 19500: Pre-Calculus
Spring Term 2
ARCH 12000: Core Studio 2
AES 12300: Visual Studies 2
AES 21200: The Built Environment of New York City
ENGL 21001/02: Writing for the Humanities/Writing for the Social Sciences
EAS 10600: Earth Systems Science
Second Year
Fall Term 3
ARCH 23000: Core Studio 3
AES 23202: Survey of World Architecture 1
PHYS 21900: Physics for Architects
ARCH 35302: Site Technology
00000: Core or College Option
Spring Term 4
ARCH 24000: Core Studio 4
AES 24001: Portfolio Review
AES 24202: Survey of World Architecture 2
AES 24303: Structures 1 - Introduction to Structures
AES 24501: Construction Technology 1
00000: Core or College Options
Requirements for entry into third year.
A minimum of a 2.33 overall GPA and a minimum of a 2.33 GPA in all architecture courses, and a Pass in Portfolio Review are required for entry into the Third Year.
Third Year
Fall Term 5
ARCH 35100: Core Studio 5
ARCH 35202: Survey of World Architecture 3
ARCH 35501: Construction Technology 2
ARCH 35402: Structures 2 – Design of Structural Elements
00000: Core or College Option
Spring Term 6
ARCH 36101: Core Studio 6
ARCH 47202: Survey of World Architecture 4
ARCH 36501: Construction Technology 3
ARCH 36402: Structures 3 – Behavior of Structural Systems
00000: Core or College Option
Fourth Year
Fall Term 7
ARCH 51000: Advanced Studio (1 of 4)
ARCH 45501: Computation and Design
00000: Core or College Option
00000: Core or College Option
Spring Term 8
ARCH 51000: Advanced Studio (2 of 4)
ARCH 00000: Elective
ARCH 00000: Elective
ARCH 00000: Elective
A student may choose after successful completion of the fourth year to receive a B.S. degree in Architecture. A student receiving a B.S. degree in Architecture may not receive a B. Arch (5th year) degree. The student must have maintained a 2.33 G.P.A overall and a 2.33 G.P.A in all architecture courses.
Fifth Year
Fall Term 9
ARCH 51000: Advanced Studio (3 of 4)
ARCH 51200: Architectural Management
ARCH 00000: Elective
ARCH 00000: Elective
ARCH 00000: Elective
Spring Term 10
ARCH 51000: Advanced Studio (4 of 4)
ARCH 00000: Elective
ARCH 00000: Elective
ARCH 00000: Elective
General Education/Pathways Core:
Fixed Core/12 Credits: ENGL21001/02 Writing for the Humanities/Writing for the Social Sciences, Mathematics 19500, Life and Physical Sciences – EAS 10600
Flexible Core/18 Credits: World & Global Issues – Literature & History, Creative Expression, Individual & Society, Scientific World (Physics 21900)
Additional CCNY requirements/12 credits: Philosophy 10200; Speech 11100
Electives
Prior to fourth year, at least two of the four elective courses are to be completed within the undergraduate offerings of the Spitzer School of Architecture and a maximum of two courses are to be completed within advanced undergraduate offerings of CCNY. An additional 17 elective credits (not courses) must be completed within the undergraduate offerings of the Spitzer School of Architecture prior to graduation.
Concentration in Architectural History
The Department of Architecture offers a concentration in architectural history. This is comprised of 15 elective credits drawn from architectural history electives in addition to the four architectural history courses required for the B Arch degree, Survey of World Architecture 1 through Survey of World Architecture 4. For further information and course advisement, contact Associate Professor Sean Weiss, Coordinator of Architectural History and Theory.
Concentration in Architectural Technology and Sustainability
Requirements for the Concentration: The concentration in Architectural Technology/Sustainability is comprised of 15 elective credits drawn from technology/sustainability electives in addition to the three architectural technology courses required for the B. Arch. degree, Construction Technology through Construction Technology III. See also the Note on electives for the B.Arch. degree.
15 Elective credits must be chosen from the following courses:
- ARCH 51600 Topics in Sustainability (Multiple Topics Offered) – 3 credits each
- ARCH 51560 Topics in Technology (Multiple Topics Offered) – 3 credits each
- Additional cross-disciplinary electives within the SUS program
- Plus additional specific electives and Special Topics courses when offered
- Graduate Electives open to qualified undergraduates
Note on electives: In order to complete the Bachelor of Architecture a student must successfully complete all required Architecture courses as well as a remainder 35 credits of General Education Requirement “Pathways” and 29 credits of electives; consisting of 17 credits of architecture electives and 12 credits of non-architecture electives in any area of study at advanced level (20000 or above), with the exception of foreign language courses which can be taken at the introductory level. Prior to fourth year, at least two of the four elective courses are to be completed within the undergraduate offerings of the Spitzer School of Architecture. For students in the concentration in “Architectural Technology and Sustainability,” 15 of the 17 credits of architectural electives must be taken from the list of designated “Elective Course Options.”
Curriculum
General, Optional, and Professional Studies
There are a total of 160 required credits for the B Arch program. In 2013, CCNY instituted a robust general studies program to ensure a comprehensive education for its students. This is referred to as “Pathways/General Education Requirements” or “Common Core.” B Arch courses are distributed among general studies course (48 credits) meeting the NAAB’s 45-credit optional studies minimum, elective courses (22 credits) meeting the 10-credit optional studies minimum, and professional courses (90 credits). The total number of credits required (160) meets the 150-credit minimum. The chart below shows the distribution of general, optional, and professional studies in the B Arch program.
General Studies
• CCNY requires undergraduates to complete general studies under its Pathways program, which has three components: fixed core, flexible core, and additional requirements.
• 2 open elective courses
• 48 credits
Optional Studies at Spitzer School
• 2 Spitzer School elective courses
• 17 credits of electives
• 22 credits
Professional Studies at Spitzer School
• Required professional courses
• 90 credits
STEM Designation
Both the BS and B.Arch programs are listed within the U.S. government’s official STEM fields list and are therefore eligible for the STEM OPT extension for F-1 students. See the STEM OPT Hub for more information.
Other Important Program Information
Study Abroad
Spitzer students have several options to study abroad – over the summer session or for an entire semester. Most students will study abroad for the summer between their third and four year. Students who wish to study abroad for an entire semester typically do so fall or spring of their fourth year. Spitzer students have a range of choices for countries to study in at the departmental level, as well as programs offered at the City College level, and CUNY level. Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations for our students.
https://ssa.ccny.cuny.edu/programs-centers/other-programs/study-abroad/
Career Development and Job Opportunities
With over 50 years of training students in New York City, the Spitzer School and its alumni network have vast and varied connections with city agencies, firms – large and small, as well as construction companies and design firms. Each spring, there is a Career Fair that welcomes some of the city’s top employers to look for interns as well as part-time and full-time employees. Almost all employers have an SSA alumni at the table – we are proud of our representation in the city and know our students have a reputation for being well trained, thoughtful, flexible, and creative. Students from all years in the program are welcome to attend the Career Fair and begin their search for internships and jobs.
Internships are always paid for our students; we partner with our Career Development office and extend all opportunities to students when they come to the department. There is also a Co-op Internship course for credit to help students navigate and deepen their experiences through coursework.
https://ssa.ccny.cuny.edu/resources/other-resources/career-services/
https://ssa.ccny.cuny.edu/resources/other-resources/student-employment/
Athletics
CCNY is a NCAA Division III school. Some Architecture students participate in a sport while enrolled at Spitzer, but due to the rigorous nature of the program and conflicting practice & game schedules, it can be difficult to partake.
The primary goal of the City College of New York Athletic Department is to provide an environment where student-athletes can excel academically, athletically and personally. The goals and objectives in the strategic plan reflect the commitment to excellence as the Athletic Department strives to fulfill its purpose in empowering student-athletes to develop into well rounded, responsible and mature leaders. Interested students should contact the CCNY Athletics Department for more information at www.ccnyathletics.com