Architectural Studies - B.A. Download to print

The Architectural Studies major is a liberal arts program that exposes students to the design process and prepares them for directed graduate study and careers in a variety of design-related disciplines. As the only liberal arts degree in Kent State's College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the Architectural Studies major offers a high level of flexibility, which allows students to customize the undergraduate experience to suit their own career and educational goals. The program includes required design studios, lecture/studio hybrid courses and seminars on architectural history, theory and criticism, urban issues and sustainability. It also includes required electives chosen by the student from courses across disciplines, which students use to pursue minors in related areas like construction management, geography, urban studies, biological sciences, music, fine arts, business, marketing, art history and others. Students also have the option of graduating with a streamlined dual degree: Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies and Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Additionally, students take architecture electives, which allow them to explore digital design, fabrication processes and building technology, or to pursue a minor in architectural history or historic preservation. 

Students may also take advantage of the semester-long study abroad program in Florence, Italy in any semester after successful completion of AED 10101 and AED 10102. This program is open to all students who have made satisfactory progress toward completion of their undergraduate program. While in Florence, students may take design studios, electives, foreign language courses in Italian, and/or courses that may count towards a minor. 

The Architectural Studies major lays a broad foundation for professional graduate education in a diverse array of design fields including architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, construction management, graphic design, industrial design, real estate law, real estate development, historic preservation and architectural history/theory. 

General Admissions for Freshman Students: Admission Requirements at the Kent Campus: The freshman admission policy at the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon the following: cumulative grade point average, ACT and/or SAT scores, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago. For more information on admissions, visit the admissions website for new freshmen.
 

For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.

Minimum 121 credit hours and 39 upper-division credit hours, including all required coursework. Minimum 2.250 GPA in the major and 2.000 overall GPA.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate abilities in communication, design thinking skills, visual thinking skills, investigation and research skills, fundamental design skills, historical traditions and cultural diversity.  Develop a capacity to utilize and interpret literature and data related to environments and their design.
2. Demonstrate an introductory understanding of technical considerations in design, urban design and architecture.  This includes introduction to systems, operations, construction techniques, facilities management and computing technologies.
3. Display a broad and diverse understanding of the architecture and disciplines involved in the design of physical environments.
4. Demonstrate an ability to manage, advocate, and act legally, ethically and critically.  Establish collaborative skills, promote an understanding of human behavior, foster a research mentality.  Institute an understanding of leadership skills.