Degree Requirements
Complete curriculum requirements for all BAC degree programs are listed below. For returning students, refer to the degree requirements for the year in which you entered your program. If you have any questions about your course schedule, contact your academic advisor or the dean or director of your program.
Master of Design Studies in Design for Human Health
Master of Design Studies in Historic Preservation
Master of Design Studies in Sustainable Design
Master of Design Studies in Real Estate Development
Bachelor of Design Studies in Computational Design
Bachelor of Design Studies in Sustainable Building Technology
Bachelor of Design Studies in Sustainable Design
Foundation
Today's design professions draw upon a shared fluency in creative thinking and problem-solving. Architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and the emerging design professions require skills in reading, writing, visual representation, critical thinking, and research that are shared across these fields.
Segment I, Foundation, works to develop students' design and technical skills; understanding of spatial relationships, human scale, and materiality; critical reading, writing, and research capabilities; and awareness of the design industry and professional practice, all of which are required to succeed in Segments II and III.
Foundation can be completed in two semesters by a student who is taking a full-time academic course load. Beginning with CityLab, the student in first-semester Foundation learns to integrate design and thinking skills in the areas of collaboration and community, critical reading and research, design representation, application of design methods and creative problem solving.
Foundation Portfolio Review
The Foundation Portfolio Review is part of the process of continuous reflection and improvement expected of students at the BAC. Completion of Foundation and advancement to Segment II requires completion of the required courses in Foundation and achieving a successful review of Foundation Portfolio.
Undergraduate students must complete the following eight (8) courses prior to their Foundation Portfolio Review.
- FND1006 CityLab
- FND1003 Foundation Studio
- FND1005 Design Representation
- FND1001 Critical Reading and Research 1
- FND2011 Sustainable Material Assemblies
- FND1010 Making and Modeling
- FND2007 Community Practice
- FND1004 Foundation Studio 2
Each graduate program has different required courses that must be completed prior to submitting a Foundation Portfolio. Please review the table below. An ‘X' indicates a course that must be completed along with the discipline specific courses listed prior to Foundation Portfolio Review.
|
Graduate Onsite Programs |
M.Arch |
MIA |
MLA |
|
FND3006 CityLab |
X |
X |
X |
|
FND3032 Transdisciplinary Studio |
X |
X |
X |
|
FND3033 Visual Thinking |
X |
X |
X |
|
FND2011 Sustainable Material Assemblies |
X |
X |
X |
|
FND3010 Making and Modeling |
X |
X |
X |
|
FND2007 Community Practice |
X |
||
|
First disciplinary history/theory/criticism course |
HTC3050 |
HTC3051 |
HTC3033 |
|
First disciplinary studio course |
ARC3306 |
INT3005 |
LAN2001 |
|
First two disciplinary technology courses |
DME2015/DME2016 |
Upon completion of the required courses in Foundation, students submit a portfolio for review.
The Segment I Portfolio Review is a standardized evaluation of a student's readiness for advancement through the BAC Curriculum and shares results and feedback with the student. Onsite students must submit a portfolio at the end of the Segment I curriculum. The student submits a compilation of work that clearly documents achievements within the Foundation curriculum. The requirements for the portfolio can be found on Moodle or by contacting the Faculty. Students whose portfolios receive a ‘1' or ‘2' score are required to arrange a meeting with their program dean to find out the next steps before proceeding to Segment II.
The Foundation Portfolio is individually created by students as a vehicle to reflect on their work. Portfolio criteria is fulfilled by the student's studio, design media, practice, and technology courses with work amended and refined to synthesize learning gained in these courses. Guidelines for the portfolio submission will be covered in these courses. Students are expected to write about projects or assignments and to write a Reflective Introduction essay, using writing skills learned in foundation courses.
Foundation Portfolios should be submitted for review at the end of the semester in which the student completes the required Foundation Courses (above). Portfolio Reviews are held in December and May. The submittal date will follow the end of the semester and will be published in the Academic Calendar. Students should register for PRV0001 Portfolio Review when registering for the semester in which they anticipate completing Foundation.
Portfolios are reviewed by the BAC's faculty and education directors (students are not present for the review). Results are available usually within two weeks of the submission date. Students who pass Foundation Portfolio will advance to Segment II. If a student's portfolio is deemed incomplete (earning a 1 or 2 score), the student will meet with the appropriate school dean to determine the requirements and schedule of the portfolio resubmission. With permission from the dean, the student may take certain classes from Segment II during the semester that the student is preparing to resubmit (Segment II Studio courses are not permitted). The student should schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to discuss what courses to take next.