Faculty

Mary Anne Beecher, associate professor (interior architecture). B.A., 1986, M. A., 1988, Iowa State; M.A., 1998, Ph.D., 2003, Iowa. (1999)

Lars Uwe Bleher, assistant professor (design, digital media). M.Arch., 1994, Oregon; Dipl.Ing., 1995, Stuttgart; reg. architect and urban planner, Germany. (2002)

Frances Bronet, professor (interdisciplinary design, engineering, arts and social sciences); dean. Diplôme d’Études Collégiales, 1974, B.S., 1977, B.Arch., 1978, B.Eng., 1979, McGill; M.S., 1985, Columbia. (2005)

G. Z. Brown, professor (design, environmental control systems, effect of energy and material conservation on architectural form). B.A., 1964, M.A., 1966, Michigan State; M.B.A., 1971, Akron; M.Arch., 1974, Yale; reg. architect, Oregon; member, American Institute of Architects. (1977)

Virginia Cartwright, associate professor (design, daylighting, electric lighting). A.B., 1975, California, Berkeley; M.Arch., 1981, Oregon. (1986)

Nancy Yeu-Wen Cheng, associate professor (design, digital media). B.A., 1983, Yale; M.Arch., 1990, Harvard; reg. architect, Massachusetts; NCARB certificate; member, American Institute of Architects. (1996)

Michael Cockram, adjunct assistant professor (design, process media). B.A., 1982, Arkansas; M.Arch., 1989, Oregon. (1994)

Donald B. Corner, professor (design, construction systems, housing production); director, Center for Housing Innovation. B.A., 1970, Dartmouth; M.Arch., 1974, California, Berkeley; reg. architect, Massachusetts. (1979)

Howard Davis, professor (design, architecture and culture, vernacular architecture and urban districts). B.S., 1968, Cooper Union; M.S., 1970, Northwestern; M.Arch., 1974, California, Berkeley. (1986)

Stephen F. Duff, associate professor (design-build apprenticeship, design judgment, structures and construction). B.A., 1985, Washington (Seattle); M.Arch., 1988, M.S., 1993, California, Berkeley. (1994)

Ihab Elzeyadi, assistant professor (design, environ­­­mental control systems). B.Arch., 1988, Graduate Diploma in Architectural Engineering, 1990, Ain Shams University; M.S., 1996, Pennsylvania State; Ph.D., 2001, Wisconsin, Milwaukee. (2001)

Michael E. Fifield, professor (design, housing, urban design). B.A., 1973, California, Berkeley; M.Arch., 1980, California, Los Angeles; reg. architect, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho; NCARB certificate; member, American Institute of Architects, American Institute of Certified Planners. (1998)

Gerald Gast, associate professor (urban and architectural design, urban studies). B.Arch., 1967, M.Arch., 1969, Illinois; reg. architect, California. (1994)

Donald Genasci, professor (history and theory, architecture and urban design). B.Arch., 1963, Oregon; Dipl. in Urban Design, 1965, Architecture Association; M.A., 1974, Essex; reg. architect Oregon, NCARB and England (ARCUK). (1977)

Mark Gillem, assistant professor (urban design, social and cultural factors in design). B.Arch., 1989, Kansas; M.Arch., 1996, Ph.D., 2004, California, Berkeley ; reg. architect, California, South Dakota; member, American Institute of Architects, American Institute of Certified Planners. (2005)

James W. Givens, adjunct associate professor (design, design theory and process). B.Arch., 1985, M.Arch., 1989, Oregon. (1986)

Esther Hagenlocher, assistant professor (interior architecture, furniture design). Certificate of Profession, 1987, Technical College, Stuttgart; Dipl.Ing., 1994, State Academy of Art and Design, Stuttgart; M.Arch., 1998, University College, London; reg. architect, Germany. (2004)

Megan Haight, adjunct assistant professor (design, design process). B.A., 1973, Stanford; M.Arch., 1979, Yale. (1996)

Wayne J. Jewett, senior instructor (furniture design and construction, sculpture). B.S., 1970, M.F.A., 1972, Wisconsin, Madison. (1974)

Peter A. Keyes, associate professor (design, housing research and building technology, community design). A.B., 1978, Harvard; M.Arch., 1983, Columbia; reg. architect, New York. (1990)

Alison G. Kwok, associate professor (design, environ­mental control systems). B.A., 1977, Knox; M.Ed., 1980, Hawaii; M.Arch., 1990, Ph.D., 1997, California, Berkeley; reg. architect, California. (1998)

Nicolas Larco, assistant professor (design, urban design, suburban development). B.A., B.Arch., 1996, Cornell; M.Arch., M.C.P., California, Berkeley; reg. architect, Massachusetts. (2005)

Brook Muller, assistant professor (design theory, environmentally responsive architecture). B.A., 1987, Brown; M.Arch., 1992, Oregon. (2004)

Hans Joachim Neis, associate professor (urban and architectural design). Dipl.Ing., Damstadt, 1976; M.Arch., 1979, M.C.P., 1980, Ph.D., 1989, California, Berkeley. (2000)

Kevin Nute, associate professor (design and design theory). B.A., 1981, B.Arch., 1985, Nottingham; Ph.D., 1993, Cambridge. (2000)

James A. Pettinari, professor (design–graphic analysis, urban and community design, transit-related development); director, Portland programs. B.Arch., 1966, Minnesota; M.Arch., 1970, Pennsylvania; reg. architect, Minnesota; NCARB certificate. (1975)

Otto P. Poticha, adjunct associate professor (design, architectural practice, community involvement in physical change). B.S., 1958, Cincinnati; reg. architect, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C.; NCARB certificate; member, American Institute of Architects. (1962)

John S. Rowell, associate professor (design, construction). B.S., 1984, British Columbia; M.Arch., 1990, Oregon; reg. architect, Washington, Oregon, California; NCARB certificate; member, American Institute of Architects. (1996)

Alison B. Snyder, associate professor (design, light, ancient and modern sacred space and vernacular structures). B.A., 1982, Washington (St. Louis); M.Arch., 1987, Columbia; reg. architect, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. (1997)

Robert L. Thallon, associate professor (design, media, construction). B.A., 1966, California, Berkeley; M.Arch., 1973, Oregon; reg. architect, Oregon, California. (1979)

Christine Theodoropoulos, associate professor (design structure). B.S.C.E., 1979, Princeton; M.Arch., 1985, Yale; reg. architect, reg. civil engineer, California; member, American Institute of Architects; American Society of Civil Engineers. (1997)

Roxi Thoren, assistant professor. See Landscape Architecture.

James T. Tice, associate professor (design, theory). B.Arch., 1968, M.Arch., 1970, Cornell; reg. architect, California. (1990)

Glenda Fravel Utsey, associate professor (design, site-specific process and skill development, settlement patterns); associate head, student affairs. B.Arch., 1971, M.L.A., 1977, Oregon. (1981)

Jenny Young, associate professor (design, programming, health-care facilities). B.A., 1970, Vassar; M.Arch., 1974, California, Berkeley; reg. architect, Oregon. (1982)

Linda K. Zimmer, associate professor (design, media, behavioral factors) director, Interior Architecture Programs. B.I.Arch., 1982, Kansas State; M.I.Arch., 1990, Oregon; NCIDQ certification; member, Institute of Business Designers. (1990)

Courtesy

Edward Allen, courtesy professor (technical teaching program). B.Arch., 1962, Minnesota; M. Arch., 1964, California, Berkeley. (2001)

Emeriti

John L. Briscoe, professor emeritus. B.Arch., Eng., 1950, Oklahoma State; reg. architect, Oregon; NCARB certificate; member, American Institute of Architects. (1953)

Stanley W. Bryan, professor emeritus. B.Arch., 1947, Washington (Seattle); M.Arch., 1948, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; reg. architect, Oregon, Washington, California; member, Construction Specifications Institute. (1955)

Philip H. Dole, professor emeritus. M.Arch., 1949, Harvard; M.S., 1954, Columbia; reg. architect, New York. (1956)

Wilmot G. Gilland, professor emeritus. A.B., 1955, M.F.A., 1960, Princeton; reg. architect, California, Oregon; Fellow, American Institute of Architects. (1969)

Arthur W. Hawn, professor emeritus. B.A., 1961, M.A., 1964, Washington State; Fellow, Interior Design Educators Council. (1967)

Rosaria Flores Hodgdon, associate professor emerita. Arch. Dipl., 1946, University of Naples; reg. architect, Massachusetts. (1972)

William Kleinsasser, professor emeritus. A.B., 1951, M.F.A., 1956, Princeton; reg. architect, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon. (1965)

Earl E. Moursund, professor emeritus. B.S., 1949, Texas; M.Arch., 1951, Cranbrook Academy of Art; reg. architect, Texas. (1955)

Gary W. Moye, associate professor. B.Arch., 1967, Oregon; M.Arch., 1968, Pennsylvania; reg. architect, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon. (1976)

Donald L. Peting, associate professor emeritus; assistant dean, architecture and allied arts. B.Arch., 1962, Illinois; M.Arch., 1963, California, Berkeley; reg. architect, Oregon, Washington. (1963)

Pasquale M. Piccioni, associate professor emeritus. B.Arch., 1960, Pennsylvania; reg. architect, Pennsylvania. (1968)

Guntis Plesums, professor emeritus. B.Arch., 1961, Minnesota; M.Arch., 1964, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; reg. architect, Oregon, New York. (1969)

John S. Reynolds, professor emeritus. B.Arch., 1962, Illinois; M.Arch., 1967, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; reg. architect, Oregon. (1967)

Charles W. Rusch, professor emeritus. A.B., 1956, Harvard; B.Arch., 1964, M.Arch., 1966, California, Berkeley. (1978)

Michael D. Utsey, associate professor emeritus. B.Arch., 1967, Texas; M.Ev.D., 1971, Yale; reg. architect, Oregon. (1967)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

Guest Lecturers and Critics

The Department of Architecture has an extensive program of visiting lecturers and critics who are brought to the school from throughout the country and the world each year. The program includes the Pietro Belluschi Distinguished Visiting Professor in Architectural Design and the Frederick Charles Baker Chair and lectures on light and lighting in architecture.

The Study of Architecture [back to top]

Architectural Education. The purpose of studying architecture is to learn how to make physical changes to our surroundings that enhance the quality of the built environment and our experience of life. Within this broad purpose, architectural study and practice include the tasks of providing shelter and environmental protection, providing appropriate settings for human activities, and creating forms that are aesthetically pleasing and supportive of social well-being in the community and society.

The Department of Architecture includes the Interior Architecture Program (see that section of this catalog) and maintains close ties with other departments in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. Architecture faculty members believe that the interdisciplinary cooperation of environmentally concerned fields is important to the study of architecture and continually seek new ways to learn from one another.

A central part of architectural education is the design studio, in which students learn by doing through experience with the design of buildings. This kind of learning is demanding, and students are expected to be committed and able to work independently and responsibly toward program and course objectives. In the design studio, continuous evaluation and response are the basic learning modes.

The department sets high standards for student performance. Advanced students often work together in courses and as collaborators with faculty members in research investigations through independent-study courses.

Preparation. Architecture is an inclusive art, bringing together a variety of disciplines. Students should prepare themselves in the following fields:

1. Social sciences

2. Natural sciences

3. Humanities

4. Fine arts

Students are also encouraged to travel in order to experience firsthand important landscapes, cities, buildings, and other elements of the structured environment.

Careers. Although most students prepare for professional registration and apprenticeship with practicing architects, others go into such areas as construction management, teaching, governmental agencies concerned with environmental policy, community and neighborhood planning, urban planning, and architectural programming and administration.

Summer Architecture Academy. The department’s Summer Architecture Academy offers prospective students a chance to learn about the discipline in an intensive six-week experience. Workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and field trips complement daily studio work.

Information about the Summer Architecture Academy may be obtained on the website or by calling the department.

Accreditation. In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the bachelor of architecture, the master of architecture, and the doctor of architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards. Master’s degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

At the University of Oregon, both the bachelor of architecture (B.Arch.) and the master of architecture (M.Arch. first professional degree Options II and III) programs are accredited by NAAB.

Internship and Licensure. In the United States, the title “architect” is legally restricted to individuals licensed by each state. Individual state governments use guidelines established by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to license architects. NCARB guidelines for license examination eligibility and the NCARB examination are used uniformly by most states. Before taking the examination, an applicant must have three years of professional experience with a registered architect. In some states, including Oregon, registration with the Intern Development Program is required while preparing for licensure.

Off-Campus Study

Students may participate in off-campus study programs hosted by the Department of Architecture, the Historic Preservation Program (with domestic and Italian field schools), and International Programs. The department has exchange programs with Stuttgart, Germany, and Hong Kong, and a close relationship with the Danish International Studies Program in Copenhagen.

Portland, Oregon. The department maintains an extension of its NAAB-accredited program at the UO Portland Center, where advanced graduate and undergraduate architecture students may study. Students in the Option I or Option II master of architecture programs may complete all studies in residence in Portland or take courses in Eugene and Portland.

The UO Portland Center, housed in the historic Willamette Block, includes studio spaces, classrooms, faculty offices, review rooms, and a library. Portland students have the use of all the resources and facilities on the Eugene campus, including scholarships and financial aid. Through provisions of the Oregon University System, students may enroll in courses and use library resources at other state-system universities.

Portland is an ideal laboratory for the exploration and study of real problems in urban design and architecture. Civic and regional issues are actively studied and tested in the design studios, courses, and through research opportunities. The school maintains strong ties with Portland’s professional community of architects, planners, and developers. Additional enrichment is provided through the department’s sponsorship of professional and public events in Portland and Eugene. Students may take advantage of Portland’s status as a major center for architectural and interior design services by seeking practicum experience and part-time employment in local firms and organizations. Students may participate on teams focused on urban design projects for agencies and nonprofit organizations in the Portland area. More information is available through the department office in Portland or Eugene.

Macerata, Italy. This integrated program, offered in the spring, is based in the medieval walled city of Macerata, Italy, nestled on a hilltop between the Chienti and Potenza Rivers. The program is housed in the Palazzo Ricci, an elegant 18th-century palace in the heart of Macerata. Students have access to studio space, seminar rooms, a computer lab, library, and student lounge as well as the city’s libraries, sports facilities, student cafeterias, and lounges at the Universita degli Studi di Macerata. The curriculum includes studio, media, and seminar courses designed for advanced architecture, interior architecture, and landscape architecture majors.

Rome, Italy. The Department of Architecture’s annual summer program in Rome is housed in the Palazzo Pio in the historic center of the city. Rome serves as the laboratory for the studio and subject-area courses. Walking tours of Rome and field trips to nearby architectural sites complement the program. Students live in apartments within a fifteen-minute walk to the facility. This program is available to architecture and interior architecture majors who have successfully completed at least four design studios.

Exchange Program. Each year a small number of Oregon students exchange places with students in the architecture program in Stuttgart, Germany, and Hong Kong. Undergraduate students in their third or fourth year and professional-degree graduate students who have a full year of study remaining after the exchange year are eligible.

Danish International Studies Program. Each year approximately ten architecture and several interior architecture students travel to Copenhagen to participate in the program. Summer, fall, and academic-year options are offered. Credits are automatically transferred, and financial aid is available.

Registering for Overseas Courses. Students in University of Oregon overseas study programs enroll in courses with subject codes that are unique to individual programs. Special course numbers are reserved for overseas study. See International Programs in the Academic Resources section of this catalog.

Curriculum for the Study of Architecture
[back to top]

The professional curriculum in architecture has two principal objectives: (1) the promotion of broad inquiry into the integrative nature of environmental issues and design and (2) a detailed professional education in architectural design. Graduates of the program in architecture must have comprehensive skills in the understanding and design of environments ranging from urban design to intimate personal space.

Students must meet the curriculum requirements published in the UO Catalog and in the department’s Advising Handbook, which includes sample programs, grading policies, an explanation of how students’ progress is monitored through the program, and other advising information. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser and encouraged to consult that adviser for specific information.

Residence Requirements

For transfer students to earn the bachelor of architecture (B.Arch.) or master of architecture (M.Arch.) degree from the university, the following minimum course work must be successfully completed in residence:

1. Design area: four terms of architectural design including ARCH 485/585, 486/586

2. Architecture subject area: 30 credits

3. General electives: 16 upper-division credits selected from courses offered outside the School of Architecture and Allied Arts (B.Arch. only)

Leave of Absence

University Policy. Graduate students should see the Continuous Enrollment statement in the Graduate School section of this catalog. Undergraduate students should contact the UO admissions office to learn how withdrawal from the university affects residency status.

Departmental Policy. Undergraduate and graduate students may interrupt the course of study for various reasons. In order for the department to plan for maximum use of resources, students must file a leave-of-absence form with the department indicating the expected date of return. Leave-of-absence status is renewable. Undergraduates may accumulate up to a total of two years of leave; they must file a departmental leave-of-absence agreement and submit a reenrollment card to the Office of the Registrar. Graduate students may accumulate up to a total of one year of leave; they must file a Graduate School leave-of-absence form, available online, and a departmental agreement, available in the department office. If the limits on accumulated leave are exceeded or the leave-of-absence terms of agreement are not met, major status may be revoked. Students who do not file a leave-of-absence agreement form with the department cannot be guaranteed access to design studio courses the year they return.

Undergraduate Studies [back to top]

The undergraduate five-year professional degree program leads to a bachelor of architecture (B.Arch.) degree. It is highly structured the first three years and more flexible the last two. This flexibility allows each student to establish a study sequence according to individual interests and needs and to take advantage of diverse opportunities in the profession. Transfer students should be aware that an accelerated program is normally possible only for students who transfer from an accredited architecture program.

Prospective applicants who have a four-year undergraduate degree in any field must apply to the graduate program (see Graduate Admission below). Undergraduate programs include the bachelor of architecture program and a minor in architecture.

Bachelor of Architecture: 231 credits

In addition to the professional curriculum listed below, the bachelor’s degree program includes requirements for a liberal education. Besides the university general-education requirements for professional-school majors, students must complete upper-division course work outside the major as part of the general-elective requirement.

University General-Education Requirements: minimum of 44 credits. College composition (8 credits); group requirements in arts and letters, social science, and science (36 credits); the multicultural requirement (8 additional credits if the selected courses do not also satisfy group requirements). Architecture majors must take General Physics (PHYS 201, 202), which are science group-satisfying courses.

Major Program Requirements: 187 credits. See Professional Curriculum section.

Minor Requirements

The Department of Architecture offers a minor in architecture, subject to the following:

1. Students must complete the department’s minor program application and submit it with the required academic records to the Department of Architecture office. Applicants are notified when their applications have been approved. The application form includes a curriculum work sheet with the requirements in effect at the date of acceptance

2. Because the department’s first obligation is to its majors, it cannot guarantee availability of courses for minors. Minors may register in required courses if space is available after the needs of majors have been met

3. Enrollment in each minor program is limited. If the department is unable to accommodate additional students, it may suspend admittance to a minor program until space becomes ­available

4. Courses required for minors are open to other university students with instructor’s consent

Undergraduate Admission

Interest in the program exceeds the capacity of the department. Approximately equal numbers of first-year and transfer (including change-of-major) applicants are admitted to the first year of the bachelor of architecture program each year. A smaller number of applicants from other NAAB-accredited or -recognized feeder programs are admitted as advanced transfer students. Prospective students should review application requirements posted online during the fall, well before application deadlines (see Application Deadlines in the Admissions section of this catalog). January 15 is the deadline for completion of both the department and university applications. Applications are reviewed and accepted only once each year. Admission notices are mailed by April 1.

Admission review focuses on (1) creative capability; (2) academic capability; and (3) potential for contribution to the program through diversity of background, experience, maturity, or breadth of general knowledge. Students are expected to submit specific materials supporting each of these attributes (academic records, essays, recommendations, and a portfolio of creative work). Prospective applicants should write to Architecture Admissions, Department of Architecture.

Applicants need not have course work in building design, but they are encouraged to seek a broad foundation in the visual arts (e.g., drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design). Experience with crafts and construction may also demonstrate evidence of creative capability.

Accepted applicants must be academically secure. To be considered, first-year applicants must have grades and scores that meet at least three of the following four indices, and all applicants must submit SAT scores.

1. High school grade point average (GPA)—3.25
2. Verbal–Critical Reading SAT I—550
3. Mathematical SAT I—550
4. Total of all SAT I sections—1100

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required for students whose first language is not English. Paper-based test: a minimum total score of 575 must be achieved with a minimum of 58 in each subsection. Computer-based test: a minimum total score of 233 must be achieved with a minimum score of 24 in each subsection. Internet-based test: a minimum total score of 90 must be achieved with a minimum score of 30 in each subsection.

Transfer applicants must have a minimum college or university GPA of 3.00 and meet the other criteria listed above for first-year applicants.

Graduate Studies [back to top]

There are three programs of graduate study in the Department of Architecture: Options I, II, and III. In all three programs, students must take a minimum of 45 graduate credits, of which 30 must be in the major and 9 must be at the 600 level. These programs do not have a graded-credit requirement, although students who enroll for graded credits must maintain a 3.00 minimum GPA. Additional requirements for each program are listed below.

The Option I program leads to the master of architecture (M.Arch.) as a postprofessional degree. Applicants must have a professional degree in architecture. Students in this program produce a thesis or a terminal research project. The program can usually be completed in four to six terms. Approximately five new students are admitted into the program each year.

The Option II and III programs lead to the M.Arch. as an accredited, first professional degree. The Option II program, which can usually be completed in six terms, is for applicants who have a four-year preprofessional degree in architecture from an institution where the four-year degree is part of a “four plus two” NAAB-accredited degree program. Applicants who have a four-year preprofessional degree in an environmental design discipline and an equivalent amount of professional studio and course work as is required of Option II applicants may be considered for the Option II program. Students admitted into the Option II program begin their studies fall term. Students with bachelor’s degrees (B.S. or B.A.) other than a preprofessional degree in architecture or the equivalent as stated above must apply to the Option III program. The Option III program typically is completed in ten terms. Option III students begin their program the summer before their first academic year of study. Students with degrees in related design disciplines (e.g., landscape architecture, interior architecture, environmental design, or architecture degrees from nonaccredited degree programs) may be given advanced standing, up to a maximum of three terms of studio credit for equivalent prior studio work.

Professional Degree Program Requirements

Option III students must complete 64 credits of architectural design studio and 80 credits of professional subject-area courses described in the Professional Curriculum section below. A minimum of ten terms is required for this option.

Option II students must fulfill the professional curriculum requirements of the Option III program, but are admitted with advanced standing in studio and subject-area courses. The extent of this advanced standing is determined in consultation with the student’s academic adviser before beginning the course of studies. This preliminary evaluation of transfer credit is provisional, pending satisfactory completion of three terms in residence.

Option II students may transfer up to 36 credits of design-excluding ARCH 585, 586-and up to 50 credits of subject-area courses. Option II students must complete a minimum of six terms and the following 81 credits in residence:

40 credits in architectural design studios

30 credits in professional subject-area courses including advanced electives and/or a research project

11 credits in nonstudio ARCH electives

Students admitted into the Option II program are expected to have completed basic subject-area courses in technology, architectural history, and other areas in their preprofessional degree program. Students with insufficient preparation in subject-area or design studio courses may be admitted with deficiencies. Satisfaction of the specific deficiencies may require course work in addition to the minimum of 81 credits required for the degree. Students intending to enroll in the Portland Architecture Program may be required to fulfill deficiencies on the Eugene campus before matriculation in the Portland program.

For more information, see Curriculum for the Study of Architecture above.

Postprofessional Degree Program Requirements

The Option I program provides an opportunity for advanced study and contribution to knowledge in the field through the M.Arch. thesis. Option I students must complete a minimum of four terms in residence. Students in this program are expected to develop an individual research topic in one or more of the following areas of faculty research:

1. Computer-aided design

2. Design process and theory

3. Energy-conscious design

4. Environment and behavior

5. Housing design

6. Interior components and furniture

7. Lighting and lighting design

8. Proxemic design and ergonomics

9. Urban design

10. Vernacular architecture

11. Structures and construction

The Option I thesis draws on individual research, professional and general university courses, and consultation with the student’s thesis committee. For more information about the thesis, see the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Certificate in Technical Teaching in Architecture

The program prepares candidates who are capable of integrating technical building and engineering information with the design education process for teaching positions in schools of architecture. This integration should improve the quality of architectural technical teaching and associated research and its relevance to architectural design studios. Technical subjects include structural design, construction materials and processes, and environmental control systems.

This certificate program is designed for graduate students in the postprofessional (Option I) master of architecture program, but graduate students in Options II and III may apply to the certificate program. Students who pursue this certificate typically focus their research on curriculum, tools, and strategies for teaching and concentrate on improving their comprehensive knowledge of the technical subjects.

Certificate candidates must demonstrate advanced proficiency in at least one technical subject area (structures, construction, environmental control) and have the background necessary to teach at the introductory level in the other two. This requirement can be fulfilled by submitting a portfolio documenting professional experience and/or prior course work to the technology faculty, or it can be met by completing a sequence of advanced courses while at the University of Oregon.

Two years in residence is typical, during which a minimum of 24 credits is required for the certificate. Twelve of these 24 credits may be used to fulfill master of architecture degree requirements.

Graduate Admission

Prospective applicants may review the graduate program and the application requirements at the department website. Applicants must take Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) so that the scores, a required component of the application, can be reported by the application deadline. Students whose first language is not English must also submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 233 (computer-based) or 575 (paper-based). Applications must be postmarked by the first Monday after January 1 for applicants to be considered for admission the subsequent fall term—summer session for Option III students. Notification of results is mailed by April 1. The department typically does not accept late applications.

Unless a leave of absence has been approved, students enrolled in a graduate program must attend the university continuously (except summers) until program requirements have been completed. For departmental policy about the leave of absence, see Curriculum for the Study of Architecture above.

A number of graduate teaching fellowships (GTFs) are available to particularly well-qualified graduate students. Applicants with previous architectural education (Option I or II) may want to request GTF application forms with their packets. Option III students generally qualify for GTF awards in the second or third year of the program.

Professional Curriculum [back to top]

The professional curriculum in architecture has two elements: architectural design and architectural subjects. Undergraduate students also must complete a set of general electives.

Architectural Design: 64 credits

The architectural design studio and its activities are the heart and focus of the professional curriculum. The design studio is a social and interactive workplace. Students are encouraged and expected to work cooperatively and to draw on the knowledge, skills, and criticism of their colleagues.

Through studio projects, students learn to solve design problems and respond to design situations with architectural intent, meaning, and knowledge. Introductory studios emphasize ideas, skills, and the critical thinking fundamental to the design process. Intermediate studios emphasize integration of subject-area skills and content with design. Advanced studios emphasize comprehensive integration of subject-area knowledge with design skill.

Design credit can be earned only through participation in design studio. Six credits earned in either Site Planning and Design (LA 489/589) or Interior Design (IARC 484/584) studios may be applied to this 64-credit requirement.

Introductory Architectural Design Studios

Architectural Design I,II (ARCH 283, 284), two-term studio for undergraduate majors

Architectural Design III,IV (ARCH 383, 384), two-term studio for undergraduate students

Introductory Graduate Design (ARCH 680, 681, 682), three-term studio for Option III graduate students

Intermediate Architectural Design Studios

Architectural Design (ARCH 484/584), repeatable studio for all professional-degree students. Twenty-four credits required for undergraduate students. Thirty credits required for Option III graduate students. Eighteen credits required for Option II students

Graduate Architectural Design: Option II (ARCH 683), for Option II graduate students

Advanced Architectural Design Studios

Advanced Architectural Design I,II (ARCH 485/585, 486/586), two-term studio for professional-degree students

Architectural Subjects: 80 credits

Architectural subject courses introduce and develop theory, knowledge, and skills in architecture and related disciplines. Emphasis is on learning architectural subject areas in the context of design. The content and focus of these courses is closely coordinated with offerings and expectations in the architectural design area.

A core curriculum is required for professional degree students. Introductory courses present knowledge, concepts, and skills basic to further study in several subject areas. Core courses instill competence with knowledge, concepts, skills, and methodologies representative of a particular subject area and prepare students for advanced courses.

Architectural subject courses fall into four subareas: (1) architectural design skills, (2) architectural design content, (3) context of the architectural profession, and (4) architectural history. Prerequisites for advanced studios include seven technology courses, three design arts core courses, and architectural history-four courses for undergraduates and three courses for graduate students.

Option II students are required to complete a 15-credit seminar-research component or an advanced study component. Option III students must complete 6 credits of architectural seminars.

In the following list, required courses are indicated with an r.

Architectural Design Skills

Architectural design requires proficiency in a range of skills and techniques. These include design process skills in techniques of observation, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and communication and design media skills in techniques of drawing, model making, and computer applications.

r Design Skills (ARCH 202) (undergraduate)

r Graduate Design Process (ARCH 611) (graduate)

Design Process, Methods, and Research. Strategies, processes, and techniques for design and design research. Principles of problem analysis and definition, information gathering and organization, concept and form generation, and evaluation.

Structural Planning (ARCH 412/512)

Environmental Design Research (ARCH 620) (graduate)

Media for Design Development. Theory and application of visual media for design process. Principles and skills of diagramming, drawing, and model making to support design thinking and communication.

Introduction to Architectural Computer Graphics (ARCH 222) (undergraduate)

Analysis through Recording of Historic ­Buildings (ARCH 421/521)

r Media for Design Development (ARCH 423/523)

Advanced Design-Development Media (ARCH 424/524)

Computer Literacy Requirement

By the end of their first year in the program, students are expected to have achieved the level of proficiency established by the department in office software as well as basic literacy in computer graphics for architecture, image processing, two-dimensional drafting, and three-dimensional modeling. Introductory architecture courses presume a knowledge of computer operations, general-use software, and Internet communications. Students are required to have a high-speed personal computer and a specified complement of software. Each spring the department reviews its software and hardware recommendations, so it is best to contact the department before making purchases.

Architectural Design Content

The discipline of architecture is predicated on integration of knowledge in history, theory, and application in a range of content areas. Subjects and courses in this subarea introduce general knowledge in the field and include courses about responding to place, human activity support, spatial ordering, structure, construction, and environmental control.

r Introduction to Architecture (ARCH 201) (undergraduate)

History and Theory of Place Response. The physical, cultural, and ecological context for architecture. Principles and skills for critical analysis of specific places and appropriate design responses.

r Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture (ARCH 430/530)

Settlement Patterns: Japanese Vernacular I,II (ARCH 432/532, 433/533)

Vernacular Building (ARCH 434/534)

Theory of Urban Design I,II (ARCH 436/536, 437/537)

Understanding Landscapes (LA 260) ­(undergraduate)

Site Analysis (LA 361) (undergraduate)

Contemporary American Landscape (LA 385)

History and Theory of Human Activity Support. Design implications of activities and relationships implied by the building program and expressed as the needs and desires of the first occupants. Principles of deriving design responses that remain useful over time.

r Human Context of Design (ARCH 440/540)

Architectural Programming (ARCH 449/549)

Furniture: Theory and Analysis (IARC 444/544)

Color Theory and Application for the Built Environment (IARC 447/547)

History and Theory of Spatial Ordering. Principles of form and composition in the making of architectural space. The study of past and present ideas and principles through which building elements are given order and meaning.

r Spatial Composition (ARCH 450/550)

The Façade (ARCH 457/557)

Types and Typology (ARCH 458/558)

History and Theory of Structure. The role of structural form and behavior in creating safe and satisfying environments. Methods for selection and refinement of systems of structure based on general principles and detailed calculation.

r Structural Behavior (ARCH 461/561)

r Wood and Steel Building Systems (ARCH 462/562)

r Structural Systems (ARCH 463/563) or one advanced 4-credit building technology elective course

History and Theory of Construction. Study of the physical properties and manufacture of building materials and their behavior in place over time. Materials and construction processes, their influence on decisions in design, and their impact on the form and expression of the built environment.

r Building Construction (ARCH 470/570)

r Building Enclosure (ARCH 471/571)

Interior Construction Elements (IARC 471/571)

Interior Finishes and Design Application (IARC 472/572)

Working Drawings in Interior Architecture (IARC 473/573)

Preservation and Restoration Technology (ARCH 474/574)

Preservation Technology: Masonry (ARCH 475/575)

History and Theory of Environmental Control. Study of the effects of climate on people and the need for tempered enclosure and life-support systems in buildings. Systems of heating, cooling, lighting, water and air supply, waste removal, and power as organizational elements in building design.

r Environmental Control Systems I,II (ARCH 491/591, 492/592)

Electric Lighting (IARC 492/592)

Solar Heating (ARCH 493/593)

Passive Cooling (ARCH 494/594)

Daylighting (ARCH 495/595)

The Window (ARCH 496/596)

Case Studies in Sustainable Design (ARCH 497/597)

Context of the Architectural Profession

The discipline and practice of architecture exists within a broad societal context. Courses in this area consider professional practice in contexts of ethics, law, business, and the construction industry.

Practicum (ARCH 409)

r Context of the Architectural Profession (ARCH 417/517)

Context of the Interior Architecture Profession (IARC 417/517)

Architectural History

The study of architecture and its evolution through time. Majors are expected to acquire an overview of architectural history, from prehistory to the present, augmented with in-depth knowledge of one or more periods.

r Three 400- or 500-level courses in architectural history taught by the Department of Art History. Undergraduate majors must take History of Western Architecture I or II (ARH 314 or 315), an arts and letters group-satisfying course; if both 314 and 315 are completed, only two 400-level architectural history courses are required. Graduate students must take one approved course from each of the major time periods, ancient, Renaissance, and modern.

Special Courses

In addition to permanently numbered courses, generic courses (ARCH 196-199, 401-410, 503, 507, 508, 510, 601-610) may be offered and approved to satisfy subject or elective credit requirements. Independent study is limited to a total of 9 credits-selected from Research (ARCH 401, 601), Reading and Conference (ARCH 405, 605), Special Problems (ARCH 406, 606), and practicum teaching-to fulfill subject-area requirements.

General Electives: 43 credits

General electives enable undergraduate majors to study general subjects beyond university group requirements. To encourage professional-degree students to continue liberal studies beyond introductory courses, B.Arch. students are required to earn 16 credits in upper-division general electives in academic subjects (exclusive of activity and performance courses) outside the subject areas of architecture (ARCH) and interior architecture (IARC).

Architecture Courses (ARCH) [back to top]

196 Field Studies: [Topic] (1–3R)

198 Workshop: [Topic] (1–3R)

199 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

201 Introduction to Architecture (4) Offers a structure of principles for making places for people. Examines places, design procedures, and the use of architectural principles in general.

202 Design Skills (3) Introduction to basic design processes, methods, and media. Coreq: ARCH 283.

222 Introduction to Architectural Computer Graphics (4) Introduces basic skills and literacy with the computer for architectural illustration, drafting, and design.

283, 284 Architectural Design I,II (6,6) Design-studio projects and exercises introducing fundamental concepts and considerations in environmental design. Teaches knowledge and skills needed in subsequent studios and professional course work. Prereq for 284: ARCH 283; pre- or coreq for 284: ARCH 222.

383, 384 Architectural Design III,IV (6,6) Studio projects for second-year undergraduates. Integration of issues of context, activity support, spatial order, construction, structure, and environmental control. Emphasis on schematic concept formation and subsequent architectural development. Sequence. Prereq for 383: ARCH 284. Prereq for 384: ARCH 383.

399 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–6R)

401 Research: [Topic] (1–6R)

403 Thesis (1–9R)

405 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–6R)

406 Special Problems: [Topic] (1–6R)

407/507 Seminar: [Topic] (1–6R)

408/508 Workshop: [Topic] (1–6R)

409 Practicum: [Topic] (1–6R)

410/510 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–6R)

417/517 Context of the Architectural Profession (3) Introduction to the professional practice of architecture and related careers. Examines the professional, legal, and regulatory environment; firm organization and management; marketing; contractual issues; and the construction process.

421/521 Analysis through Recording of Historic Buildings (3) Field and laboratory techniques of graphic and written recording and analysis of buildings. Analysis of historic drawings, photography, and descriptions. Prereq: ARCH 423/523, 462/562; prereq for 421: ARCH 282; prereq for 521: ARCH 682 or 683. Open to historic preservation graduate students.

423/523 Media for Design Development (3R) Instruction in media for design process. Techniques for problem and context analysis, generating concepts, developing form, and testing proposals. Subject emphasis varies with instructor. Prereq for 423: ARCH 202.

424/524 Advanced Design-Development Media (3R) Advanced instruction in specific media techniques for architectural analysis and design. Subject emphasis varies with instructor. Prereq: ARCH 423/523.

430/530 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture (4) How the design of buildings interacts with physical and cultural contexts of human traditions, landscape, settlements, cities, and suburbs. Historical and contemporary examples. Prereq for 430: ARCH 202, 284; prereq for 530: ARCH 680.

434/534 Vernacular Building (3) Survey and theory of everyday houses, public buildings, and settlements built in cultures worldwide. Emphasis on building types, construction, human use, and building process.

435/535 Principles of Urban Design (4) Introduction to theory and practice of urban design, comparative studies of neighborhood conservation, central city regeneration, growth policies and prospects for restructuring cities, metropolitan regions.

436/536, 437/537 Theory of Urban Design I,II (3,3) Examines the cultural and formal ideas that underlie American and European urban design. 436/536: Ancient Greek to 1700. 437/537: 1700 to the present. Prereq for 436: ARCH 430.

440/540 Human Context of Design (4) Theoretical principles, case studies, and technical skills for assessing user needs, developing building programs, applying research findings to design, and evaluating performance of the built environment. Prereq for 440: ARCH 202, 284; prereq for 540: ARCH 680.

449/549 Architectural Programming (3) Theory and methods for uncovering and defining requirements for an architectural project including philosophic, sociological, operational, economic, and contextual issues. Prereq: ARCH 484/584 eligibility.

450/550 Spatial Composition (4) Architectural space as a means to measure existence and expand awareness. Focus on compositional principles in architecture and methods for analyzing and generating spatial organizations. Prereq for 450: ARCH 202, 284; prereq for 550: ARCH 680.

457/557 The Façade (3) Ideas related to façade as primary surface of architectural representation. Emphasizes the façade as a mediator between internal and external building needs. Prereq: ARCH 450/550.

458/558 Types and Typology (3) Critical introduction to theory of typology that categorizes urban and architectural forms by formal characteristics and cultural meaning. Lectures cover basic concepts, historical development, and case studies. Prereq for 458: ARCH 384, 450; prereq for 558: ARCH 682 or 683.

461/561 Structural Behavior (4) Develops basic understanding of structural systems or elements and their implications for architectural form. Lectures, laboratories, and case studies investigate structure in historical and contemporary buildings. Prereq for 461: PHYS 201, 202; passing score on diagnostic examination.

462/562 Wood and Steel Building Systems (4) Historical development of materials. Analyzes elements, connections, and systems of wood and steel structures from the perspective of construction process, spatial and structural design. Prereq: ARCH 461/561.

463/563 Structural Systems (4) Historical development of material. Lectures and laboratories investigate the construction process, structural behavior, and design of element and framing systems. Emphasizes material’s influence on spatial design. Prereq: ARCH 462/562.

470/570 Building Construction (4) Provide an understanding of the basic materials and methods of architecture with emphasis on the design, construction and performance of primary structure. Prereq for 470: ARCH 284; prereq for 570: ARCH 681.

471/571 Building Enclosure (4) Selection, design, detailing, and performance evaluation of building envelopes: wood, metals, glass, concrete, and masonry veneers and roofing. Prereq: ARCH 462/562 and one advanced 4-credit building technology elective course.

474/574 Preservation and Restoration Technology (3) Materials, structure systems, buildings, and elements produced by historical technologies and tools studied in terms of their evolution; chronological and stylistic context; deterioration and repair.

475/575 Preservation Technology: Masonry (3) History and preservation of traditional masonry construction. Emphasis on the 19th and early 20th centuries.

480/580 Supervised Design Teaching (1–3R) Supervised assistance with desk critiques and tasks related to studio teaching. Written application required. Prereq for 480: ARCH 384; prereq for 580: ARCH 682 or 683. R for maximum of 3 credits.

484/584 Architectural Design (6R) Design projects requiring comprehensive and integrative study over a wide range of project options. Individual criticism, group discussions, lectures and seminars by visiting specialists, public review of projects. Prereq for 484: ARCH 384; prereq for 584: ARCH 682 or 683.

485/585, 486/586 Advanced Architectural Design I,II (8,8) In-depth work on complex design projects and design development beyond that normally possible in intermediate studios. Prereq for 485: 24 credits in ARCH 484; prereq for 585: 30 credits in ARCH 584.

491/591, 492/592 Environmental Control Systems I,II (4,4) Influence of energy source, climate, heating, cooling, lighting, acoustics, and water and waste systems on design of buildings and sites. 491/591: architectural and mechanical means to manipulate thermal environment. 492/592: implications of lighting, acoustics, and water and waste for architectural design.

494/594 Passive Cooling (3) Passive or natural cooling for buildings emphasizing design ­implications. Theory, application, and special problems in ventilation and storage mass, radiation, evaporation, earth contact, and shading. Prereq: ARCH 492/592.

495/595 Daylighting (3) Daylighting as an element in architectural design. Models and photography used to study behavior of light. Case studies and prediction techniques. Prereq: ARCH 492/592.

496/596 The Window (3) Window as an element of architectural design. Emphasis on historical, philosophical, artistic, literary, morphological, thermal, manufacturing, construction, cost, structural, lighting, and compositional perspectives. Prereq: ARCH 384 or 682, 471/571, 491/591.

497/597 Case Studies in Sustainable Design (3) Students conduct in-depth case studies of nearby buildings, matching design intent and selected performance topics through field investigations and inquiry. Prereq: ARCH 492/592.

498/598 Energy Scheming (3) Designing energy efficiency using Energy Scheming software. Achieving performance through materials selection and building form, use of the sun for heating and lighting, the wind for cooling. Prereq: ARCH 491/591.

503 Thesis (1–9R)

601 Research: [Topic] (1–6R)

602 Supervised College Teaching (1–6R)

605 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–6R)

606 Special Problems: [Topic] (1–6R)

607 Seminar: [Topic] (1–6R)

608 Workshop: [Topic] (1–6R)

609 Practicum: [Topic] (1–6R)

610 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–6R)

611 Graduate Design Process (3) Foundation knowledge, concepts, and skills fundamental to design process and media subject areas.

619 Terminal Project (1–9R)

661 Teaching Technical Subjects in Architecture (1–3R) Covers techniques for effective teaching. Focuses on one or more standard building-technology courses in architecture and interior architecture. R thrice for maximum of 12 credits.

680, 681, 682 Introductory Graduate Design (6,6,6) Design projects and exercises intended to familiarize the student with fundamental concepts of environmental design. Emphasis on developing graphic skills and the capability for visual thinking that are essential to advanced studios. Sequence.

683 Graduate Architectural Design: Option II (6R) Design to expand perception and response to issues in architectural design. Design as exploration of fundamental theoretical ideas. Studio projects require comprehensiveness and integrative study.

690 Teaching Technology in Architectural Design (3R) Covers teaching techniques that integrate technical content in design project development. Applies techniques to traditional design studios or design-build apprenticeship. R thrice for maximum of 12 credits.