The architectural studies concentration, within the Department of History of Art and Architecture, blends a variety of disciplines toward the study of buildings and the built environment. The concentration prepares students for the continued study of architecture and the history of architecture in graduate school as well as careers in related areas such as urban studies.
The concentration requires four lecture courses and two seminars in the history of architecture and urbanism that are offered by the Department of History of Art and Architecture. One of the seminars is a project seminar, taken in junior or senior year, which is designed as a capstone experience for the architectural studies concentrator. Courses that may be counted toward the concentration are listed with an "A" at the end of the course description.
Because the architectural studies program is especially designed for students wishing to gain greater experience in the practical skills necessary for a career in architecture or a related field, concentrators are required to take a course in design either from the Visual Art department or at another accredited venue chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor. Students are encouraged to take pertinent courses from such departments or programs as the Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World and the Departments of American Civilization, Engineering, Mathematics, History, Modern Culture and Media, Urban Studies, and Visual Art. They may receive concentration credit for some of these courses in consultation with the concentration advisor.
Study abroad can be a valuable enrichment of the academic work available on campus. It offers opportunities for first-hand knowledge of architecture and the built environment as well as providing exposure to foreign languages and cultures. Study abroad should be planned in consultation with the concentration advisor in order to make certain that foreign course work will relate meaningfully to the concentrator's program of study.
Only two courses taken outside the department may count for concentration credit (including courses taken abroad and at other institutions in the U.S.). These credits will be counted as lecture courses, not seminars. The only exception to the two course limitation pertains to transfer students admitted to Brown before the junior year, who are permitted to transfer four credits toward the concentration, and the required design or studio course. From time to time a seminar in a related department may be accepted for seminar credit in consultation with the concentration advisor.
The concentration consists of 8 courses (9 for honors):
1. Four courses distributed over three areas in architectural history (numbered between HA 1 and HA 99):
2. One seminar in architectural history (numbered between HA 100 and 189).
3. The project seminar (HA 191) is required of all concentrators and is taken in the junior or senior year. It is only available to architectural studies concentrators. Students are advised to complete their seminar and drawing requirements before taking the project seminar.
4. One studio art course in design.
5. One additional course. This can be a course in art or architectural history offered by the Department of History of Art and Architecture, or a course in an outside department which is pertinent to architectural studies. Possibilities include (but are not limited to) MA 9 and 10, PH 3 and 4, EN 3, urban studies courses, and scenic design and technical production (Department of Theater, Speech and Dance).
It is expected that concentrators will wish to focus on a particular period (e.g. ancient, modern architecture), a particular branch of the field (e.g. urbanism), or a methodology (e.g. semiotics, critical interpretation, archaeology), but students are encouraged to formulate their own coherent program of study.
While knowledge of foreign languages is not required for the concentration, concentrators who mean to continue their studies in architectural history beyond the bachelor's degree should be aware that language skills are a necessary part of all graduate work.
The honors thesis may evolve out of a project seminar or it may be an independent project. Requirements are the same as in the History of Art and Architecture concentration. Students who wish to write an honors thesis must apply to the honors program in the late spring of their junior year. They must have an "A" average in the concentration, and should have already spoken with a faculty member who would be an appropriate advisor for the thesis. Students will be notified of the success of their applications before the end of the spring semester. Students who are graduating in December will not be eligible to take part in the honors program, but are encouraged to speak with the concentration advisor about an alternative writing project if they wish.
Page last updated in April, 2007.