Architecture
Max Underwood
William Heywood
About this opportunity
The preprofessional BSD program in architectural studies offered by The Design School helps students understand architecture as both a cultural expression and technical achievement, and it offers an interdisciplinary approach to architecture.
Students are prepared for alternative practices with architecture firms and in related fields such as landscape architecture, engineering, art, construction, urban planning, urban design and historic preservation, or for graduate studies in the professional Master of Architecture program, in business fields or in law.
This program offers two possible paths: cross-disciplinary focus and professional focus. For the first three years, all students take two project-topic courses yearly, together with other classes, to develop their skills. In the third year, students intending to pursue professional licensure as a registered architect must declare to their advisor their interest in pursuing the professional focus.
Thesis
Barrett students enrolled in the BSD in Architectural Studies may complete the required honors thesis through one of the available Barrett Honors Thesis Pathways or the Architecture Honors Thesis, described below.
Fall semester of your 4th or senior year (Fall 2025 and beyond)
Enroll in ARC 492 Honors Directed Study for 3 credits. This is a faculty guided course where students develop an independent topic through research and a creative making project. The final product will include a written component offering relevant research and analysis of the topic and supporting a creative project that provides insight into the topic. Creative projects may explore a variety of scales, medium, and methods of making. The course faculty is the thesis director for all enrolled students. Thesis co-directors may be included to support the student’s interest.
Spring semester of your 4th or senior year (Spring 2026 and beyond)
Enroll in ARC 493 Honors Thesis for 3 credits. This is a faculty guided course where students work collaboratively to design and construct a public exhibition to celebrate the independent honors thesis projects completed in ARC 492. Students will select an exhibit topic, medium, material and construction method to develop the exhibition. Documentation of the work and product will be included as part of each student’s final submission to Barrett, The Honors College. The course faculty is the thesis director for all enrolled students. Thesis co-directors may be included to support the design and construction of the exhibition.
To prepare for Fall 4th or senior year:
- Complete a Barrett Thesis Workshop
- Review the Barrett Honors Thesis Student Guidebook
- Consider the various structured Barrett Honors Thesis Pathways
- Review example The Design School Honors Thesis Projects from the ASU Library KEEP collection.
- Identify your architecture interests that you may want to develop in the thesis project.
- Research and read about your interests.
Academic Preparation
- Students will complete 6 semesters for their in BSD in Architectural Studies.
- To accommodate ARC 493 in the spring semester of 4th or senior year, students are advised to take ARC 432 Architecture History in the spring semester of 3rd or junior year.
Recommended Timeline
- Complete most of the honors contract credits before fall of your 4th or senior year.
- Complete ARC 432 Architecture History in spring semester of 3rd or junior year.
- Complete the recommended thesis preparation (above) before fall of 4th or senior year.
- Register for ARC 492 in Fall 4th or senior year.
- Register for ARC 493 in Spring 4th or senior year.
Other Honors Opportunities
Honors contracts are available on a case by case basis with individual instructors and students are encouraged to connect with faculty early in their academic careers. Students can also explore research opportunities and examples of student work in the field as they progress in the program.
College
Herberger Institute for Design and the ArtsCampus
Tempe