Note: For the complete list of classes available each term, please visit the UO Class Schedule.
Current students can find more detailed descriptions for many courses on the Current Students blog.
ARCH 196 Field Studies (1–3 Credits)
ARCH 198 Workshop (1–3 Credits)
ARCH 199 Special Studies (1–3 Credits)
ARCH 201 Introduction to Architecture (4 Credits)
Offers a structure of principles for making places for people. Examines places, design procedures, and the use of architectural principles in general. Current UO students interested in applying to the major should take this course fall term and contact the department’s advising staff for more information.
ARCH 202 Design Skills (3 Credits)
Introduction to basic design processes, methods, and media. Prereq: ARCH 201 or IARC 204; coreq: ARCH 283.
ARCH 222 Introduction to Architectural Computer Graphics (4 Credits)
Introduces basic skills and literacy with the computer for architectural illustration, drafting, and design. Prereq: ARCH 202.
ARCH 283 Architectural Design (6 Credits)
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. Sequence with ARCH 284. Prereq: ARCH 201 or IARC 204; coreq: ARCH 202.
ARCH 284 Architectural Design II (6 Credits)
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. Sequence with ARCH 283. Prereq: ARCH 202, 283; coreq: ARCH 222.
ARCH 383 Architectural Design III (6 Credits)
Studio projects. Integration of issues of context, activity support, spatial order, construction, structure, and environmental control. Emphasis on schematic concept formation and subsequent architectural development. Sequence with ARCH 384. Prereq: ARCH 284.
ARCH 384 Architectural Design IV (6 Credits)
Studio projects. Integration of issues of context, activity support, spatial order, construction, structure, and environmental control. Emphasis on schematic concept formation and subsequent architectural development. Sequence with ARCH 383. Prereq: ARCH 383 and 222.
ARCH 399 Special Studies (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 401 Research (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 403 Thesis (1–9 Credits)
ARCH 405 Reading and Conference (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 406 Special Problems (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 407 Seminar (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 408 Workshop (6 Credits)
ARCH 409 Practicum (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 410 Experimental Course (6 Credits)
ARCH 417 Context of the Architectural Profession (4 Credits)
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. Prereq: ARCH 484 or IARC 484 or LA 489.
ARCH 423 Media for Design Development (3 Credits)
Instruction in media for design process. Techniques for problem and context analysis, generating concepts, developing form, and testing proposals. Subject emphasis varies with instructor. Repeatable. Prereq: ARCH 202.
ARCH 424 Advanced Design-Development Media (3 Credits)
Advanced instruction in specific media techniques for architectural analysis and design. Subject emphasis varies with instructor. Repeatable. Prereq: ARCH 423.
ARCH 430 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture (4 Credits)
How the design of buildings interacts with physical and cultural contexts of human traditions, landscape, settlements, cities, and suburbs. Historical and contemporary examples. Prereq: ARCH 284 or architectural minor status.
ARCH 431 Community Design (3 Credits)
Multidisciplinary examination of the history, theory, and practice in the design and development of meaningful and sustainable neighborhoods. Special focus selected by faculty. Open to all majors. Offered alternate years. Prereq: junior standing.
ARCH 435 Principles of Urban Design (4 Credits)
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. ARCH 284 or architecture minor status.
ARCH 436 Theory of Urban Design I (3 Credits)
Examines the cultural and formal ideas that underlie American and European urban design. Ancient Greek to 1700. Prereq: ARCH 430
ARCH 437 Theory of Urban Design II (3 Credits)
Examines the cultural and formal ideas that underlie American and European urban design from 1700 to the present.
ARCH 438 Housing Prototypes (3 Credits)
An examination of modern housing prototypes (1920s to the present) with an emphasis on understanding the many and varied factors involved in the production of quality housing. Open to all majors. Prereq: Junior standing.
ARCH 439 Minimal Dwelling (3 Credits)
Examination of the design of small dwelling units for a variety of users. Offered alternate years. Prereq: junior standing.
ARCH 440 Human Context of Design (4 Credits)
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: ARCH 284 or architectural minor status.
ARCH 449 Architectural Programming (3 Credits)
Theory and methods for uncovering and defining requirements for an architectural project including philosophic, sociological, operational, economic, and contextual issues. Prereq: ARCH 384.
ARCH 450 Spatial Composition (4 Credits)
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: ARCH 284 or architectural minor status.
ARCH 457 The Facade (3 Credits)
Ideas related to facade as primary surface of architectural representation. Emphasizes the facade as a mediator between internal and external building needs. Prereq: ARCH 450.
ARCH 458 Types and Typology (3 Credits)
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: ARCH 384, 450.
ARCH 461 Structural Behavior (6 Credits)
Develops a 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: PHYS 201, 202; passing score on diagnostic examination.
ARCH 462 Structural Design (6 Credits)
Historical development of materials. Analyzes elements, connections, and systems of wood, steel, and concrete structures from the perspective of construction process, spatial and structural design. Prereq: ARCH 461.
ARCH 470 Building Construction (4 Credits)
Provide an understanding of the basic materials and methods of architecture with emphasis on the design, construction and performance of primary structure. Prereq: ARCH 284 or architectural minor status.
ARCH 471 Building Enclosure (4 Credits)
Selection, design, detailing, and performance evaluation of building envelopes: wood, metals, glass, concrete, and masonry veneers and roofing. Prereq: ARCH 462, 470, 491.
ARCH 480 Supervised Design Teaching (1–3 Credits)
Supervised assistance with desk critiques and tasks related to studio teaching. Written application required. Repeatable for a maximum of 3 credits. Prereq: ARCH 384.
ARCH 484 Architectural Design (6 Credits)
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. Repeatable. Prereq: ARCH 384.
ARCH 485 Advanced Architectural Design I (8 Credits)
In-depth work on complex design projects and design development beyond that normally possible in intermediate studios. Sequence. Prereq: 24 credits in ARCH 484.
ARCH 486 Advanced Architectural Design II (8 Credits)
In-depth work on complex design projects and design development beyond that normally possible in intermediate studios. Prereq: ARCH 485.
ARCH 491 Environmental Control Systems I (4 Credits)
Influence of energy source, climate, heating, cooling, lighting, acoustics, and water and waste systems on design of buildings and sites. Architectural and mechanical means to manipulate thermal environment. Sequence. Prereq: ARCH 283 or architecture minor status.
ARCH 492 Environmental Control Systems II (4 Credits)
Influence of energy source, climate, heating, cooling, lighting, acoustics, and water and waste systems on design of buildings and sites. Implications of lighting, acoustics, and water and waste for architectural design. Prereq: ARCH 284 or architecture minor status.
ARCH 495 Daylighting (3 Credits)
"Daylighting"—increasing the energy efficiency of a building by maximizing the amount of daylight versus electric light—as an element in architectural design. Models and photography used to study behavior of light. Case studies and prediction techniques. Prereq: ARCH 492.
ARCH 496 The Window (3 Credits)
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, 471, 491.
ARCH 503 Thesis (1–9 Credits)
ARCH 507 Seminar (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 508 Workshop (6 Credits)
ARCH 510 Experimental Course (6 Credits)
ARCH 517 Context of the Architectural Profession (4 Credits)
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.
ARCH 523 Media for Design Development (3 Credits)
Instruction in media for design process. Techniques for problem and context analysis, generating concepts, developing form, and testing proposals. Subject emphasis varies with instructor. Repeatable. Prereq: ARCH 611.
ARCH 524 Advanced Design-Development Media (3 Credits)
Advanced instruction in specific media techniques for architectural analysis and design. Subject emphasis varies with instructor. Repeatable. Prereq: ARCH 423/523.
ARCH 530 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture (4 Credits)
How the design of buildings interacts with physical and cultural contexts of human traditions, landscape, settlements, cities, and suburbs. Historical and contemporary examples. Prereq: ARCH 680 or 683.
ARCH 531 Community Design (3 Credits)
Multidisciplinary examination of the history, theory, and practice in the design and development of meaningful and sustainable neighborhoods. Special focus selected by faculty. Open to all majors. Offered alternate years.
ARCH 535 Principles of Urban Design (4 Credits)
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. Prereq: ARCH 680.
ARCH 536 Theory of Urban Design I (3 Credits)
Examines the cultural and formal ideas that underlie American and European urban design. Ancient Greek to 1700.
ARCH 537 Theory of Urban Design II (3 Credits)
Examines the cultural and formal ideas that underlie American and European urban design from 1700 to the present.
ARCH 538 Housing Prototypes (3 Credits)
An examination of modern housing prototypes (1920s to the present) with an emphasis on understanding the many and varied factors involved in the production of quality housing. Open to all majors.
ARCH 539 Minimal Dwelling (3 Credits)
Examination of the design of small dwelling units for a variety of users. Offered alternate years.
ARCH 540 Human Context of Design (4 Credits)
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: ARCH 680 or 683.
ARCH 549 Architectural Programming (3 Credits)
Theory and methods for uncovering and defining requirements for an architectural project including philosophic, sociological, operational, economic, and contextual issues. Prereq: ARCH 682 or 683.
ARCH 550 Spatial Composition (4 Credits)
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: ARCH 680.
ARCH 557 The Facade (3 Credits)
Ideas related to facade as primary surface of architectural representation. Emphasizes the facade as a mediator between internal and external building needs.
Prereq: ARCH 450/550.
ARCH 558 Types and Typology (3 Credits)
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: ARCH 550 and 682 or 683.
ARCH 561 Structural Behavior (6 Credits)
Developes 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: passing score on diagnostic examination.
ARCH 562 Structural Design (6 Credits)
Historical development of materials. Analyzes elements, connections, and systems of wood, steel, and concrete structures from the perspective of construction process, spatial and structural design. Prereq: ARCH 461 or 561.
ARCH 570 Building Construction (4 Credits)
Provide an understanding of the basic materials and methods of architecture with emphasis on the design, construction and performance of primary structure. Prereq: ARCH 680.
ARCH 571 Building Enclosure (4 Credits)
Selection, design, detailing, and performance evaluation of building envelopes: wood, metals, glass, concrete, and masonry veneers and roofing. ARCH 562, 570, 591.
ARCH 580 Supervised Design Teaching (1–3 Credits)
Supervised assistance with desk critiques and tasks related to studio teaching. Written application required. Repeatable for a maximum of 3 credits. Prereq: ARCH 681 or 683.
ARCH 584 Architectural Design (6 Credits)
Repeatable. 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: ARCH 682 or 683.
ARCH 585 Advanced Architectural Design I (8 Credits)
In-depth work on complex design projects and design development beyond that normally possible in intermediate studios. Sequence. Prereq: 30 credits in ARCH 484/584.
ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II (8 Credits)
In-depth work on complex design projects and design development beyond that normally possible in intermediate studios. Prereq: ARCH 485/585.
ARCH 591 Environmental Control Systems I (4 Credits)
Influence of energy source, climate, heating, cooling, lighting, acoustics, and water and waste systems on design of buildings and sites. Architectural and mechanical means to manipulate thermal environment. Sequence. ARCH 680 or 683.
ARCH 592 Environmental Control Systems II (4 Credits)
Influence of energy source, climate, heating, cooling, lighting, acoustics, and water and waste systems on design of buildings and sites. Implications of lighting, acoustics, and water and waste for architectural design. ARCH 680 or 683.
ARCH 595 Daylighting (3 Credits)
"Daylighting"—increasing the energy efficiency of a building by maximizing the amount of daylight versus electric light—as an element in architectural design. Models and photography used to study behavior of light. Case studies and prediction techniques. Prereq: ARCH 492 or 592.
ARCH 596 The Window (3 Credits)
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 491 or 591 or equivalent; 571 or equivalent; and 682 or 683.
ARCH 600M Temporary Multilisted Course (1–5 Credits)
ARCH 601 Research (1–6 Credits)
Involves working on an active research project conceived and directed by a faculty member. The mentorship through participation in a faculty member's current research is intended to help students gain experience in the identification of researchable questions, conceptually constructing research postulates and designs, and executing productive research. The time commitment by the instructor to the student is balanced by the contributions the student can make to ongoing research.
ARCH 602 Supervised College Teaching (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 603 Dissertation (1–9 Credits)
ARCH 605 Reading and Conference (1–8 Credits)
ARCH 606 Special Problems (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 607 Seminar (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 608 Colloquium (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 609 Practicum (1–6 Credits)
ARCH 610 Experimental Course (6 Credits)
ARCH 611 Graduate Design Process (3 Credits)
Foundation knowledge, concepts, and skills fundamental to design process and media subject areas.
ARCH 617 Built Environment Design and Theory (4 Credits)
Presents key design and planning theories. This foundational scholarship foundations course is also open to advanced master's students. Prereq: conditional MArch or PhD standing.
ARCH 619 Terminal Project (1–9 Credits)
ARCH 620 Research Methods in Sustainable Design (2-4 Credits)
Focuses on research issues and an overview of methods common to environmental design. Assignments relate to the framing of researchable questions. Prereq: conditional MArch or PhD standing.
ARCH 633 History of Sustainable Design (4 Credits)
Presents historical and theoretical issues that have shaped sustainable design, specifically how it relates to the built environment. This foundational scholarship course is also open to advanced master's students. Prereq: conditional MArch or PhD standing.
ARCH 661 Teaching Technical Subjects in Architecture (1–2 Credits)
Covers techniques for effective teaching. Focuses on one or more standard building-technology courses in architecture and interior architecture. Repeatable thrice for maximum of 12 credits
ARCH 678 Advanced Research in Sustainable Design (2–6 Credits)
Focuses on qualitative and quantitative methods applicable to the design of sustainable buildings and communities. Emphasizes more specific qualitative and quantitative methodologies, while students continue to explore a topic and frame a researchable problem through literature reviews and proposal development. The supervising faculty member will propose one to two extra hours per week with the doctoral students. The course will also be used to incorporate further assignments that deepen the student's knowledge of targeted research topics through comprehensive reviews of, respectively, the literature and research methods related to their topic or question of interest. Prereq: conditional MArch or PhD standing.
ARCH 680 Introductory Graduate Design (6 Credits)
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.
ARCH 681 Introductory Graduate Design (6 Credits)
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. Prereq: ARCH 680.
ARCH 682 Introductory Graduate Design (6 Credits)
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. Prereq: ARCH 681.
ARCH 683 Graduate Architectural Design: Track II (6 Credits)
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. Repeatable.
ARCH 695 Advanced Dissertation Proposal Development (4–6 Credits)
Directed study for the development of dissertation proposals. Approval of faculty advisor required. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 18 credits based on development of proposal for dissertation. Prereq: PhD standing.